Gardening - And All Things Garden Related (2)

Carrying on Veg Grower's now v long thread: Gardening - And All Things Garden Related.

@luckyhens:

Don't miss out on this opportunity to take a FREE look at this fab magazine :) Home Farmer

Get Up & Grow – Spring sessions (Link)

First visit is FREE then just £1.50 per session!

There will be a launch date for each of the venues with lots of different activities to have a go at such as clay oven building, wood turning, crafts, bee keeping plus much more.

www.getactivewiganandleigh.co.uk

Looks good that jo anne probably take a look ta

Hers a gardening tip my grandad used to tell me as I helped him in his back allotment. Always on the 1st of March every year he planted his Onion crop for the season.and his saying was

"A little bit of frost a little bit of snow a lot of sun and watch them grow"

Funny how you remember things from a long long time ago.
So thats my job this sunday ...Thanks to my Grandad

Everyone must be in there gardens has nobody has posted for a while .

l have still got about 2 feet of snow down the front flower beds, won't be able to get in the back for another week or so. l am getting anxious to start planting. We had an unusual cold winter so hope all my bushes and perenials survived.

How are your onions doing, Blackrodweaver? Has the snow now thawed, Marsin?

The Royal Horticultural Society say Good Friday traditionally means potato planting day - link



Sunshine House, Scholes - link

no jo anne, still lots of white stuff on the garden.

Jo anne... onions are now sprouting and coming on well just put a sprinkling of fish blood and bone on to feed the roots.

all my seedlings in the greenhouse have shot up this week ready for potting on.

been round the kitchen garden at haigh hall get quite a good few tips from there worth a look if your at the hall

Hope the snow shifts soon, Marsin. It sounds like things are growing well for you, Blackrodweaver.


Joining Communities Limited (FB):

Leigh area:

FREE allotments at Pennington Hall Park, it has only been going for approx four weeks and anyone can have a plot ... anyone wanting more information please call into Pennington Tea Room in the park - link

Free wild flower seeds from:
countryfile.growwildukseeds.com

I-Spy's link

What has anyone planted/sown this spring?
I've spent most of this morning sowing cosmos, last years nasturtium seed, fox glove seed and potted up three cannas. Then went on to remove several weeds from the lawn.
Feel very pleased as I chomp on a thick bacon butty.

Hi Anne,I've got cosmos seeds in propagator at the
mo..planted nasturtium seeds that I kept from
the flowers last year,have got cucumbers about two
inch high in other propagator and runner beans..
tomato plants in greenhouse oh and some poppy
seeds sprouting from last years poppies..just
can't wait for Summer..hope you enjoyed your
butty.

We planted some Daffodils and they have all sprouted triple heads

Anne the flowers on the go are lobellia, petunia, viola, marigolds, and growing on some begonia plug plants I get every year from jersey plant direct and of course sunflowers for the grankids to see who's grows the tallest

Hope everyones blooms bloom. Although I do a few annuals I prefer perennials because they almost look after themselves. Not much trouble removing dead growth and some dividing in the autumn/winter.

On the look out for some rockery stone, any ideas for the best place to purchase some

PeterP..... I have some rockery stone you can have for free but you will have to collect yourself. Can't remember how many pieces I have I will go and look.

PeterP.... I have about ten pieces. I don't think it is top quality stuff but it was in a rockery I demolished some years ago. Just want to get rid.

Anne thanks sent my e-mail address to Brian hope you get it this time Also sent my phone number to admin to pass onto you

Anne I have resent details to Brian/admin no word back yet

PeterP..... I have also asked admin about emails. If nothing's happens I can only suggest we meet somewhere.

wigangrowingnetwork.org.uk

Plant sale St Marie's Standish on Saturday May 23 starts 8.30am. Usually excellent.

is st maries a school or church is it near a pub or shop

St Marie's church. Almond Brook Road, Standish, about 400 yards past the Beeches restaurant on School Lane, Standish.
Sale is in the church hall. Plenty parking spaces.hope that helps ann-spam

Can anyone recommend a non invasive climber for the front of my house please. I would really like something for all year interest, rather than something that flowers, but not very attractive once the flowers are gone. Its a south facing wall with no shade to speak of.

