I’d be lying if I said that there are no downsides to a life in horticulture.
We have no electrics in the greenhouse which means no heat or fans. So botrytis and mildew have set in, aided and abetted by the old wooden staging. OK, we have used a paraffin heater occasionally, but this gives off condensation so doesn’t really help. Next year I either need to invest in proper control systems for the greenhouse, with the concomitant costs, or not bother with autumn seeds and cuttings – the success rate after the end of September is too low.
Mice have proved a big nuisance too. We bought 3000 bulbs this autumn. The mice ate 60 species tulip bulbs in a week whilst still in their packaging in the shed. They’ve since successfully located the planted ones in the scree bed and also in the pots we’ve planted up for sale on the nursery. We’ll won’t find out the true scale of their raiding missions until spring.
And the weather is vile, even for a hardy soul like me. A series of icy, squally showers made today’s unavoidable trip to the local tip with our old bathroom a bone-chilling experience. At least most of the nursery plants are under cover but work outside is more or less at a standstill.
On the bright side, it’s just two weeks till the shortest day. We humans may not notice immediately, but many plants will, and the cycle will start again.
2 Responses to “Botrytis, mice and hail.”
Oh dear. Frittillaria imperialis is supposed to deter mice.
I have suffered with botrytis (however its spelt) in my cold frame. I am also losing Delphenium seedlings in the greenhouse although it is heated and I cant see why!