Thanks 1905 - and noted about the watering. Reading further online about NOT transplanting parsnips, I reckon a 25% chance with these. Ah well, we'll see!
I've struggled with parsnip germination in the past. It's the only veg I sow that I'll make a point of getting fresh seed each year. I usually do two methods of sowing - firstly direct in drills with a thick sprinkling of seeds (you usually get several hundred in a packet) which I'll thin out if they germinate in clumps by cutting off the unwanted ones rather than pulling them up, so the roots of the remaining parsnips aren't disturbed. The other method I tried for the first time this year with some success is germinating in a tub with a lid on damp kitchen towel. You can then plant any seeds you can see starting to germinate.
I'm liking the damp kitchen towel method addix, that never crossed my mind / have never heard of doing that for parsnips. How many that went into the ground then continued to grow?
New plant for me a couple of weeks ago here at the front of the photo... ...it's a Trevesia burckii aka Burck's Trevesia or a Ghost's Foot.
Actually an indoor plant, but I've some success in using house plants outside over the summer.
Bit of a bargain, as it was £15 in the hospital wing at the garden centre but is being sold online for as much as £130 for this size. Not a chance I'd pay that for a plant that could be dead in a couple of weeks!
Thanks 1905 - and noted about the watering. Reading further online about NOT transplanting parsnips, I reckon a 25% chance with these. Ah well, we'll see!
I've struggled with parsnip germination in the past. It's the only veg I sow that I'll make a point of getting fresh seed each year. I usually do two methods of sowing - firstly direct in drills with a thick sprinkling of seeds (you usually get several hundred in a packet) which I'll thin out if they germinate in clumps by cutting off the unwanted ones rather than pulling them up, so the roots of the remaining parsnips aren't disturbed. The other method I tried for the first time this year with some success is germinating in a tub with a lid on damp kitchen towel. You can then plant any seeds you can see starting to germinate.
I'm liking the damp kitchen towel method addix, that never crossed my mind / have never heard of doing that for parsnips. How many that went into the ground then continued to grow?
Probably a good 50% which has potentially given me my best results ever. The proof will be when it comes time to pull them up. I found so many of them were germinating on the towel I had to make more space for parsnips in the beds as I couldn't just discard them after they'd gone to the effort of germinating! I just left the tub in the greenhouse so it was warm and checked it every few days.
Thanks 1905 - and noted about the watering. Reading further online about NOT transplanting parsnips, I reckon a 25% chance with these. Ah well, we'll see!
I've struggled with parsnip germination in the past. It's the only veg I sow that I'll make a point of getting fresh seed each year. I usually do two methods of sowing - firstly direct in drills with a thick sprinkling of seeds (you usually get several hundred in a packet) which I'll thin out if they germinate in clumps by cutting off the unwanted ones rather than pulling them up, so the roots of the remaining parsnips aren't disturbed. The other method I tried for the first time this year with some success is germinating in a tub with a lid on damp kitchen towel. You can then plant any seeds you can see starting to germinate.
I'm liking the damp kitchen towel method addix, that never crossed my mind / have never heard of doing that for parsnips. How many that went into the ground then continued to grow?
Probably a good 50% which has potentially given me my best results ever. The proof will be when it comes time to pull them up. I found so many of them were germinating on the towel I had to make more space for parsnips in the beds as I couldn't just discard them after they'd gone to the effort of germinating! I just left the tub in the greenhouse so it was warm and checked it every few days.
Nice one, that's a decent return. Keen to see how us parsnip growers get on over the coming months.
We've recently moved house and our lawn(s) are much bigger than I've been used to mowing. I've got 1 main lawn, separated into 3 separate large areas by tree line and shrubs, along with 2 smaller areas at the front and side of the house. It took me 5.5 hours to mow the lot last weekend, spread over two days. It didn't feel like a bind as I find mowing the lawn very therapeutic normally but bloody hell it was hard going in the sunshine as I just used my old petrol manual push mower. It literally needed a run up to go over some of the ant nest mounds and some exposed tree routes. The lawn is in a proper state but over time I know I can improve it.
So, I've started investigating ride on mowers and robot mowers to help. Has anyone used either?
The robot sounds brilliant in theory but I do wonder if it would cope with the size of the area. I get the work around would be to get one lawn cut, bring it back to base to charge and then send it out again. From what I understand, by using the robot regularly, the cut is so fine that it would just be left on top and would virtually disappear. The robot could be put in a weather proof tiny structure and it could be left outside. We do, however, have a LOT of trees, including pine trees which drop needes and lots of pine cones. Would a robot cope with pine cones? Or would I need to rake the lawn before each cut?
