Does anyone know anything about gardening?

Cross post from chilli/allotment threads:
Misc superhot chilli seedlings available in e17. Probably 10 or so going spare.
Will probably be a few sweet peppers available in the near future as well.

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ooh - nice!

my chilli plant is losing its leaves; is this normal for the time of year or should I be doing something to help it? It produced it's first chilli last year so I'd like to keep it healthy.

I just need to convince my wife to let us expand the flower beds. Or just do it when she’s out and pray for forgiveness

There is never enough space - I have a scheme to use the (flat-ish) porch roof my partner is not yet aware of

Your partner is not aware of your porch roof?

I fancy a pond. I might make a pond. I have a big 1 sqm dish shaped iron fire pit thing that I don’t use, thought I could bury it, fill it and let life take its course, would that work?

Any recommendations of water plants and where to get them?

I have a big 1 sqm dish shaped iron fire pit thing that I don’t use, thought I could bury it, fill it and let life take its course, would that work?

i'm gonna say no.

not big enough, not deep enough and made of iron. I think it would be worth finding something a bit more suitable. like a few m2 of butyl pond liner :)

I've tried a couple of small ponds in the past and they sort of turn into stagnant puddles rather than self sustaining eco systems.

I wonder if there's a minimum size where ponds work like ponds?

Did this last year - https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-pond

Got some plants from here - https://britishpondplants.co.uk/
And here - https://www.habitataid.co.uk/products/pond-plant-collection

Excited to see it grow through its first full spring. I find myself peering into it like a cat watching for fish, only I’m watching all the various insects, beetles, larvae etc.

wonder if there's a minimum size where ponds work like ponds?

Yes there is. You need enough volume with enough depth to maintain temperature and give space for life. Even when you look at those barrel ponds, there is a large depth and volume to them.

That said there is this
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-create-mini-pond

I repurposed an old porcelain shower tray and I got seed shrimp and hoverfly larvae / blood worms. Frogs lounge in it at night. I did put plants in though.

Somebody I know has frogs in her tiny pond.

Wildlife won't always be big or photogenic, but you want a specific critter you probably have to spec the pond to suit it.

Last year we had frogs, newts, dragonflies and lots of other critters . Takes a bit of time for things to get established though. Solar pump is great to oxygenate the pond too

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Soon

I often see Frogs in my garden.
There was a very large pond that was filled in by the previous owner about 10 years ago so perhaps they are returning to old spawning grounds? Not sure they live that long though.

🐸 Looks like a nice healthy pond!

Might do a proper pond at some point but it's the sink for now. Got water mint and an oxygenation plant for the sink and Mr and Ms wood pigeon and magpie ate drinking from it.

If you've got means to collect them, Old barrels can be had very cheaply and easily.

https://youtu.be/xhyUW1p4Rdw?

A rare WFH day. Lovely to see some Crocus' and the Hellebores out!

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GQT archive compilation of ponds/similar.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001vsn5?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Great plants for early pollinators :)

Saw a honeybee on one of mine.

My front garden borders a small section of woodland.

Can anyone recommend some decent flowers to plant just into the cover of the trees that will take the shade and flourish. Self reseeding or spreading would be a real win for me.

Hellebore
Chives*

*they really are excellent, seeds and splittable bulbs

Any kids in the household?
If 'no', or biddable, Foxgloves prosper at woodland edges.

Me too! @JWestland

Apparently though the queens are coming out too early this year so there’s nothing but hellebore to feast on. It can affect bee populations and pollination which puts a big downer on the whole affair 🙁

Obviously ferns but loads of other things too. Epiemdiums, Japanese anemones, toad lillies, Solomon's seal etc etc

https://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/