Jazzy have a look at ever green Honeysuckle . We have one which will grow to 12ft by 12ft but can be pruned to any size

Get Up and Grow – HAIGH HALL walled gardens garden

Every Tuesday 10am – 12:30pm
Come along to the walled gardens at Haigh and help look after the kitchen garden within. Learn all about vegetable and fruit growing and have produce to take home at the end of the day (In summer!)
Please contact Hannah before coming along to a session – hannah@wigangrowingnetwork.org.uk

Going to the garden centre later. We fancy growing a Grape vine in the corner of our greenhouse. We will seek some advice from the staff because we only have a 8X6 greenhouse and we don't want the vine taking over all the greenhouse.

Peter,I had a grapevine growing in the greenhouse similar size
to yours..it did take over and the grapes were very small ..so
we pulled it up,but I'd be very interested to hear what advice
you'll be given..probably be sorry we pulled ours up.

Momac told to prune in winter and prune back to a couple of buds on last years growth, This should keep it in check against overgrowing. If need be prune in the summer but not spring/or late winter as this causes bleeding and could weaken the plant

Peter..I hope you keep us up to date with your
vine..it will be interesting to see how it gets on.

The flowers and plants this year dont know if they are coming or going this year so many different weathers in a week

PeterP.... There was something on BBC gardeners world last Friday saying how to produce bigger grapes by snipping the very tiny ones out.

Cheers Anne

Anne decided to use the rockery stone you gave me to build a half moon raised bed and will use the cobbled sets on top of the soil I had to rake the stone chippings from off the top of the flags which where buried. Then took some of the flags up to lay the rockery stones. Left an area of soil round the outside of the half circle of rockery but till we buy some plants have back filled with the stone chippings. Tomorrow weather permitted will go for some top soil and fill the bed. Then it is up to the better half which plants she wants I have took some photos has I have been going along. Finished most plants in

Link - Grand Arcade

@Cazzatomlinson:

Great news first allotment / greenhouse bench rented out @MyLife_CIC
9 more to go, call up and find out more.

Rent a greenhouse bench and allotment £10 per year,
interested 01257 472900 info@my-life.org.uk

Thompson House Equestrian Centre, Pepper Lane, Standish, Wigan WN6 0PP

Links: my-life.org.uk / FB / @MyLife_CIC

Volunteers wanted - Standish Library

Before Christmas last year we bought an Amaryliss plant and it flowered in the new year. I put the plant (after flowering)in the greenhouse to die back before it was going to be put in the shed ready for Christmas. I went into the green house yesterday and the plant as started flowering again and two new shoots are growing at its base. This is an added bonus because these plants normally only flower once a year

not had a good season in the garden, not one plum on either tree, only 2 gooseberries. only half the usual crop of strawberries. tomato flowers have all dried and shrivelled-although they have been watered daily... but raspberries in abundance. Noticed a few red leaves on the maple tree today.. not ready to think of winter!

Agree, poor summer show all round. Except for my climbing hydrangea. I have cut it right down to a few stumps. When it starts to sprout again I may try to take cuttings (don't know if this will work) and train it on the back garden wall.

Marsin,my plum tree is a couple of years old now,
a dwarf one which is in a massive pot..I haven't
had one plum since I planted it..if nothing
happens next year it's coming out..same with
Morello cherry tree,funnily enough I've had an
abundance of tomatoes which is a one off for me..I've been giving them away..ain't nature
wonderful..but unpredictable

Went to Golden Days Garden Centre and normally my wife walks round with the aid of a walking stick. We take our time and look round at all of the different units. This time she felt tired so I used the wheelchair, What a nightmare I did not realise how uneven the floor is inside and outside. I would not recommend this garden centre to anyone who is wheelchair bound

momac, l read that if you give your plum/fruit trees a 'whack' in the Spring it should shake things up and you will get fruit!! did it! still no plums but loads of beautiful flowers..see what happens next year. l did give my 'standard Jasmin a whack and a good shake , it has never yield as many beautiful flowers. Went to garden centre on Saturday and bought a beautiful 'standard Hibiscus and 'standard Oleander..Anne good luck with your Hydrangea cuttings

Thank you for that Marsin..I will definitely try that..and
I'll let you know next Spring.

