The hardest thing you've tried to grow

[Deleted]

I'm fairly new, so I can't think of any major disasters. Planted a couple of dahlia's last year and never saw them again. What should I avoid on my clay soil? C'mon, tell me your worst garden disasters!

[sleepysunday]

What should I avoid on my clay soil?

Double digging!

[Deleted]

I wouldn't have even tried that sleepy! Far too lazy! ;D

[Deleted]

No question - Verbena Bonariensis. Tried it from seed - they came up, took one look at me and promptly died. Took Plocket's advice in The Other Place, took cuttings last year - one of five came up, looked at me and ... you guessed it ... ! The maddening thing is, there is an unkempt garden a few doors down where it runs riot, with absolutely no attention ... cheers ...

[Jonah]

Scabious, Chocolate Cosmos and Echinacea White swan all disappeared without a trace [even though I have since grown more Echinaceas]. Icelandic poppies and my carefully raised from seed Zinnia Envy and Alternanthera got absolutely slaughtered by the slugs as soon as I planted them out.

[Plocket]

Oh dear CC - VB grows like a weed in my garden! As a cheat I'd suggest you buy a pot of established ones, bung them in the garden and then try cuttings again in the autumn. I've got some for Blodau when she's back from NZ.

I think the hardest thing I've tried to grow was Bird of Paradise. I followed the instructions but the blessed things just wouldn't germinate. I gave up in the end! I think one would look great in my porch though!

[Chuckles]

Now don't anyone dare laugh because these are supposed to be so easy.

Normal ordinary common Lavendar, can't get cuttings going to save my life, even bought plants and they die on me, they just don't like me

[borderbabe]

Clems! bought one in August did everything to nurture it and it died. Like Jonah Chocolate cosmos etc etc.

[Plocket]

Eh? What sort of clem was it BB? When did you realise it was dead?

[borderbabe]

The President - I've left it where I planted it in case it stirs but I dont hold out much hope - I'll leave it until end March/April just in case.

[sweetleaf]

Gypsophila, 8 times a failure.....I tried to re-create a border my mum had and its essential for that...I bought plants, took cuttings, tried from seed


It grew like a weed for mum

[Plocket]

I'll keep my fingers crossed BB

Oh you were asking for something similar a while back weren't you Sweetleaf? I don't think they like being moved if that's any consolation.

[Plocket]

rosemother said:

I'm fairly new, so I can't think of any major disasters. Planted a couple of dahlia's last year and never saw them again. What should I avoid on my clay soil? C'mon, tell me your worst garden disasters!

Yer I'd say avoid dahlias and if you want bulbs grow them in containers! I have clay soil too and have learned the hard way!

[sweetleaf]

In my case P, I dont think they like coming home from the shop, rooting or germinating either! ;D
It cant be the soil, mums garden was only 1/2 a mile from here....

[Plocket]

All I can suggest is that you keep on trying. Did the seeds germinate? If you think its you jinxing them perhaps you should get someone else to start the seeds off for you in large pots (so you don't damage the roots when moving and planting them) and then get that person to plant them in your garden for you. Or as an alternative could you grow it in containers and put them in the border: seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/2093/1

[sleepysunday]

That's an easy one to resolve Sweetie

But you would have to follow my instructions very carefully, and very accurately

[sweetleaf]

erm, anyone got an order code for T&M? Its asking for one, apparently theres a discount?

[sweetleaf]

sleepysunday said:

That's an easy one to resolve Sweetie

But you would have to follow my instructions very carefully, and very accurately

Ok Ill bite. ....what are these instructions?

[sleepysunday]

That doesn't sound very trusting. If I tell you the secret I need to know that you trust me implicitly

[sweetleaf]

Please?
Of course I trust you......

[sleepysunday]

OK

Firstly you must sow your seeds in a seed tray as you normally would - but do it at your Mom's house.

Then, prick them out xferring the healthiest to 2" pots

When they are big enough to harden off put the pots into a high sided cardboard box (with no holes.

Should the box have an open top cover the box with a thick cloth

Carry the box around to your house - now here come the important bit: As you leave your Mom's house call back to your Mom as you leave the front door

"I'm just taking these plants for a little walk around the block. I'll be back shortly"

When you arrive home all must be prepared. If you are taking them into the garden you should have a sign stuck in the ground with your Mom's house number neatly and clearly painted on it.

Whenever you go into your garden call back "I'm just going to have a look at your garden Mom"

If you have a high resolution camera you could take photos of your Mom's garden, and have them blown up to actual size and pasted onto your garden fence (but this might be considered an expensive option and should therefore be considered only as a last resort)

Continue cultivation as normal.

Should they continue to fail it can only be a resentment of your presence rather than their environment. In this case do as above, but with a paper bag over your head.

Simple, eh?

[Plocket]

The only T&M discount I know of is when buying plants. It was in GWMag.

Sleepy's "scheme" sounds FOOL-proof btw!!! ;D

[sleepysunday]

You are drifting from topic Sweetie.

Shall I start a new thread to discuss this dilemma away from the serious gardening threads?

'Should Sweetleaf garden with paper bags over her head?'

But not here, please Sweetie - I seem to get into trouble at the drop of a hat!

[mickthecactus]

Something called Edithcolea grandis. Every spring I germinate it from seed and it grows well. Every winter it dies on me. I grew 3 last year. One has gone and the other 2 look like they will follow it. If I don't water it it dies, if I do water it it dies.

[sweetleaf]

You have a Pm mick. ;D


I always thought Id like to grow a peach tree, so last year I tried.


It died.... ...... Im blaming the supplier,

[Cheerypeabrain]

My (expensive) failures to date include:-

Echium Pininana
Banksia
chinese purple bell vine
monarda (last year's beeb trial plant...got 1 plant out of 100 seeds...and THAT's looking peaky)

and RHUBARB...have had 3 crowns die on me despite following strict growing advice from gardening guru friends.....aaaaurgh

there are probably loads of others but I've blocked the memories..too painfull.....

CPBxxx

[isabella]

The first pkt of seeds I ever bought were Gloxinias as I thought the flowers were so beautiful!

I was just starting to enjoy gardening back then and of course they didn't germinate

Good job I didn't give up gardening,wasn't it!

The one plant I would really love to grow are Meconopsis - the blue poppy!

I have tried many times but always failed

[Dr Bill]

Mecanopsis. Died as soon as it saw my garden. Didn't even have time to plant it!

[Deleted]

Enkianthus campanulatus.

15 quid we paid for one of them a couple of years back. Died after a couple of months despite being in the "perfect" spot for it, according to the label & instructions.

FA x

[4pygmies]

Meconopsis for me. I was so chuffed when I got the seeds to germinate, amazed when they survived until the following summer and was just starting to feel VERY pleased with myself when the whole lot just upped and died, one by one. No reason I could fathom for it...