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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 21, 2017 6:34:06 GMT
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Post by Geranium on Mar 21, 2017 6:42:09 GMT
I don't use T&M any more after too many bad experiences. I get really annoyed at some adverts in magazines showing large beautiful plants or trees, then you read the small print and they are sent out in weeny pots, at huge cost. It is a real con. It annoys me intensely, especially when they call the plant some highfaluting name without its correct one, so you don't know what it is. Rant over!!!
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Post by Ron on Mar 23, 2017 13:09:11 GMT
Filled a couple of bags with compost today for the potatoes. I'd decided to do one of Charlotte with the peat free compost I bought and one with the standard Growsure to compare results. I'd already calculated how much I would need, 100 litres to a potato bag. Sure enough 2 x 50 litre bags of peat free filled a potato bag. It took 3 x 50 litres to fill one using Growsure! The compost was wringing wet. I noticed on the bag it said 50 litres when filled, if it was filled wet much of that would have been water. It's a b*y con!
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Post by andy on Mar 24, 2017 5:34:50 GMT
I had this gripe a few years ago Ron...bought a 50 litre bag of compost and only managed to fill just under 4 x 10 litre pots. Emailed the company and they said it was correct when packed but compaction and settling may have caused the loss of volume blah blah.
Always wondered if Which? should take this up.
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Post by Tig on Mar 29, 2017 12:20:18 GMT
Van Meuwen have sent me the replacement Blue Eyes rose, it is a very sad looking specimen. Bare roots were bone dry, some of the stems were crushed and broken - buds on the stem have shriveled up  I've got it soaking in a bucket of water, having trimmed the roots a bit and tidied all the top growth back to about 5". I think I will plant it in a pot and see how it does, not worth digging a hole if it is not going to thrive. |
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Post by Ron on Mar 29, 2017 12:24:13 GMT
I had this gripe a few years ago Ron...bought a 50 litre bag of compost and only managed to fill just under 4 x 10 litre pots. Emailed the company and they said it was correct when packed but compaction and settling may have caused the loss of volume blah blah. Always wondered if Which? should take this up. Which, yes, andy, but I can't help wondering why trading standards haven't taken a look at it, it's a weights and measures issue. |
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Post by Ron on Mar 29, 2017 12:28:09 GMT
Van Meuwen have sent me the replacement Blue Eyes rose, it is a very sad looking specimen. Bare roots were bone dry, some of the stems were crushed and broken - buds on the stem have shriveled up I've got it soaking in a bucket of water, having trimmed the roots a bit and tidied all the top growth back to about 5". I think I will plant it in a pot and see how it does, not worth digging a hole if it is not going to thrive. Unfortunately there's not much chance it will recover Tig , if it has completely dried out. Worth having a go of course but you'll need to keep your fingers crossed, I've read that it's the number one reason for roses dying. |
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Post by Tig on Apr 11, 2017 20:09:41 GMT
Good news! Both the Eyes for You and Blue Eyes have eyes growing  I think they will both be fine. |
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Post by Ron on Apr 12, 2017 15:39:29 GMT
Good news! Both the Eyes for You and Blue Eyes have eyes growing I think they will both be fine. Excellent news, Tig, there was some life left in them then, great result  |
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 13, 2017 6:51:09 GMT
Good news Tig, I have blue for you and the scent is wonderful. |
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Post by maglonian on May 22, 2017 21:57:04 GMT
Westland gro-sure farmyard manure. Never again. I feel sorry for the horses and cows that passed what was in the bag. I never knew livestock could be used as a wood chipper
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Post by Rosefriend on May 23, 2017 5:32:46 GMT
Westland gro-sure farmyard manure. Never again. I feel sorry for the horses and cows that passed what was in the bag. I never knew livestock could be used as a wood chipper Hahahahahaha - incredible what there is in a bag of compost these days isn't it !!! This year I have got compost from Olaf and the difference is amazing - the stuff that I usually buy ( in my price range) is full of lumps, stones, wood and even plastic and nails at times... |
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Post by Geranium on May 23, 2017 5:58:44 GMT
YUK!
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Post by Geranium on Jun 5, 2017 5:15:31 GMT
I do not know which bloomin' creature is digging up my plants, but I wish it would vamoose! My pyrethrum was lying on the soil dried out, next to the planting hole. It is in a bucket of water now.