Well cleared tomato plants out of the greenhouse..
had a good year for the very first time...taken
courgette plant out..kept getting what looked like
bite marks on the fruit..I got them in the
beginning by accident..but don't like them anyway.
The cucumbers..well I've never seen as many..will
ask my neighbour if she wants any..have been
giving toms away too.
I'm not looking forward to Winter at all.

All this from one little seed

Anne,nasturtiums are brilliant,I read that the poorer the soil
the better which is a bonus..I save the seeds every year..but
once you've got them they seem to pop up all over the place..
they never let you down.

Just for fun earlier in the year I planted 3 red peanuts in a large pot and just left it in the greenhouse. They started growing and where soon a mass of green leaves. Yesterday I had a proper look and there were shoots going back into the soil and I uncovered one to find the start of a peanut pod Don't think I will get a lot of peanuts but the grandchildren will love looking at the plants when they visit.

Peter..I'm going to try that..I just love planting seeds to see what will happen..a couple of months ago I planted four
apple seeds,they're now about a foot high,I really don't think
they'll grow into a tree,but I've enjoyed watching them grow..it is fun isn't it.

Gardening for wildlife!
This year’s week will run from 26 Oct – 1 Nov and will focus on gardening for hedgehogs



wildaboutgardensweek.org.uk

Anne, great photos, if you'd like to resize them so they fit within the post, C&P these should work

[img="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag33/Britannia5/196_zpsvnzbk7ry.jpg"width=600][/img]

[img="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag33/Britannia5/195_zps4cvnrk7c.jpg"width=600][/img]

[img="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag33/Britannia5/198_zpsu4wjjrip.jpg"width=600][/img]

Grow Your Own Mushrooms, Haigh Hall, Sat 17th Oct, 10am - 3pm


www.redroseforest.co.uk

Last week l found bear 'scat in the garden . Hope they hibernate soon! Brought in the last of the aubergine and grapes today.
l leave half of the grapes for the birds to eat on the way south for winter.Today is Thanksgiving day here in Canada, had carrots and potatoes from the garden..

There are two small bunches of black grapes on the vine in the greenhouse and the peanut plants are still producing pods so unless we get a really cold snap then the grandkids can still see every thing growing

Winter tree ID and seed gathering walk - link

Borsdane Wood, Tue 27th Oct, 10am - 11.30am
For more info & to book, contact Lucy on 0161 872 1660 or email lucy@redroseforest.co.uk
Meet at the railway tunnel at the bottom of Hindley Mill Lane, WN2 4BT.


Exciting news - Leigh Journal:

The neglected former grounds of Worsley New Hall near Leigh will be turned into a £30 million RHS Garden.

Planned to open in 2019, RHS Garden Bridgewater will be created as part of a wider ten year £100m plus investment programme.

The 156 acre site forms part of the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater’s estate and adjoins the Bridgewater Canal.

@WALHomes: Would you like to be part of an exciting new community allotment?
Come to Central Park, Montrose Ave, Tue 3rd Nov, 12pm-2pm or 4pm-6pm, booking essential



Wigan and Leigh Homes (FB)

Great idea

Not done to bad with the sunflowers this year some fairly tall ones (9ft+) but this high wind has battered them so up they come before bin day thurs

Still Primroses in the garden,probably because of the mild weather.

It's surreal seeing spring flowers blooming at this time of year, Dave B.

