Outdoor planting

lancer1027

Western Thunderer
Hi Rob
As Phill mentioned above, its all basically the same species (Honeysuckle), there are just variations on a theme.

Lonicera Nitida seems to be the main species of honeysuckle bushes as opposed to climbers. Baggensens Gold is a bit like a sub-species of Lonicera Nitida ie same family, slightly different characteristics (more yellow than Lonicera Nitida). Either would do you I think, my recommendation would be to try and find Lonicera Nitida if you can as it settles to a nice green during late summer through to spring when it gains a yellow hint. I've planted some Lonicera Twiggy, a similar yellow colour to BG but it seems more reluctant to grow than the Nitida or BG.

Just be careful when you go to not buy a climber like Lonicera Japonica - easy to recognise by having larger leaves and being a flowering honeysuckle. These are often sold climbing up a couple of garden canes, great for attracting bees but not so good if you want to grow a bush.

Hope you like ladybirds by the way, my record this year is 23 of them within a 3 foot length of the Nitida, soaking up the morning sunshine :)

HTH
Steve
Thanks Steve, i think i will go for the Lonicera Nitia as i like the green colour. Also the section i will be planting it,it needs to be a little higher than the rest . Hence why im planting soooon.

Rob:thumbs:
 

lancer1027

Western Thunderer
Dead easy to get cuttings going off both Rob, so you will not need too many, unless you are in a rush for really fast results :)

Yes Phill thats what i was going to do. Buy a couple of plants take some cuttings get them in the greenhouse leave for a whilethen when im ready to plant HEY PRESTO railway foliage:thumbs::)

Rob
 

lancer1027

Western Thunderer
Today i have been shopping. I called at Homebase armed with my 15% off everything (this weekend only) voucher, with the thought of getting my first "Baggensens Gold" plant.:thumbs:. However they had'nt got any and SWMBO decided to use the voucher for her tomato , cucumber , raddish , spring onion and carrot plants and seeds.:confused:. Not really sure that went according to plan:confused:.

So onto B&Q, nope they didnt have it either.
Next off to the local garden centre. ( not been there for over a year:eek:), and it showed as it is no longer a garden centre:oops::rolleyes:.
A quick think and scratch of the head and off to the next garden centre (local'ish) . After wandering up and down the isles of plants and not finding anything other than "box" hedge i was just about to say "balls to it lets go home", SWMBO decided to do the obvious and "ask". To my supprise they had some and i had walked past it twice:oops::oops:. So £6.99 later i had my very first plant.

Now off home to plant. When i got home i decided to invade the green house.:thumbs:. So 20mins later and armed with rooting powder, compost and trays i am now the proud owner of 63 cuttings:thumbs:;). But i have just been informed that it was " with help" from SWMBO:rolleyes:.
I now wait eagerly to see how many actually grow:)

Rob
 

Phill Dyson

Western Thunderer
It's pretty hardy Rob, they should do well :thumbs:........make sure you give them a little water each day until they get going ;)
 

Simon

Flying Squad
I'm happy to report that my cuttings" of "lonicera jumblia" from Steve's garden two weeks ago all appear to be thriving:thumbs:

Hoping to get out into the garden tomorrow...

Simon
 

lancer1027

Western Thunderer
Just a quick up-date.

I have trimmed the first years growth of Beggensons Gold ( or what ever its called ) and stripped the stem, dipped in rooting powder and have some more cuttings in the green house. ( Hopefully they will grow ).

These will be planted next year i think or unless someone enlightens me that i can plant sooner:thumbs:

Rob:)
 

Phill Dyson

Western Thunderer
Just a quick up-date.

I have trimmed the first years growth of Beggensons Gold ( or what ever its called ) and stripped the stem, dipped in rooting powder and have some more cuttings in the green house. ( Hopefully they will grow ).

