Sorting out the Tree Line. Me and Iris organised the potted trees along the drip line, moving things around and closing gaps to make better use of the space. Then we created the structure for the installation of a third drip line by Paul Mealy with post and wire. We didn't quite have the appropriate tools so made the most of resources we had - mallet, hammer, pliers, metal staples and wire cutters.
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| Photo 1: Erecting a new structure for another drip line. We mad the wires as taut as possible. |
I also sowed some Bupleurum rotundifolium seeds in a pan using Tref mix. Sowing 30 or under seeds a pan is used, half tray for 30 - 50. As this was a medium seed I pile soil in the pot and didn't tap down, just levelled it out with a rectangular wooden piece of wood from middle outwards on both sides. Tamped it down to 5mm from top of pot and watered soil first. Then I covered it evenly with vermiculite. Then I put this on the heated bench with mist unit in House 1 - taps are on if vertical and off if horizontal. On the label - you put department name, initials of staff member right at the top with line drawn underneath it. Then sideways at top - name of plant. Beneath that brackets of which area it is for and then another brackets with number of seeds sown. This crossed checked with a sowing list and ticked off appropriately. On the other side of the label I wrote the date. This is all done in capitals.
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| Photo 2: Sowing Bupleurum rotundifolium. |
Paul also introduced us to the Chrysanthemum collection he looks after:
- Chrysanths are prone to white rust - chemicals used Bumpa as a curative, Systhane as a curative and preventative. Rust spores can travel for one mile. So when watering it is best to not get water on leaves.
- They are lined out for max. ventilation, they are in number order.
- He has a Japanese, Chinese and Champagne collection (the latter has big globes, are late season and are used for the Christmas Display in Glass. They are a historic collection.
- Older leaves are taken out, then plants are trimmed.
- There are 3 plants to 1 pot - each plant will have 3 - 5 stems. Sometimes 1 plant per pot trained and pruned to just one stem and 1 flower.
- They use to use hot water to treat Chrysanths - 46°C in a tank - then dried off and potted on.
- They are kept cool over winter (in Twin Span).
- Stems are pruned to secateur length.
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| Photo 3: Symptom of White Rust on Chrysanthemum. |