Wigan Allotment Network - link:

Anyone in the New Springs/Whelley area looking for an allotment for the new year please contact dwrudd@lineone.net - a beautiful and well established, community-run site just off Whelley/Wigan Road will have a few plots up for grabs this spring.
Alternatively if you live in the Worsley Hall area we will also have plots available at our site on Poplar Avenue/Closebrook Road

I didn't think these would grow jo anne ,they were growing wild in the lawn on gable end of my house so I dug them up and split them ,I now have 14 in the front garden, and 4 in a small patch in the back garden,I know their self seeding so have to watch they don't spread.

Your little budgies look gorgeous Dave..the
Magpies etc don't look nice though,I know its
nature but the one bird I do not like is the
Magpie..have you not got a cat.

No cat momac ,I dont need one I get everybody's else cat in the garden As for the budgies Im finishing with them only 8 now ,had them for 25yrs ,aviary needs a lot of work on it,and you cant sell budgies today nobody seems to want them,pet shops wont pay you much for them .
The sparrow hawk is a regular visitor,they killed a budgie a few year ago,it swooped down and grabbed the budgie through the mesh.

The grass is growing the daffodils shoots are on there way

Link

Spent all day in the garden digging over the veg plot and putting manure on, hard going with all the rain weve had lately. But its good to get out and start preparing the soil. Next job cleaning out and fumigating greenhouse before setting the seeds off for the new season

Tree Planting at Bickershaw - link
Tuesday 9th February. 10.30 am to 2.30 pm

Find Red Rose Forest via the car park next to Fir Tree Flash which is accessed via Edna Road (WN7 5ES)
Join Red Rose Forest for tree planting at Bickershaw! Hot drinks, gloves and any tools will be provided. No experience is necessary. Drop in for an hour or stay all day!

For more information, please contact beth@redroseforest.co.uk or 0161 872 1660

can anyone tell me why john joseph has posted on gardening for a while

Ann-spam John Joseph not posted since 18th August 2014

Thanks peterp .

Hope JJ's keeping well.

Volunteers needed for My Life's Big Spring Clean and Planting Day, Sun 10th April, 10am - 4pm



Thompson House Equestrian Centre, Off Pepper Lane, Standish, WN6 0PP Link

We need help my wife and I we bought two jasmine plants from bents we have given them plenty room by putting them in very large pots.
But it is now over 3/4 years and we are disappointed at the growth of them,we were told they would grow so many inches per year ,they have not we erected an arch fro them to grow on either side , but nothing much, has anyone any ideas are we doing something wrong or what ,oh by the way we feed them as required still disappointed!

GOLDEN BEAR. l have quite a few different Jasmine plants. they are all in smaller pots eg.one that is a standard is approx 5ft high and the pot is 13¨ high and 13¨ across. this one is about 15yrs old, it went quite sluggish so when l read to give it a whack -in the spring -l did! all last summer and early winter had great flowers. l only feed them multi purpose food 10-15-10. l fed them last sept and will feed them again in april. l bring them all in for winter-we get down to -40c hope this helps. good luck.

Been a strange year so far, hasn't it.

Daffs bloomed Before the Snowdrops. Forsythia blooms only just emerging.

Winter mild but wet enough to leave soils waterlogged.

I wonder if this will be third time in succession that Spring is colder than Winter.

Don't think my daffs will flower this year. Blooming pheasants have nipped the top couple of cm off every single one. If they do flower they're going look odd.

I had a summer flowering Jasmine and I fed it on sulphate of potash or tomato feed (potassium) and pruned it in the autumn. It was a lovely plant but had to leave it behind when we moved house many years ago

Thank you MARSIN I will certainly give that a go what small flower's we got off them the scent was gorgeous I just want it to grow over the tressel and become bushy will let you know later in year how it's getting on cheers!!

GOLDEN BEAR. like blackrodweaver said to prune your jasmine in the fall. saying that l pruned one of mine last week as it was getting too bushy for inside the house! l put a few of the cuttings in little pots, they grow roots so fast. Good luck.

