Watering

Yahhhhhh - water!!!!!

As I have told my husband, 90% of gardening is water. I water everyday and I do it by hand so that I can keep an eye on the progress of everything daily and make a plan each weekend to attend to certain needs. Of course this is what I love about gardening; there is always something to do. However, whereas too little water is detrimental especially in our climate, it can be just as detrimental with too much watering. Ensure you are aware of what all of your plants and/or trees' requirements are. For instance, the Neem tree only gets water once a week, whereas my roses get some everyday.

Another thing I have found is that when buying various smaller palnts and flowers from businesses a lot of the time they have these items under cover or inside. When putting them outside for the first time, ensure they get plenty of water. They may appear to die off, but keep at it, they will come back in, adjusted to the new light and sun, strength fully adapted and lush.

So make sure your garden and you get just the right of water everyday!

Gerbera Daisy

I love daisies. I wore them in my hair and carried gerberas as a bouquet, just three long stemmed white gerberas – beautiful. I love to put them in the house when I can – but only from the florist, I very rarely if ever, cut anything from my garden to put in the house. I like them outside, it encourages me to be outside more – especially after all day in the office! So why not grow my own. Easier said than done!

After the first one I killed (which I never do), I considered this may need some special care and I went and found it. First, they are from South Africa, so they like a lot of sun and less water than one would think. They like well drained soil and are prone to powdery mildew. Once again, if you water the base and not the leaves you can avoid this fungus. But I do use a light fungicide once in a while to prevent them even thinking of growing this fungus. Eugene Joiner (I hope thats right!) who has wonderful gardens in West Palm Beach on Jog Road (go and see – it is a must) recommends using nothing. When the fungus kills off the leaves, they will grow back fresh and new. I, however, have never been accused of patience. So I have mine in soil with rocks underneath for drainage. I almost let them wilt with dryness before watering and I clip them back when required.

I like to keep seeds and use them to replant. But with these I have only ever found hybrids and these do not seed at all. Look at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG034 for more information on growing and caring for these lovely flowers.

Enjoy the large colourful gerbera daisy!

Roses

Hmm, what do I know about roses?? well, they love sunlight and LOTS of water. However, do not water the entire plant but only the base, as they are prone to black spot as a result of tap water. In the event you have a problem with black spot – cut off all the effected areas (with the black spot or yellowing leaves) and get them away from the plant. This is a fungus and will spread. Then try a mixture of water, washing up liquid and baking soda, Spray on everyday to cover the leaves, but not enough to water the plant again, and eventually the plants will clear.

As for fertilizer, I use lard. Yup, lard. I make my own, from the beef fat I ask the local supermarket to save for me. I did have to persuade them I was not going to make patties or any type of food first. Then boil, chill and skim. Repeat until you have reaped all of the lard. Throw away the remaining muck in the pot!! But the lard is to be placed as close to the underside of the plant as possible. In the event you have to dig some up to get the lard under, don’t worry, it will bounce back with much vigor and generous blooms!

Cut what’s left after the flowers die at the next junction where the leaves are (look for new growth) Two will come up from there. With climbing roses, if you position the branches as horizontally as possible, it will bloom upwards with numerous shoots off the main horizontal branch. Thanks to Chris for a lot of this information

I am partial to red, but remeber that there are other colours and variants.

Welcome and Introduction

Welcome,

I have always found that for everything I have had to do or figure out in the garden, I have to turn to local business or research on the internet as research is something I love to do, and learn as a result thereof. However, the only relevant information to us is to go with what Florida has to do or experience, but they have one thing we don’t – dirt!!! Grand Bahama is, as my husband states, “a piece of rock with some scrub on it”. So, how to take the rock and scrub and make it a garden?

I like to use all natural landscaping and methods. The least amount of chemicals the better. I have found that I lean towards English gardens, being boarded in school from 8 years old and spending as much time in the UK as at home. So I like roses, lush foliage and flowers – not so plentiful here without a lot of work – which I don’t mind. However, to try to achieve this without the use of extreme chemical and pesticides is a real challenge. Let’s not even discuss growing food stuffs (well not for right now at least, more below).

So what I have tried to do is share my experiences with other avid gardeners as I learn from my own garden. Where I am clueless and have had to go to a local “expert” for information, I will state so and request they write a piece for me to post or refer you to an additional site that has the information. I have also provided this as a way for you to get more information from others who have experienced what I may be going through in the garden. In short, to provide a forum for us avid NON PROFESSIONAL gardeners to talk plants all day long if we so choose – because Lord knows no one else wants to hear about my garden anymore!

Enjoy.