As for the ride on, I'm not sure the lawns are actually big enough to warrant one. I certainly couldn't use it on the smaller areas at the front of the property and would still need to use my old petrol mower. Presumably a ride on would literally destroy everything in his path and then I'd have splintered pine cones everywhere?! I'd also need to find somewhere much bigger to store it. But it would collect all the grass cuttings and I'd be able to compost the cuttings.
Or, should I just upgrade my petrol mower to a motorised one, to take the effort of the pushing out of the equation. Although it really wouldn't save much time and the most time consuming part was emptying the cutting box. Mrs JB helpfully suggested that some sheep might be willing to help.
This is what I'm dealing with...
Main part of the lawn...
Back of the main lawn, behind the trees...
Directly to the right of the main lawn and it opens right up on the right hand side...
My brother-in-law has got a much bigger garden than us and he has got a ride on but he suggested a robot might be best for us.
So has anyone got experience of a robot or a ride on*, want to hear your words of wisdom, what you bought and how you've got on with it!
I have a lot of lawn probably more than yours ..I am skeptical about robot mowers in a non formal setting..seen them in stately homes etc but not in private gardens ( I feel equally skeptical bout robot hoovers) ..obviously you have too much for a battery.
Ride ons ..you won't get as good a finish as you would with a mower and of course you need to satisfy yourself you can access the corners,round and under bushes etc . Looking at those pics it looks as if the ride on will work to à degree But youll find yourself strimming edges,mowing bits
If it were me
I would go with a maximum cutting width petrol rotary with roller that has either a Honda or brings and Stratton engine and of course a drive that petrol mowers have nowadays but youll end up with a big compost heap
I have a hayter ,I'd recommend anything Honda....anything stihl also
Thanks lolwray. I did think a ride on was probably overkill for what we've got. I'm dubious about the robot just mulching and leaving the cut on top of the lawn. We've got a robot hoover to accompany the normal hoover and we've had mixed success with it. I'm not totally convinced tbh.
I like the idea of a propelled mower, it'll take the pain out of the job for sure.
And as for the compost heap, blimey yes, I was surprised how big it was once I was finished.
The Grass goes down to nothing eventually. Once I empty the collecting box and put it in a ton bag ( used for gravel/sand deliveries and fill it up and the drag to compost area . Must admit I do get anal about my stripes. Happy mowing..I love it
Stiga ride on with a front cutting deck would be my choice, you can just nip around, see where you are cutting which is helpfull if you have different shapes to deal with. It will multch the grass but don't let it get too long. I do my half acre at the back, the smaller area at the front of my house plus the neighbours back garden in about an hour. Godsend in my opinion, 4wd stiga 340, deck is a meter wide.
I'd be creative and turn it into a pitch & putt or perhaps showjumping.
NB what happened about the defunct swimming pool or have I got the wrong guy?
Yep, thats me. We bought and sold that house as an investment. We sold it almost 2 years ago now.
I hate golf with a passion, its a good walk spoilt. Never doing that lol. Am considering putting in a proper cricket net with a bowling machine so my girls can learn to bat properly
Holy f*ck, I couldn't have that on my conscience... I'm aware that we've got hedgehogs in the garden. It didn't even cross my mind until you've said that, thank you.
Anyone struggling for water these days, I collect quite a large amount hopefully over the winter, but already all of my water tanks are virtually empty, emergency watering only at the moment.
Anyone struggling for water these days, I collect quite a large amount hopefully over the winter, but already all of my water tanks are virtually empty, emergency watering only at the moment.
Cracking plants @jonseventyfive do you propagate your own ensetes or buy them in?
Anyone struggling for water these days, I collect quite a large amount hopefully over the winter, but already all of my water tanks are virtually empty, emergency watering only at the moment.
Cracking plants @jonseventyfive do you propagate your own ensetes or buy them in?
I've a tropical plant genius just round the corner, he gets them started and I get them tiny, lost quite a few over the winter (poor health) now I'm back it's all catch up with hopefully a good show next year.
Anyone struggling for water these days, I collect quite a large amount hopefully over the winter, but already all of my water tanks are virtually empty, emergency watering only at the moment.
