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Post by Tig on Jul 1, 2009 18:23:35 GMT
I spotted a problem with my Blue Springs babies today - leaf miners!! I should have got a photo but was in too much of a hurry to nip off the infected leaves  (I think s & s have munched my hellebore seeds Jas - not a sign of green in the pot now  sorry to pop off topic  ) x Tig |
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Post by Dutchy on Jul 1, 2009 19:19:47 GMT
Leaf miners yuk. I have never grown penstemons as they are seen as bedding out here. ( I only use them on the guess this plant thread  ) I have seen some real nice ones on here and the sour grapes one is fab. Maybe I should consider sowing some as all the shops have are butch fat red ones. Why are they sown this time of year? And more important can they make it to flowering still? No way are they going to get through winter. |
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Post by Jasmine on Jul 1, 2009 19:45:02 GMT
I don't think my Blue Springs will flower this year Dutchy, they are still very small. Silly question Tig but how did you know yours had leaf miner problems? (Sad news about the hellebore  ) ...Confession time....I spoke to myself quite sternly about this and said that my seedlings will flower next year etc...etc...but the GC had Blue Spring plants and I walked past them 2 or 3 times...and then I had to buy one. |
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Post by Tig on Jul 1, 2009 22:21:53 GMT
The leaves have pale lines on them Jas, and when you look on the underside you can just make out little brown larvae in between the layers of the leaf  Should have taken a piccie, this is the closest to how it looked I can find on the web (not penstemon though) www.hort.purdue.edu/rhodcv/hort410/peas/lfminer.jpgx Tig |
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Post by Jasmine on Jul 2, 2009 8:22:41 GMT
Thanks for that Tig. Will go and have a closer look at my little plants.
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 2, 2009 9:38:41 GMT
Thanks from me too Tig I'd not have known to even look for them. Jasmine you could perhaps take cuttings from your newly aquired blue springs and you'd have even more next year.  |
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Post by Jasmine on Jul 2, 2009 10:52:57 GMT
I was thinking that too LG although the plant is quite small and all the stalks have flowers on them - still there are hopefully lots more weeks of summer to go and it may bush out a bit more - it certainly isn't as tall as it says it should be. What I sometimes do is keep the prunings when I cut them down in spring and try to root those.
The flowers are a beautiful blue colour.
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Post by Auricula on Jul 4, 2009 10:20:07 GMT
Starting to take cuttings this weekend |
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Post by Jasmine on Aug 10, 2009 8:23:50 GMT
A couple of penstemons... Just Jayne  and Garnet  |
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Post by Jasmine on Aug 10, 2009 8:25:46 GMT
The Garnet usually has lots more flowers on it than that earlier on in the season.
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Post by Auricula on Aug 10, 2009 11:18:21 GMT
Lovely plants Jas |
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Post by Jasmine on Aug 10, 2009 15:05:48 GMT
Thank you Auricula . I was just thinking how easy penstemons can be - cuttings take well, they don't seem to mind being moved even in spring and summer...and bunnies really don't like them, and they flower their socks off for months. |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Aug 10, 2009 17:30:15 GMT
I agree Jasmine - I have a couple - and the slugs hate them too |
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Post by Auricula on Aug 10, 2009 17:41:07 GMT
They really are one of my favourite flowers, I love a good "doer"  |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Aug 10, 2009 17:53:16 GMT
Carol Klein advises not to cut them back until Spring and then cut back to new shoots - works for me as mine are quite a few years old now and flower really well each year
That is one plant that doesnt need feeding - TAKE NOTE FB ;D ;D
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Post by Jasmine on Aug 10, 2009 17:55:43 GMT
I agree Jasmine - I have a couple - and the slugs hate them too I'd forgotten about that plus. All they need is a bit of dead heading to keep them going. |
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Post by farmersboy on Aug 10, 2009 18:00:39 GMT
Carol Klein advises not to cut them back until Spring and then cut back to new shoots - works for me as mine are quite a few years old now and flower really well each year That is one plant that doesnt need feeding - TAKE NOTE FB ;D ;D But they would be a lot better for a feed though Jen i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/grin.gif |
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Post by Ladygardener on Aug 11, 2009 16:26:07 GMT
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Post by Jasmine on Aug 11, 2009 19:41:59 GMT
How many blue springs plants have you got LG? I've ended up with 5 - just have to find homes for them all. I only bought Just Jayne last year - it is very bright pink - the photo doesn't quite get the colour right. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Aug 12, 2009 7:52:07 GMT
Well I've actually ended up with 9 Jasmine. Went out this am and took this little picture of them. You can see they are strong and healthy. I need to get them planted on. ;D  |
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Post by Jasmine on Aug 12, 2009 8:08:18 GMT
That's brilliant. They look just like mine except mine are in detached accommodation (as Tig would say ;D)
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Post by Tig on Aug 12, 2009 11:58:50 GMT
They do look good LG (and very similar to some I am growing ) The 'Blues' thread in The Gallery will be quite busy next year methinks ;D (If I can get them through winter!) x Tig |
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Post by Jasmine on Sept 26, 2009 15:28:35 GMT
Today's gardening section in The Telegraph has an article on penstemons and a special offer to buy a selection of plants.
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Post by Jasmine on Sept 26, 2009 16:30:02 GMT
Can't get the link to work but if you put 'telegraph penstemons' into google the article and offer comes out at the top of the list.
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Post by Jasmine on Sept 26, 2009 17:47:23 GMT
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Post by purplejulia on Sept 26, 2009 19:45:13 GMT
Thanks Jasmine. I googled the Telegraph before you put the link on as I don't buy this paper. It is a very interesting article by Sarah Raven and I am very tempted to order the plants as you can apply for the deal without getting the newspaper.
I have a few penstemons in my garden but there is always room for a few more.
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Post by Jasmine on Sept 26, 2009 19:57:23 GMT
It's not a bad offer is it PJ? Penstemons come into their own at this time of the year.
We only get The Telegraph on Saturday because I like the gardening bit. OH isn't sure this is the best reason for buying a paper that the next door neighbour's rabbit gets more use out of ;D
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Post by purplejulia on Sept 26, 2009 20:22:08 GMT
I couldn't resist the penstemon offer Jas and I was persuaded to buy 5 Helianthemum too. They don't charge postage either so it is a really good deal.
So thanks for that Jasmine!
PJ
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Post by Jasmine on Sept 27, 2009 16:14:13 GMT
You're welcome PJ. I ordered the penstemons too - didn't realise there were extra choices if you went online ;D
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Post by Jasmine on Oct 11, 2009 10:09:50 GMT
Does anyone grow penstemon light of life? I ordered 10 penstemons for £10 from Hayloft Plants and because the offer was so popular 3 of the listed plants have been substituted. Juicy Grape had been changed for Light of Life but it doesn't come up on their web site and I can't find anything on it when I google it. I just wondered what it looked like.
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sorry to pop off topic 
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