These will be planted next year i think or unless someone enlightens me that i can plant sooner:thumbs:

Rob:)

I normally plant mine straight into the garden throughout the summer Rob;) ..........maybe try both methods & see which works best for you?:)
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
I think a bit depends on whether you are going to be planting them in full sun or not Rob. I've planted cuttings straight into the garden but only had a 40% success rate, partly I think to a dry spell in the weather when I wasn't at home. I'm trying to give this years cuttings a better chance by potting them up for a few weeks to grow some roots, then they can go into my garden (or someone elses :) ). I think if you can water them daily then it won't matter.
Out of interest, did you squash the end of the stem before dipping it in rooting compound? I've been mashing mine with a hammer, letting them sit in water for 20 minutes or so, then dipping in rooting powder and sticking in a pot. I'm just trying to figure out whether its worth the extra effort :)
Steve
 

Phill Dyson

Western Thunderer
I think a bit depends on whether you are going to be planting them in full sun or not Rob. I've planted cuttings straight into the garden but only had a 40% success rate, partly I think to a dry spell in the weather when I wasn't at home. I'm trying to give this years cuttings a better chance by potting them up for a few weeks to grow some roots, then they can go into my garden (or someone elses :) ). I think if you can water them daily then it won't matter.
Out of interest, did you squash the end of the stem before dipping it in rooting compound? I've been mashing mine with a hammer, letting them sit in water for 20 minutes or so, then dipping in rooting powder and sticking in a pot. I'm just trying to figure out whether its worth the extra effort :)
Steve

Hi Steve & Rob:)


I scrape a bit of the bark/skin off at the base of the cutting then dip them in water & then rooting powder & finally I then plant them, I also water the cuttings every day until they establish themselves. I haven't measured my success rate as there is an endless supply of cuttings here, but would guess the success rate is quite high though .

Phill :)
 

lancer1027

Western Thunderer
I think a bit depends on whether you are going to be planting them in full sun or not Rob. I've planted cuttings straight into the garden but only had a 40% success rate, partly I think to a dry spell in the weather when I wasn't at home. I'm trying to give this years cuttings a better chance by potting them up for a few weeks to grow some roots, then they can go into my garden (or someone elses :) ). I think if you can water them daily then it won't matter.
Out of interest, did you squash the end of the stem before dipping it in rooting compound? I've been mashing mine with a hammer, letting them sit in water for 20 minutes or so, then dipping in rooting powder and sticking in a pot. I'm just trying to figure out whether its worth the extra effort :)
Steve

Steve, No i haven't squashed the stem just cleared the stem about an inch from the bottom , dunk into rooting powder then tray up in compost. Keep watering and hopefully they survive. Some do some dont.

Rob:)
 

lancer1027

Western Thunderer
Hi Steve & Rob:)


I scrape a bit of the bark/skin off at the base of the cutting then dip them in water & then rooting powder & finally I then plant them, I also water the cuttings every day until they establish themselves. I haven't measured my success rate as there is an endless supply of cuttings here, but would guess the success rate is quite high though .

Phill :)

Phill,

I haven't scrapped the stem/bark, should i ?. :confused:

I will give these cutting a couple of weeks them plant in the garden:thumbs:

Rob:)
 

Simon

Flying Squad
I just dunk 'em in the old tooting compound and stick into pots, keep moist as others have said. Cut just by a stem division.

They nearly all "work", planting out time a few weeks later I reckon although some of mine were in pots over winter before going in.

Must do some more, I love the "something for nothing" of this magical nature type stuff!
 

Phill Dyson

Western Thunderer
Phill,

I haven't scrapped the stem/bark, should i ?. :confused:

I will give these cutting a couple of weeks them plant in the garden:thumbs:

Rob:)

I don't think it really matters about scraping the stems if your cuttings are taking Rob, but now you have potted yours I would make sure they have new growth before replanting outside;)
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Cheers chaps :)
Another question while I think about it. After your cuttings have taken, either in the ground or pots, at what point do you nip the top off to promote bushing out rather than a mighty solitary bean stalk type growth?
Its not something I've done before so I'm curious, although there are a number of willing specimens outside in the rain...
TIA
Steve
 

taliesin

Western Thunderer
Possibly of interest to some is the recently published book 'Planting your Garden Railway' by Becky Pinniger.
I must admit i have not read it myself but she has had articles published in Garden Rail and 16mm Today for more years than i care to remember and is acknowledged as being something of an expert in this particular area.
Might be of use to someone, cheers Rob
 

lancer1027

Western Thunderer
Cheers chaps :)
Another question while I think about it. After your cuttings have taken, either in the ground or pots, at what point do you nip the top off to promote bushing out rather than a mighty solitary bean stalk type growth?
Its not something I've done before so I'm curious, although there are a number of willing specimens outside in the rain...
TIA
Steve

I havn't done Steve, all i have done is just prune the odd straggly one and re-pot it. But my planting has only been in the garden for a year.

Rob:)
 
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