Androsace

[David Nicholson]

Although I specialise in Bulbs I have this notion that before I get too long in the tooth I should grow many more alpines and my Seed List choices last year and this year have been very much directed at alpines in general and particularly North American plants.

I have bought small plants of Androsace alpina, A mathildae and A (Douglasia) montana and am trying to decide whether it would be best to grow them in pots (greenhouse space problem!) troughs, or raised bed and would welcome any advice. I notice that in this thread Zdenek has shown them in both pots and raised bed and in the April 2009 Flowering Now thread WimB shows A mathildae also in a raised bed.

Given that my climate is wet and more wet if I were to try them outdoors would I need to give them protection over the Autumn/Winter seasons?

Any views greatly appreciated.

[Maggi Young]

David, I'd think some overhead protection from wet ( maybe in summer as well as winter!!!) would be a good idea.  Something along the lines of Ian's favoured method of squares of weldmesh with a perspex lid would be a good answer. These are easily made, don't blow around and can be quickly deployed in grotty weather.
Will have a look for a link to what they look like, for anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about.....

[Maggi Young]

David, I'd think some overhead protection from wet ( maybe in summer as well as winter!!!) would be a good idea.  Something along the lines of Ian's favoured method of squares of weldmesh with a perspex lid would be a good answer. These are easily made, don't blow around and can be quickly deployed in grotty weather.
Will have a look for a link to what they look like, for anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about.....

Here's a link to a Bulb Log with the "rain hats"  : http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2010Aug041280927654BULB_LOG__31comp.pdf  -they can be made any size, from single small plant size to large cushion or whole trough cover - very versatile.
 Bulb Log 31 2010 - Trough protection from rain.

[hadacekf]

Here's a link to a Bulb Log with the "rain hats"  : http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2010Aug041280927654BULB_LOG__31comp.pdf  -they can be made any size, from single small plant size to large cushion or whole trough cover - very versatile.

A simple and good design!

[Graham Catlow]

Hi,
I have a different design based on Ians 'rain hats' that I thought I would share with you.

Photos: 1&2 are of the covers in place over two of my troughs.
Photo 3: shows a cover easily removed during dry weather.
Photo 4: the underside of the cover which shows the frame that fits over the weld mesh frame.
Photo 5: the cable ties (thats what we call these in the UK), that hold the four weld mesh panels in place.
Photo 6: The weld mesh frame removed showing the flexibility of the frame.
Photo 7: the frame flat packed for the summer, (but still as a single unit due to the cable tie construction), for easy storage.

[Maggi Young]

Excellent improvement to the design, Graham, cleverly allowing a flat pack for storage.
I also like the cunning use of supports through the weld mesh to allow for the inclusion of your planted pot under the cover of the trough "hat" :   genius device!

[Graham Catlow]

Thank You Maggie 

[David Nicholson]

Thanks for digging out the info about the "rain hats" Maggi and thanks to Graham too for his slant on the design concept. I shall add the project to my list of jobs to do. The top of the list is to build a block plinth on which my stone sink (yes, the one I've had for about ten years and haven't done anything with!) will sit. The second is to convert the polystyrene boxes, (yes, the ones that presently take up a lot of space in the garage and have done for some time!) into troughs.

You will gather from the above that as far as job listing is concerned DIY projects tend to get left unless, as another important member has it, it's my daughter who needs something doing.