Priscus, Anne, l envy you your daffodils blooming! Had another foot of snow last night, approx 4ft on the flower beds. daffs should be blooming towards the end of May. The Bluejays and chickadees are busy feeding atthe feeders.

I would like to ask the owd badgers on here about pruning rose bushes, many years ago a nice old lady and her hubby told me that one should only prune them On or just after the 17th March (St. Paddies Day) has anyone heard that or are the pigs flying early??? serious though is there a right or wrong time??????

GB.... Different types of roses need different pruning, however I remember doing mine as far back as December and before spring arrived. I don't have any nowadays as I found them too much of a hassle.
This morning I planted a dozen lily bulbs so now it's wait and see.

Thank you very much ANNE, I will give it a few days more in case somebody has some news ,failing that I think there is a chap I know who used to run a garden centre I think he should know!
ANNE I wish you the best with your LILY BULB'S CATCH YOU LATER,

Hi GB I used to do mine feb/march and they came out ok, just before the new growth starts coming through.

My Onion sets are in, along with carrots, leeks, early lettuce under cloche, potatoes I put in late March...then it snows, but had that done to me many times but they always come good

Ask Google.

Put in how and when to prune Rose 'Danse du Feu' in UK?

Obviously enter name of you variety if different.

If you do not know variety, put in type

eg

Put in 'How and when to prune Climbing Roses in UK?'

Sometimes, I have had to cut back rose branches at the wrong time, when thorn hazards have become apparent, and they have not suffered.

Will be cleaning the greenhouse and getting rid of the cobwebs in the potting shed in the next week. Missus cannot wait to start potting up and putting the trays into the green house. Have been over wintering a Cordyline in the green house but think it will be ok outside in a few weeks time.

Thank you very much (priscus) went onto link found it to be very interesting read, i picked up some useful tips which i aim to try out,again thank-you!

Sat 19th and Sun 20th March - Bents Garden Centre Get Gardening Weekend - Link

Gardening expert & TV presenter Charlie Dimmock will be hosting a series of gardening talks covering topics such as hanging baskets, containers, bulbs and Grow Your Own as well as children’s planting activities.

Tree planting - 1st April, 10.30am - 2.30pm

Tree planting in Camberwell woodland, Kirkless. Meeting at the entrance off Camberwell Crescent to plant an understory for Willow tits. All welcome. Under 16's to be accompanied by an adult.

Email Helen at hbird@lancswt.org.uk for details - link

The flowers and grass have had some well needed rain water

Yesterday planted 4 plants in the garden which I have had in the greenhouse for a few weeks. Got up about 6-00 this morning and the car was full of ice and the lawns covered in frostjust hoping its not killed plants off

Did you harden them off?

Peter..what plants are they.

Momac they are Peony's they don't like frostThe boss bought them too early for me and they had started to flower so I risked putting them straight into the ground without hardening off they only last one season

Peter..if they don't look like they've been too
affected by the frost,put some lining over them..
or can you not take them out again and keep them
in the greenhouse until it warms up a little..
anyway good luck.

@GrowWildUK:

Fancy some FREE wildflower seeds?! Head to our website now to get yours #growwild

sow.growwildseeds.com

Help needed

After some Polycarbonate Sheets to replace the glass in my greenhouse, seen some ridiculous prices, second hand will do me. any ideas where I can get some. Thanks

E-bay

Des anyone have any marigolds that seed every year please

Marsin..just to let you know,I whacked my two fruit trees like
you said and lo and behold they're full of blossom..thank
you for that tip.

My Life (Standish) Facebook:

We are looking for shrubs, herbs, plants and cuttings for our sensory garden. Please drop off at Thompson House Equestrian Centre we need loads as we have a big space to fill! (Link)

Britain in Bloom event, Sat 16th Apr, 11am - 3pm, Wigan Town Centre (link)

To celebrate the borough’s entry into the national RHS Britain in Bloom competition.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of attractions including hanging basket demonstrations, plant sales and stalls run by local In Bloom groups.

