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Post by NellyDee on Nov 25, 2015 16:00:47 GMT
In early spring I planted up a herb garden for my use but also to let go to seed for the insects and birds. Well we had a bit of a wet spring summer and now frost, sleet, snow. I am now a bit puzzled as the Comfrey, borage, fennel, chives, sweet Cecily and thyme have all sent out new growth from the bases. all the growth look fresh green and healthy. Having only ever grown herbs 'down south', where they either died off at the end of the season or I cut back, I don't know if this new growth is ok or should I cover the plants for the winter. I have cut back the old dead stem, and just left the new growth showing.
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Post by rowanberry on Nov 26, 2015 9:27:23 GMT
I honestly don't know- but I noticed this morning that the marsh marigold is putting out new leaves, and it should be dormant now, too. I've even still got some lobelia still flowering so I keep putting off cleaning out the basket it's in. I'd be interested to hear if anyone else still has things growing that ought not to be in November! I'm going to go out later and see what my comfrey is doing.
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Post by Cotham Marble on Nov 26, 2015 10:27:32 GMT
It's simply a measure of the mildness and wetness of the Autumn, with the first hard frost most of this new growth will be knocked back. I'm not sure how hard the Winters get on your side of Scotland - the Thyme would always be bit vulnerable to a combination of cold and wet, but the issue there is the roots, hopefully you included grit or something similar when planting to promote free drainage. The other plants I would guess will survive OK although as it's their first year the roots and crowns might be vulnerable to hard frosts on very wet ground - if you can get it I'd suggest a covering of straw rather than fleece as this tends to allow a better flow of air, and rot following frost damage is the main problem - I wouldn't worry about cutting anything back though.
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Post by NellyDee on Nov 28, 2015 9:26:31 GMT
Thanks CM for advice. Yes grit was included and yes we can get pretty hard winters. Have already had a couple of real frosty mornings and snow on the hills. I will try and get a bale of straw. I had been toying with the idea of trying to put a cover over plants or area, but decided this might cause condensation and make the ground even wetter than it is at the moment.
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Post by Harold Smith on Nov 28, 2015 10:54:36 GMT
Thanks CM for advice. Yes grit was included and yes we can get pretty hard winters. Have already had a couple of real frosty mornings and snow on the hills. I will try and get a bale of straw. I had been toying with the idea of trying to put a cover over plants or area, but decided this might cause condensation and make the ground even wetter than it is at the moment. Hallo NellyDee,
Garden/agricultural fleece would do the job of protecting your plants. The fleece allows air to circulate eliminating the risk of condensation. Micromesh will also do the same but it is a bit more expensive.
Harold.
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Post by NellyDee on Nov 28, 2015 15:43:46 GMT
Thanks Harold. it is quite a large area to cover, so I might stick to straw, which I can get quicker than fleece - nearest garden centre is 48 miles away and can't get out the area for a least a week. Farm on the other side of glen has cows so I might go and beg:) However, I will get fleece for my large pot plants - should have got sooner!
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Post by faith on Nov 28, 2015 16:49:31 GMT
The price of fleeces direct from the sheep being as low as it is at the moment, haven't you any sheep-keeping farmers nearby? Even if you don't buy any, small amounts can usually be pulled off fences wherever sheep are grazing.
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Post by NellyDee on Nov 29, 2015 10:10:23 GMT
Think I have left it too late all round. Yes lots of sheep - but all on hills. Too late - yes now got approx. 4" snow and snowing heavily - got a feeling, at the rate it is falling, it wont be long till I am snowed in.
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Post by Cotham Marble on Nov 29, 2015 15:43:19 GMT
Think I have left it too late all round. Yes lots of sheep - but all on hills. Too late - yes now got approx. 4" snow and snowing heavily - got a feeling, at the rate it is falling, it wont be long till I am snowed in. I saw your photo on the FB page - not that I'm up to dealing with hard Winters these days but I did feel envious of your having proper Winter weather, instead of the perpetual wet grey stuff we having down south. Anyway the snow will be good plant cover, except possibly for the thyme which might prefer a covering flower pot during the coldest weather. For the other plants just watch out for any thaw and freeze cycle which might damage the crowns. Horticultural fleece is fine for upright shrubs and other woody plants where the hanging fleece does wick moisture away - I find it does less well flat to the ground, especially on damp soils, and of course under snow it just gets flattened, so straw has an advantage there. Scrap sheeps wool is certainly good for protecting plants from the cold -though it can hang on to moisture.
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Post by ayjay on Nov 29, 2015 15:46:40 GMT
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Post by NellyDee on Nov 29, 2015 16:32:53 GMT
Thank CM and ayjay. think the big problem for wildlife and my plants is the ground was completely waterlogged prior to fist a freezing afternoon and early evening followed by the snow, so there is sheets of ice under the snow. I did manage to get down some bubble wrap round the plants that had actually sent up new shoots, but don't know yet how successful that has been. (had a huge roll of bubble wrap, now idea why, and suddenly remembered it).
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hank
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by hank on Dec 5, 2015 22:43:54 GMT
This mild weather has fooled a lot of plants. 2 of my Clematis are starting to sprout ; my day lilies are also coming up! I have some Fuchsias producing flower buds. At the start of November, I seeded a large area of repaired lawn. The seed shot up. I mowed it today as it was so tall! I suppose we need a week of frost to let them all know it's winter.
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