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Post by Ron on Jun 10, 2017 18:30:27 GMT
Moaned about compost before but it's really annoying me now because it's an industry wide con and they're being allowed to get away with it. When planning my raised beds I worked out how much compost I'd need but it took twice as much as I'd allowed for. I rechecked my calculations and they were spot on, so I measured a bag and worked out the volume. There was 30 litres in a bag labelled 60 litres, half of what there should be. As Andy said earlier, they claim it is due to compaction but when it went into the bed it was definitely not compacted and it was still 30 litres. It's a b**y rip off!
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Post by andy on Jun 20, 2017 3:39:28 GMT
Grown a lot of herbaceous from seed this year and it's all been growing nicely. Put them all outside to grow on but still in their cells. For the last few weeks, i've been going to water them and i'm finding some of the plants are being dug out of the cells and thrown all over the place which has really annoyed me after growing them for 6 months. Wasn't sure of the culprit....i was adament it was mice but what would they be after? Imagine my shock when i came out of the greenhouse only to catch the culprit red handed...or red beaked!!!....a male blackbird happily chucking my seedlings all over the place.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 4:10:01 GMT
I feel your pain. I've a kitten who likes to play the same game
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Post by Barbara on Jun 30, 2017 9:00:01 GMT
I had a tray full of black poppy seedlings last evening, this morning not a bloody one is left, snails all over the patio, so I don't know which one was the culprit, but they have all suffered the same fate.
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 1, 2017 7:30:23 GMT
Such a shame Barbara, will you resow? |
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Post by Barbara on Jul 1, 2017 7:47:29 GMT
They were the last in the packet, I sowed some into the ground last month and they got eaten, that was why I sowed these into a tray, I just fancied some black ones, oh well it's not to be.
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 2, 2017 6:16:45 GMT
You never know Barbara, there might still be some in the soil that did'nt germinate and you might get some yet. I'm sorry, I don't have any black coloured ones to my knowledge but if any show up I'll keep you in mind. I'm likely to have some dark maroon ones at some stage 'tho, would you be interested in them if I get any? |
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Post by Barbara on Jul 2, 2017 7:27:26 GMT
Thanks Ladygardener, but I have lots of poppies, but these were sara raven black frilly ones, I might order more next year. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 3, 2017 5:51:08 GMT
Ah I see Barbara. At least then you'll get what you're looking for. |
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Post by Barbara on Jun 15, 2018 8:38:04 GMT
Cats !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they have been fighting in the top bed of the garden, fur all over the place and poppies, astrantia, phlox, and astilbe, and campanula snapped and flattened, as if it isn't hard enough at the moment with no rain and strong winds, Now I have a trug full of broken plants .
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Post by Tig on Jun 15, 2018 10:01:27 GMT
What a shame Barbara - hopefully one has come out as 'top cat' and they won't engage in another scrap. I have found that 2 litre pop bottles half filled with water and laid on their sides appears to act as a deterrent. Some say it is a myth, but I can only go on personal experience, it has kept them out of my veg plot and by placing bottles in a couple of places they used to scent mark that has stopped too. |
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Post by Barbara on Jun 15, 2018 10:10:57 GMT
I'll give that a try Tig, we have a big ginger and white cat visiting and using the very back as a loo, I suppose it's involved. |
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Post by Tig on Jun 15, 2018 10:14:33 GMT
Probably scent marking, always a problem with territorial toms! They don't like being squirted with a water blaster either - put Derek on firing squad duties!
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Post by Ladygardener on Jun 16, 2018 5:40:05 GMT
What a right royal pain Barbara. We've had similar problems over the years and now there is a black and white one who tries to visit regularly. I scare it away every time I see it and I put down sticks sticking up all over the place and that helps keep them off. |
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Post by Barbara on Jul 28, 2018 13:53:26 GMT
I found lots of apples on the ground today, I cut one open and found they had been invaded by the coddling moth.  |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 29, 2018 8:10:26 GMT
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I've got it soaking in a bucket of water, having trimmed the roots a bit and tidied all the top growth back to about 5". I think I will plant it in a pot and see how it does, not worth digging a hole if it is not going to thrive. 