Thats a cracking show John..hope they all survive ..its getting a bit autumnal now perhaps they might get some benefit from the moisture in the air overnight
I’ve used almost 1000 lts of water since the last heavy rains, my dahlias really struggled and I’ve as good as sacrificed them in order to keep my cannas, bananas etc suppled. Getting in the IBC from a local farmer was the best 25 quid I’ve spent on the garden…..
Comments
...it's a Trevesia burckii aka Burck's Trevesia or a Ghost's Foot.
Actually an indoor plant, but I've some success in using house plants outside over the summer.
Bit of a bargain, as it was £15 in the hospital wing at the garden centre but is being sold online for as much as £130 for this size. Not a chance I'd pay that for a plant that could be dead in a couple of weeks!
Probably a good 50% which has potentially given me my best results ever. The proof will be when it comes time to pull them up. I found so many of them were germinating on the towel I had to make more space for parsnips in the beds as I couldn't just discard them after they'd gone to the effort of germinating! I just left the tub in the greenhouse so it was warm and checked it every few days.
We've recently moved house and our lawn(s) are much bigger than I've been used to mowing. I've got 1 main lawn, separated into 3 separate large areas by tree line and shrubs, along with 2 smaller areas at the front and side of the house. It took me 5.5 hours to mow the lot last weekend, spread over two days. It didn't feel like a bind as I find mowing the lawn very therapeutic normally but bloody hell it was hard going in the sunshine as I just used my old petrol manual push mower. It literally needed a run up to go over some of the ant nest mounds and some exposed tree routes. The lawn is in a proper state but over time I know I can improve it.
So, I've started investigating ride on mowers and robot mowers to help. Has anyone used either?
The robot sounds brilliant in theory but I do wonder if it would cope with the size of the area. I get the work around would be to get one lawn cut, bring it back to base to charge and then send it out again. From what I understand, by using the robot regularly, the cut is so fine that it would just be left on top and would virtually disappear. The robot could be put in a weather proof tiny structure and it could be left outside. We do, however, have a LOT of trees, including pine trees which drop needes and lots of pine cones. Would a robot cope with pine cones? Or would I need to rake the lawn before each cut?
As for the ride on, I'm not sure the lawns are actually big enough to warrant one. I certainly couldn't use it on the smaller areas at the front of the property and would still need to use my old petrol mower. Presumably a ride on would literally destroy everything in his path and then I'd have splintered pine cones everywhere?! I'd also need to find somewhere much bigger to store it. But it would collect all the grass cuttings and I'd be able to compost the cuttings.
Or, should I just upgrade my petrol mower to a motorised one, to take the effort of the pushing out of the equation. Although it really wouldn't save much time and the most time consuming part was emptying the cutting box.
Mrs JB helpfully suggested that some sheep might be willing to help.
This is what I'm dealing with...
Main part of the lawn...
Back of the main lawn, behind the trees...
Directly to the right of the main lawn and it opens right up on the right hand side...
My brother-in-law has got a much bigger garden than us and he has got a ride on but he suggested a robot might be best for us.
So has anyone got experience of a robot or a ride on*, want to hear your words of wisdom, what you bought and how you've got on with it!
*No @DaveMehmet, not that kind on ride on!
Ride ons ..you won't get as good a finish as you would with a mower and of course you need to satisfy yourself you can access the corners,round and under bushes etc . Looking at those pics it looks as if the ride on will work to à degree But youll find yourself strimming edges,mowing bits
If it were me
I would go with a maximum cutting width petrol rotary with roller that has either a Honda or brings and Stratton engine and of course a drive that petrol mowers have nowadays but youll end up with a big compost heap
I have a hayter ,I'd recommend anything Honda....anything stihl also
We've got a robot hoover to accompany the normal hoover and we've had mixed success with it. I'm not totally convinced tbh.
I like the idea of a propelled mower, it'll take the pain out of the job for sure.
And as for the compost heap, blimey yes, I was surprised how big it was once I was finished.
Happy mowing..I love it
NB what happened about the defunct swimming pool or have I got the wrong guy?
I hate golf with a passion, its a good walk spoilt. Never doing that lol. Am considering putting in a proper cricket net with a bowling machine so my girls can learn to bat properly
https://www.sciencenordic.com/animals-denmark/do-robotic-lawn-mowers-hurt-hedgehogs-dr-hedgehog-has-the-answer/1856882
Thats a cracking show John..hope they all survive ..its getting a bit autumnal now perhaps they might get some benefit from the moisture in the air overnight
Getting in the IBC from a local farmer was the best 25 quid I’ve spent on the garden…..