Hi Momac. Happy to hear that you have lots of blossoms on your fruit trees. Hope you now get lots of fruit!
I will have to wait another month-at least- for any action on my trees. Have approx 2 ft of snow on flower beds.

Lovely garden weather could i please ask does anyone have any lavender flowers the ones that smell nice they want to get rid off thanks for reading still looking for poppy and marigold seeds ,

Hope someone can help, Ann-Spam

Beehive Power, Thur 19th May, 7pm - 8.30pm, Standish Library link

An interesting talk about beekeeping, by Barbara Davies. Barbara is an experienced beekeeper who looks after 16 bee colonies, each containing 50,000 bees! A very ‘buzzy’ lady!

Places are limited, £3 per person.
Tickets available from Standish Library, email: standish.library@wigan.gov.uk or tel: 01257 400496.

Greenslate Farm, Orrell - Facebook:

Interested in natural beekeeping?
We'll be running 9 beekeeping sessions on Wednesdays 10 - 11.30am starting 25th May.

Natural beekeeping aims to promote and protect bees rather than specifically to produce honey.

Evening sessions are also available if there is a demand (6-7.30 on Wednesdays).
For those that can afford to, we ask for a one off donation of £7.50 to cover the materials.

Anyone interested should call Hannah on 07904272344 or email Hannah@wigangrowingnetwork.org.uk

I got some rhubarb crowns the other day would anyone like one

www.wigan.gov.uk

HOWS the rhubarb getting along momac

It's growing a treat Anne..

plenty pies and crumbles please .

Oh yes...will let you know when.

its not been a good year for tomatoes also momace is the pies ready .

Rhubarb not big enough yet Ann.

good year for white lisbon spring onions, recommend these very tasty. plus webbs wonderful lettuce first time grown theses big leaves lovely

Hi momac, curious to know if you have any/many plums on your trees! l think l have solved the mystery of why mine are not producing fruit.

Momac could you please send me your phone number or mobile please

Hi Marsin..I had a small amount of blossom,but no plums..I would love to
know what you've learned...please.

Ann,I'll send it to you.

Just noticed this about plum trees. This year I had much blossom but no plums developed, also The leaves have a crinkled look although they are the normal green and not dropping. Some kind of airborne virus?

Our friend (owd Dave) if you remember him,he used to be a regular on ww
said only last week that he trimmed his neighbors plum tree back to three
nodes and this year he had plums forever..but it will be interesting to hear what Marsin has to say.

the pipe going underneath the veg/plum trees is leaking chlorine-we have a pool. l had known about the leak years ago but thought it had plugged up itself! will get someone in to sort it out. l will not plant anything there again. will see if l have any luck moving the plum trees. l had tried trimming the trees back as owd Dave said but nothing . have 1 plum.

Well Marsin..I can honestly say that isn't the reason I haven't had any
plums,you lucky devil you..oh to have a pool especially in this hot weather.

hot here also. hope you have luck with your trees next year.
as an add on, l have white lilies growing and every year when they are in bloom l think about when we would walk from school-St Joseph´s to church for the crowning of our Lady and we all wore white dresses, white shoes and socks a veil and carried a white lily which we put in vases on the steps under where Our Lady was crowned. Happy days

I went to St Joseph's as well..and have lovely memories..those beautiful
white satin dresses always take me back..I only have to picture them,and
I'm back there..I came from Great George st Marsin,whereabouts were you
from.

Ann..I got your text but no message with it.

momac, lived in Poolstock. Have lived here in Northern Ontario for 50 yrs. lt has been very hot here. We have a cabin by the Lake so went there for 4 days-much cooler. l took the saw to one of my plum trees and really hacked it back- will wait again to see what happens!

Marsin..did you know Molly Hill.

momac..yes l knew Molly Hill, she had a sister l think her name was Jean.

Yes..her Sisters name was Jean..Molly died a couple of years ago..Jean
also died..Molly lived just further up from me..at School there was always
Molly,Pauline Cox,Irene McGovern,Magdalen Mitchinson and me..the
famous five lol.

