something to show

[devonwoody]

A british summer rare occasion, our front wall.

.

 

[andrewm]

Now that's impressive. You are obviously spending far to much time in the garden

I decided that this year that I would sow a patch of my front garden that has always remained empty with Californian Poppies. I wanted something that was bright, easy to grow and that would self seed for next year. Said patch was duly dug over, some three-year-old compost dug into it and liberally sprinkled with seed. One month later I have a quite magnificent crop ...



... of milk thistles.

There a certainly a few poppies in there as well but it is almost as if I have sprinkled a packet of thistle seeds over the area. Have finally finished hand weeding the whole area and the poppies are looking very sorry for themselves And they are supposed to be easy to grow.

Andrew
(who thinks he is better staying in the workshop)

 

[devonwoody]

Your three year old compost was hosting a nice crop of seeds

 

[andrewm]

Your three year old compost was hosting a nice crop of seeds

Well, that was my reaction. But given that the compost is composed mainly of all the weeds pulled up from the garden how long should I leave it before it's safe to use?

 

[devonwoody]

If the compost has been exposed since curing I expect the seeds came in windbourne etc.
Perhaps the poppy seed was old and the soil rich, so weeds had a feast?

 

[andrewm]

If the compost has been exposed since curing I expect the seeds came in windbourne etc.

Hardly. It was at the bottom of a dalek like composter which I got from the local council. This is the first time I have used any.

Perhaps the poppy seed was old and the soil rich, so weeds had a feast?

New packet bought the weekend before planting.

Green Fingers, Moi?

 

[Paul Chapman]

Lovely show, DW =D> You must have green (or should that be pink?) fingers :wink:

Paul

 

[CHJ]

...snip..
Well, that was my reaction. But given that the compost is composed mainly of all the weeds pulled up from the garden how long should I leave it before it's safe to use?

Hate to tell you but unless the compost heap got hot enough to cook the seeds expect them to be viable well beyond your lifetime. A compost heap needs to reach a minimum of 60deg. Celsius (140o Fahrenheit)

Anything broken down below these temperatures has just Rotted and not Composted, seeds are designed to resist rotting.

Do a GoogleUK on composting, and several references such as This Oneturn up which may help.

 

[CHJ]

Lovely Show John, It would seem the garden is in the pink as you yourself are once again.

 

[jasonB]

Obviously no hose pipe ban down in Deven then :wink: unlike here, I come under Sutton & East Surrey so welcomed the rain at the beginning of the week.

Jason

 

[devonwoody]

Thanks, someone else quoted it was not a garden but an oversized window box!