Finally…. we’re getting some plants ready for sale, first tray of chilli plants are added as in stock. They’re getting listed as they hit sale size, approx three sets of true leaves.

Also the rhubarb has started to break bud with first leaves showing so I’ve made them live for sale again. Other plants are coming along, despite the massacre that the hard frosts have inflicted on my stocks. That said…. they’ve survived prolonged temps of -8c so they are strong plants!!!

Had some issues getting them to germinate this year, so they are coming along in small batches.

The plants are coming along well now, although it has been quite a challenge to get germination started this year.
I am about to move the first of the batch into their final pots. They have their first sets of true leaves and I can see roots at the bottom of the pots so, time to give them more space.

The recently planted chilli seeds have started to germinate so they are moving quickly from heated germinators to warm grow-light environments.

Once they have their first leaves, they will be transferred into 7cm pots to grow on until they reach sale size – about 9cm or three sets of true leaves.

I will be putting messages on Facebook and Instagram with their progress and also once I start to make them available for sale.

They will be available on this website before they go onto Etsy – however I will check the weather and any possible industrial action prior to sending as I’d rather delay posting by a few days rather than risk sending in any sub-zero temperatures.

All done today but thanks to everyone who stopped by the stall today and purchased plants.
See you next time!
Spoke to quite a few people today, if you would like to be kept up to date please use the link on right to visit and like my Facebook page or send me your email to add to my mailing list for new plants and upcoming events.

It’s still warm here in West Cumbria, but now it’s rainy too….. the slugs are everywhere, am hand picking them off the cabbages and salads…..

Good news however is that I have lots of seedlings coming along, taking advantage of this October heatwave and we’ve got Broom, Penstemon, Geum, Achillea and more…..

I’m hoping that I’ll have some more lily material coming soon, and I’ll be starting some interesting house plants off from seed when they arrive shortly!

The ferns are coming along in their enclosed environment and I’ve got some new Iris cultivars on order which I hope to have plants from in the next couple of seasons.

Look out for new items in the shop, I’ve got some BCSS journals and I’m hoping to list more books and other resources soon.

I’ve just taken delivery of a superb batch of Conophytum. Afraid a few are for my collection, but the rest I will get established in their new pots and hopefully make available in 2023. Very happy that we’re getting some flowers already.

I’ve also put a batch of Coleus ‘Black Dragon’ or Painted Nettles (Image Right) on the shop, they are still growing hence the lower price; although they work well in sunny outside borders, they’re not frost hardy but they do make great indoor plants for a sunny windowsill.

If you can give one a home, please pop onto the shop and order yours today!

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder despite the still relatively warm days.
In my vegetable garden the summer crops are done, tomatoes, chilli, cucumbers, gherkins, French beans and sweetcorn are all going over and the plants are going straight to compost. Getting the nutrients ready to go back into the ground next year.

The winter salads however are growing strongly, still some warm sun and good light to get them to a good size before the real cold weather arrives. Mizuna, Mustards, Lolla Rossa, Rocket, Lambs Lettuce, Spring Onions and Chinese Cabbage. My first batch are already starting to fill the pots and I’ve made a second sowing today, these will take a bit longer to get going but will provide some fresh food in the months ahead.

The cacti and succulents will be popping in and out of the warm holding area where they spend their nights under cover and on days that are a few degrees above freezing they will come out to get some winter sun but all watering has now stopped.

I have a number of Auricula and primula seedlings coming on and the cooler weather will suit them well.

Much of the stock is starting to either loose leaves or die back now and will retreat underground until spring, in their pots.

The Iris and Lily are starting to die back, however the bulbs and rhizomes will be ready to go again in a few short months. I have invested a large amount of resources and time into the lily stock so hoping that we will have a few plants to offer in 2023.

The ferns are coming along slowly, they’re slower than a Diplodocus to be fair but hopefully they will produce some plants in 2023 that we can make available.