Roses: Last year, my roses bloomed in May, and lasted until Christmas.

This year, bloomed mid June, and have not lasted to see out July.

All are climbers.

Whites: variety 'Iceberg'. Only a couple managed to open: mostly they balled. ie turned brown and rotted before opening. Many causes of this, but probably the excessive rain to blame.

Reds: variety 'Danse du Feu'. Some bloomed, some balled. Some plants only produced very small blooms.

Pinks: variety 'Zephirine Drouhin' Bloomed, but dropped their petals within days of opening, so a very brief appearance.

I think everything in t' garden has been out of sync this year!

To much rain has made the flowers droop and vegetables not so good .

6lb of strawberries off my plants this year ,i think their called Royal Cambridge,would have been a lot more but the rain spoiled a lot,same every year
Made this frame this year to keep our feathered friends off, 4 separate frames just lift them up and prop them up with rake.

three and half pound last year so an improvement put some fertilizer on at the beginning of season

Slugs are always a problem they love strawberries ,I put pellets down, and a line of silver sand and salt all round the frames ,it helped but with all the rain in June I was fighting a losing battle

Yes, have used 'Nemaslug'in the past, but it is expensive. You can buy a lot of punnets of strawberries for what you spend on the Nemaslug.

Could not use it this year, as soil temp needs to be > 5 Deg C. This year, was subject to torrential rain before such temp had been attained, which continued right into the strawberry ripening season.

Wigan Growing Network - Facebook

Incredible Edible comes to Wigan: a great new opportunity for groups to develop new projects and to raise the profile of community food growing in Wigan. If you're interested in finding out more why not come along to the launch event on 31st August (see leaflet for details)

dave b: I like your fruit cages. I thought that I had over 2,000 strawberry plants, and last two years, had not been able to maintain them adequately.

I gave half of them away, with the intention of easing my task.

The last week or so, set about renovating: re spacing, re-seating crowns that are coming out, etc and the runners, ah 'the runners'. Believed I had clipped most of them. but obviously had missed some. One of the previous strawberry beds, I want to re-allocate to spring bulbs, so keeping only the best plants: had a yard deep pile of plants consigned to the compost heap.

AND,I STILL HAVE MORE THAN 2,000 PLANTS!

In a good year, cropping two large colanders full per day from May to July. Intend to use excess for wine/jam. but not had time, so thus far, had to give to the neighbours.

I have been using plastic netting, pegged to ground, and supported on canes. It is not really satisfactory: difficult to un-peg for access, and net inevitably torn and tangled at end of season, so looked with envy at your serviceable devices. (Have something similar for my fruit trees)

So I shall task myself with constructing something similar, now that my strawberry beds are more orderly.

I do not think I could manage the storage requirements of rigid frames like yours, even though they are likely to be the most functional. Considering the option of flat mesh panels for easy storage, and cable ties to simply fasten then into a frame, or alternatively uprights left in situ, to which panels can be secured.

Hi priscus,the frames are 4 separate frames very light easy to lift off.Im a council tenant and some work was being do on the fencing and the joiner left me some off cuts of timber ideal for the job ,my neighbour works for Asda and she brought me the strawberry nets they were on offer 50p each
The strawberry plants are Royal Cambridge very nice. Just put new plants in for next year,which i had potted from runners ,from the end of season coming on nicely.

Yes, I have some Cambridge, also some Elvira and Elsanta, and a few others whose names are not springing directly to mind.

Had intended to cloche (or poly-tunnel) the Elvira for early cropping, but over the years, prolific runners at times when my management of them has lapsed has lead to the varieties being all mixed up.

The progeny are all from runners, not seed, so the individual plants will all still be true to type: just that now, an individual plant could be any of a number of varieties. Guess I could learn the distinguishing features, and label them for future re-sorting, but what a lot of work that would be. It would never rise to the top of the priority list of jobs to do in t' garden.