Does anyone know anything about gardening?

You can grow (smaller) squashes on upwards frames like cucumbers & courgettes. They need to be fairly sturdy though as they obviously weigh more. All of of investment for not much return compared to a courgette though.

established herbs

Good thing you didn't get the goats.

Is the Chelsea flower show something anyone can get tickets for? Or do you have to be a member of something?

Thinking about it as a gift.

The first two days, I think, are only open to RHS members but then the second two days are open to the general public.

turn up on the day and pay on the gate

the first few days and the last when they sell the plants can get busy though, maybe sell out

Cheers.

I guess an RHS membership might be a good present.

The magazine is quite good - better than Gardener's World, at least

Nature acting like an arse, blowing all my leaves about.

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Looks like a MASSIVE tree on the right.

It's just a very tiny birdhouse.

@TheButchersDog - It is a massive Sweet Chestnut. I had its slightly smaller sibling chopped down a 18 months ago which halved the leaf problem.

I would run a mower over those leaves and make me some compost

In the bad old days at this time of year I could fill five 1 tonne bags with leaves and chestnuts. There are just too many. So far this autumn I have taken twenty 80 litre bags to the tip, just from the grass. I haven't started the boarders yet.

I have 4 big trees in my garden the 2 largest being a pine and a conifer which are just starting to touch/encroach on each others light. Starting to consider if we should lose one but they are such beautiful trees and have a ton of wildlife in them.

Plus London needs all the trees it can get.

Does anyone on here grow Bonsai?

I got one the other day then began reading. Oh my goodness, this rabbit hole goes deeeeeep.

I have a few at work.

Been doing a bit more reading.

Scratch rabbit hole and make that a rabbit warren, complete with its own bonsai collection and further rabbit holes.

I am afraid.

@Ramsaye are you serious about them?

Nope, they came with the office. As did the elderly chap who tends to them.

His name isn't Mr Miyagi is it?

Hongkong Garden is in Chislehurst High Street.

Christmas is done, and I'm beginning to dream of spring and the garden blooming into life. The tentative shoots of the spring flowering bulbs poking up are giving me a lovely rush of hope.

I've done a tonne of mulching with horse manure and bark chippings, hard work but it feels like something that will repay me in spades next year.

My thoughts are turning to some flowers for the year ahead and I am determined to succeed with lupins this year. First issue is slug and snail protection. I think I am going to try a garlic drench this time - does anyone have any success or failure stories with this technique?

I would also like to try and grow some lupins in a container, as well as a border, but I am concerned about the root depth. Again, does anyone have successes to report?

Two recommendations.
Noticed how when you are digging you are soon joined by a Robin,
who dives down to claim any revealed (small) worms/insects?
No Robins? Put up a nesting box.
Robins & Blackbirds love sorting through mulch for tasty proteinaceous snacks.
Do you have the space/soil depth to bury some hefty logs?
These, if you are lucky, will encourage a variety of beetles.
Beetles love to eat slugs, especially those tiny 3/4mm long black slugs that thrive in a mulched garden. You know someone who can offer you some (cut to 9 inches long) logs.

Interesting, I will look into the log burying thing.

We have a nesting box and a bird feeder up, with some recent evidence of activity. Fingers crossed.

Thanks Graham (Graeme?)

greenfly / aphids usually plague lupins
the tops go black with critters, lupins must have some good stuff in them, buy a carton of ladybirds on line just before they come into flower,

went out hunting for ladybirds last year on the common but didn't see a single one, they are a great pest killer, you don't see them much these days maybe we are due for a glut of them as often happens in nature when they swarm every 7 years or so

I put a compost bin in the garden today... Stage one of putting some vegetable beds in this week... Already got a few tomato plants in pots on the go and a few other bits (aubergines, chillis, courgettes) in planters that aren't doing so well... Excited all the same!

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