Thursdays Top 10 Tryouts (Or Show Us Yer Tips 8)!!

Wildflowers

 1.  Saving Cucumber seeds. Leave the Cucumber on the vine until it is FULLY RIPE & the vine is dead. Keep the vine & cucumber dry, leaving it for about another week. After the Cucumber has turned soft, scoop it out, placing the "scoopings" into a container of clean water. Leave the seeds for a week then separate the seeds from the goo. Rinse & dry the seeds for a month then seal in a dry air tight container, keeping them in a cool dry location.

2.  Yet another spray against Aphids. 1 grated Lemon rind (or other strong citrus fruit), 1 Pint of water. Boil the water, remove from heat source add the rind & allow to soak for 24 hours. Strain the liquid, add to a spray bottle & spray the Aphids with it.

3. Hostas are good plants to grow in moist shady locations. In dry weather keep them mulched and add fish blood & bonemeal feed in Spring. If you grow Hostas in containers ensure that the soil does not dry out. Propagate by division in Spring after new growth has started.

4.  April is a good time of the year to prune Roses. Prune back last years stems by approximately half and add some feed around the plants.

5.  A list of a few plants that will add various fragrances to your garden/plot. Antirrhinums, Marigolds, Nasturtiums, Poached Egg Plants, Sweet Peas, Sweet Scabious, Buddleia, Daphne, Lilac, Magnolia, Mahonia, Mock Orange, Ornamental Quince, Witch Hazel, Roses, Clematis, Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Wisteria, English Bluebells, Hyacinths, Narcissus.

6.  The best times for planting out your seedlings (after they have been hardened off): Early morning, late evenings, cloudy/dull conditions, showery weather or after rain. Try to avoid planting on hot sunny days.

7.  Got a good memory? Check those containers you used last year for keeping various liquids in especially if you use chemical sprays etc. If you are not sure what has been in a container, dispose of it safely and use a new container.

8.  Some fruit and veggies, ideal for growing in confined spaces/containers. Carrot (Parceba) (in pots), Cucumber (Mini munch) (in confined spaces), Lettuce (Cut & come again) (confined spaces), Pepper (Caldero) (Hanging baskets), Tomato (Garden pearl) (Hanging baskets), Runner bean (Hestia) (Large pots on the patio), Strawberry (Florian) (Hanging baskets).

9.  Has your old electric kettle just burnt out, use it as an extra water jug for watering houseplants.

10.  Summer flowering bulbs can be planted at this time of the year if the soil is not waterlogged? Plant in well drained soil into a hole approximately 3 times the bulbs' size. Add drainage (gravel) to heavy clay areas of soil. Mark the areas where the bulbs have been planted, especially if other, later planting is planned.

Images courtesy of National Garden Bureau