Gardener's Question Time

A horticultural hello to all the green fingered Toytowners out there.

Having come from a balcony to a full on garden, spring has apparently sprung and I am left with many many unanswered questions about the various fauna in our garden. This is my first garden and I have admit to thoroughly enjoying myself pottering around in the earth with a bucket of tools and some gardening gloves. I am however, a complete novice and have to write little tags on things so that I know what is a rasberry and what is a bramble, what is columbine and what is belladona :-)

Most of it is taking care of itself and is looking potentially very pretty judging by the amount of buds and wee sprouts. I have two particular projects which I am looking for help with.

Our pond, more waterlillies to keep the sun off, some nice reeds for the frogs and other insects to live in, and some oxygenating plants to keep the algae at bay. Anyone know when is the best time to plant and what lillies etc. thrive best here.

Our herb garden, is basically a fallow, but very fertile patch, all prepared and ready to sow, but when to sow. Should We start planting and sowing now, or wait a couple of weeks.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

The ground is way too cold to plant.

For your herb garden your looking at April the earliest. What ever you do start weeding now. Use a dutch hoe - stop sniggering in the back there jenkins - and get used to the idea of doing the beds weekly.

Thanks Gideon,
Would it be worth planting the seeds inside and then puting them out in April? I'll pick up a dutch hoe on my way home tonight, dont think my wife will be too happy about the uninvited guest for dinner, but then maybe she can help out in the garden as well. ...I'll get my coat.

If you have basil seed, you can start that off indoors now if you like. They take about 14-21 days to germinate, then let them get a bit bigger before slowly weaning them to the great outdoors.

Seeds can be a real pain. With the weather the way it is at the moment they'll grow on the windowsill or in a a little plastic sowing box like billy-oh. But the weather isnt stable enough to risk putting them out to harden, so you'll end up with over stretched plants which won't handle the outside especialy wind so well.

There is the rule here of the eisheiligen, you shouldn't plant before then. I would reccomend that you wait till you can do a Freiland Aussat - direct planting - in April or May. Follow the instructions on the packet. And what ever you do buy good quality seeds. The ones in the diamond shaped packs are awesome. There is a great 1960s Gardeners kalender book. It's worth buying because it deals with German seasons. Will post title later.

Your first year is going to be getting used to the garden... patience is what gardening teaches anybody, you can not force nature, even though with weather like now your itching to stick your trowel in the nearest bit of open ground.

Hi Gideon, thanks so much for your help, it would be great if you could post the name of the book. I know the seeds you mean and will pick some up in the easter holidays. i will take your advice and do all the weeding and preparing until after easter. The garden is actually quite established, but the previous owners of the house did nothing for four years and it is only since we tidied everything up that we realised what plants were already there. It is fantasic just to sit out there and look at them. Home made apple, bramble and rasberry crumble with fruit from our own garden was the absolute highlight of last year, I am hoping for a similar harvest this year. Thanks again, derek

Showem, cool, that would be something I could do with my son to get him interested as well, thanks

We have a pretty extensive herb garden and, being to lazy to grow from seed, get the young plants from Dehner garden shop in the spring. As Gideon says, in Bavaria a rule of the thumb for planting outside is the "Eisheiligen" (Mamertus – 11th May, Pankratius – 12th May, Servatius – 13th May, Bonifatius – 14th May, and Sophie – 15th May). When they have come and gone you should be safe from frost. I have disregarded this piece of old folklore twice and been caught out on both occasions. Although this year has no real winter to speak of so you may be safe a bit earlier. (I am not going to risk it though - twice bitten, thrice shy )

What is the best time to cut back roses here?

Back home it is around February-March ish would it be about the same?

I have a full on garden this year too and I am not too familiar with some of the things that grow here. Although the jonquils and crocus are sprouting up and should be blooming in a week or two!

p.s. Pass the hoe, I need all the yard help I can get!

You can cut roses back if no strong frost is expected.
My roses already show some new sprouts.
I think I will wait 2 weeks.
An other rule is to start cutting roses back when the forsythias are blossoming.
Crocus are blossoming here for two weeks. Apparently it is somewhat warmer here.

Derek, if you want to interest your son, beans are always good. They grow quickly, so the little ones don't have to wait too long to see a result.

I agree with the others that sowing inside is a risky business. It really depends upon the plant and the season. Too much time and too little light inside will weaken the seedlings to the point that they'll just flop over and die when they first go outside.

In situ is generally best. If you're anxious to see something growing, you might sow some chives inside, given sufficient light, they might well survive until planting time. You could also start some garlic. They appreciate a head start. When I was a kid, beans and potatoes were fun to watch grow. Even if they do keel over when you put them outside, your son will have an idea of what to expect. Carrots in a cup can be fun as well.

I'm not especially familiar with plants/gardening, but I was hoping someone out there could recommend some nice, low-maintenance plants for an indoor window box. I'm looking for something that will bloom a lot and/or look healthy for a long time without being choked out because of confined root space. I bought a couple of small "Primel" (Primula acaulis) plants the other day (admittedly I know nothing about them except they're purty), but I'm looking for some other options as well. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Spider plants. Easy easy maintenance and look very luscious and healthy.

Rubber plants. I've got several in my house that have all come from the same original plant. All I do is give them water once a week and they grow really well. In case they're called something else in Yankee land, here's a piccy:

Excellent! Thanks for the input, I'll get planting and post some pics once my mini-jungle has had some time to thrive on my window sill.

Hello to all you horticulturalists, I need some advice as I really don't know where to start!

I now have 2 balconies and I'd like them to become 2 very colourful balconies. Am looking for suggestions on what to plant, how and when.

I like bright colours, big hanging type flowery things, stuff that doesn't have a 90% chance of dying in my care. I'd like to plant a bit of lavender and some rosemary for the smell and I think they aren't too difficult, but I don't even know any names of pretty flowers I could go for.

One of the balconies gets sun most of the day whereas the other one doesn't get much at all...

Any suggestions appreciated!