Was expecting to arrive at the plot and clear away plants killed off by the frost, it had been down to minus 5 the night before, instead I find rhubarb still shooting, blissfully unaware that it really shouldn't be (sorry, flower lady, will attack it next week regardless ::)) and this little beauty, carrying on as if balmy days in Med.....and one flower!!!
Excuse my ignorance but what is it???
See I do need a course??
Chris
LOL, Chris! No just realized hadn't said, is me being a dufus!! It's an aubergine.
Lottie ;D
well I definitely want some of them for next year then, what variety?
Derekthefox :D
Derek, I have to hold my hands up and say "Haven't a clue!!" picked them up from nursery when they were reduced and my labelling leads alot to be desired....though I will do better next year!! Have opted for pencil instead of permanent marker....cos they not permanent... ::)
Lottie ;D
Lottie, the weeping willow down our garden is still if full glorious leaf! And the apple trees are all leafy and still have fruit hanging on in there! Strrrrrrrrange!
Hey EJ! Don't know if you remember my very poorly twisted willow, well blow me down, it's started getting new leaves!! Keep running out going "No!! Put them away!!" Have to say, this season been the strangest yet in my part of world..
Lottie ;D
It's amazing isn't it - the weather says January, the plants say October. The willows near me are still full in leaf. The oak and another big tree which I haven't yet identified are still covered in leaves, brown leaves yes, but leaves.
Half my rhubarb went soggy where the leaves were frozen, but then there are baby shoots on it to!
One of my apple trees has most of its leaves, the other one is bare (both the same variety!)
Well, it's dead now!! Popped over to plot to dump carpet for covering, and it was black mess!! But, found the label!!! It was Blackbell F1 hybrid. ;D
Lottie
So glad I used fleece on my beans....
Beans are fine, thank goodness! Or me mum'd be up in arms!! Think it's her favourite veg...Never fleeced them as yet, they seem to come through whatever, though who knows if gets much colder....
Lottie ;D
blackbell ... thank you.
Derekthefox :D
I cheated and got bargain bin plantlets....
is it right that you dig the roots of rubarb up and expose them to frost ? apparently so im told that it does the plant good ???
i thought i would ask first any answers appreciated
carl
well, not heard that one before... ???...will watch with eyebrow raised in an intrigued manner....
Lottie
I have never enquired, but I have noticed several gardeners on my allotments do that with the rhubarb crowns. I think they combine splitting the crowns and clearing out the beds and replanting all at the same time. Makes sense to me.
Derekthefox :D
Apropos of nothing, a 99p tomato plant on my kitchen windowsill that I left to grow because it makes me laugh (triffid-like, it's taking over the kitchen) has fruit set.
Things like this are great fun, Bupster, and if you crop the fruit, the experience will be divine !!!
Derekthefox :D
Quote(sorry, flower lady, will attack it next week regardless )
no probs Lottie!
Talking about weird, I have just found a rose blooming. :o
And I brought in my last two albeit green tomatoes!!! ;D
Will try and hack it out during the week!! It's gone from the sublime to the ridiculous!! Has gone from shooting merrily, to leaves collapsed and frozen solid!! But I will not be beaten!! Same here with roses, going mad, daft things, they'll be tired next season at this rate..... ::) ::) ::) ;)
Lottie
Quote from: carloso on November 23, 2005, 21:38:26
is it right that you dig the roots of rubarb up and expose them to frost ? apparently so im told that it does the plant good ???
...
I don't dig mine up and expose to frost, and mine do very well thank you. :)
I think this is an old wives tale - if the roots wanted to be exposed to frost, they'd make their way up to the surface on their own!
Roses doing teh same and that daft clematis didn't even have the sense to shrivel in the frost this morning just sat there with a big smile on each flower like it was a blamy 20 degrees.
Roses flowering, bulbs showing lots of leaves. Â Have I rip van winkled winter away or something?????
Where do you all live??? Bahamas or somewhere??? ;D
Everything I have has been knocked back by the recent hard frosts and is all wrinkled and dead looking!
West Sussex for me.
Hertfordshire ;D
Coventry.
you dig up crowns for forcing (altho in my experience not necessary), you have to throw the crown away afterwards!
I put one of those plastic composting bins (empty) on top of one of my rhubarb plants (left in situ) last spring to force it - it worked really well, with great long, tender pink stalks as a result.
I didn't dig it up for forcing, and I didn't throw it away - but must admit I didn't pull so much from it in early summer, to give it a chance for next year. It seemed fine.
I have a variety (unknown) of rhubarb that comes very early, my neighbour, who supplied me with the crowns, even pulled his first crop this year on the last day of February ...
I am able to pull plenty by the middle of March.
Derekthefox
Traditionally rhubarb does benefit from being lifted and exposed to frosts... I lifted some to move last year and left them exposed over winter...had a lovely vigorous crop
Derek
Oh Derek!!!! Why would you say that?? Why? Why!!! Sigh...now I've got to lift the whole lot, knowing that!....as she dons coat and trudges off into the bleak winters morning, struggling with spade........But thanks really!!!!! ;D ;)
Lottie
Well I have some that needs moving too, so might lift it shortly and see what happens ...
Derekthefox :D