Thank You for Coming
Can you find yourself in these pictures?
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| Anne - our retired chairman |
Why not come an join our club?
We enjoy sharing garden knowledge and activities; whether we are beginner or experienced gardeners.
Doug began his talk by describing some new, scientifically engineered methods of killing off weeds from food crops which do not involve widespread use of chemicals and insecticides. Using heat to ‘cook’ and sterilise weed seeds, (using robotic cameras equipped with hot ‘guns’ and Laser technology) are being actively trialled. There is even a scheme to ‘farm’ spiders which will eat certain flies!
The RHS ‘New World’ Vegetable Garden at Wisley is at the forefront of such experimental methods: seeking to dispense with toxic products in favour of (often ‘age old’ methods) to control of weeds.
As an advisor and lecturer to the RHS, as well as many other horticultural training institutions, Doug is passionate about how gardening can be sustainable yet also very productive.
Doug talked about using a ‘no dig’ style of growing vegetables and the benefits of using home-made compost. He also suggested dividing small plots into grids (with companion planting) for rotational vegetable growing - the 'Patchwork' Approach'! In itself, crop rotation helps to keep the chemicals in the soil in better balance, improving prevention against infection. Rain water too helps healthy growth. So rain water needs to be captured but also used (not becoming stagnant).
Doug warned us about the need to research what veterinary medications might have been administered to any cattle/horses before using their dung to enrich our garden soil . Also what sprays / weed killers might have been used on the straw bedding of such animals (as this bedding is inevitably mixed in with manure). Antibiotics and worming treatments can have a negative impact on food production.
There were reminders during the talk about making full use of plastic products; not discarding them when they can be re-used in many innovative ways. Plastic as a product is very useful. Take care that wooden raised beeds may be harbingers for slugs & snails!
In summary, Doug reminded us to be 'mindful' of how we nurture our productive vegetable gardens. And of course whilst doing so we must take breaks for our wel being,
Do send us pictures / notes from any garden visits you make.... Here are some from Jude's recent mid spring visit to Windsor Great Park
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After showing us a wonderful display of plants and herbs, Helen began her presentation with a demonstration of planting up a hanging basket using ‘pollinator’ plants. The basket was plastic-lined before being filled with multi-purpose compost and slow release fertiliser. She then planted a variety of flowers for all year round interest: ajuga for spring / summer flowers - aubretia, wallflowers and a nepeta which can flower over the winter, along with veronica which is beloved by bees.
Next Helen planted up a moss-lined hanging basket with summer annuals. She again recommended using slow release fertiliser for plants in pots and containers. Helen also uses an initial feed of phosphate when planting, followed by a twice-weekly seaweed feed until flowering begins. A regular tomato feed maintains sufficient nutrients. Helen chose nemesias – varieties Little Cocoa and Pink Lemonade, followed by diascia Apple Blossom , a saffina and a trailing nepeta.
Helen's husband ( a retired teacher) makes troughs and containers to order and Helen set about planting up one of his wooden troughs using just herbs. Layering compost with grit prevents the herbs from becoming waterlogged. French parsley, rosemary, marjoram, sage and a thyme were added. Regular trimming and cropping the herbs for culinary use, prevents any of them becoming too vigorous.
Helen then described the many varieties of herbs which they grow on their property and had brought samples for us to see. Planting a pollinator friendly herb container using chives, thyme, hyssop, sage and lavender is an easy way to support insect life.
Historically, herbs and flowers have been given symbolic meanings and Helen pointed out a few -
Myrtle - for everlasting love (used in Royal wedding bouquets)
Tarragon - is symbolic of enduring love
Basil - means good wishes and purity,
Chamomile - to indicate patience.
Many herbs also have beneficial medicinal uses. In medieval times lemon balm was used to relieve anxiety and teas using garlic and ginger were brewed to fend off colds and infections.
Finally, members had an opportunity to purchase some of the plants and herbs they had brought with them.
Helen's Herbs can be found around Cumbria
at various Farmers Markets, Food fairs and Shows.
by Jude Jansen
The first part of Lyn Wilson’s talk was centred on the fact that many insects and birds are dependent for winter food on the seed heads of many of our garden plants.
Her advice was to, not cut down and clear away every autumn plant but to leave those with seed heads to overwinter as sustenance and shelter for wildlife.
One of the slides showed goldfinches feeding on seed heads in her garden. The protective warmth offered during their hibernation period is vital for ladybirds and lacewings, both of which are voracious aphid eaters. Once the outside temperature rises to 10 degrees, bumble bees tend to appear and so early flowering plants provide invaluable nectar for them. Bug, butterfly and bee boxes in the garden are an excellent way to encourage more wildlife into your garden.
Plants to consider for early spring sustenance to small creatures include mahonia, sarcococca , jasmines, helebores, snowdrops and primulas.
The second part of the talk was a very useful practical demonstration of how best to prune a variety of shrubs and plants in order to maximise their flowering potential. Plants from Pine Tree Nurseries were used as demonstrations to indicate how, why, where and when to prune.
Sharp cutting tools are essential and the basic 3 D’s (dead, diseased or damaged) provide a rough guide when deciding which branches are removed including any which are crossing or rubbing or are weak and straggly.
A Quick Synopsis for Pruning:
Group 1 - The first group of plants to prune are those which flower in summer and bloom on the same season’s growth….buddleia, spirea, hardy fuchsia, perovskia, hydrangea and roses.
Group 2 - The second group are those which flower on the previous years growth and flower during the winter months and spring, such as philadelphus, weigela, ribes, forsythia, vibernam. These are all pruned after flowering.
Another common principal of pruning is to only remove about one third of the stems of a plant each year in order to maintain a good structure and encourage more blooms.
In Cumbria ... "advice is to delay all pruning due to our northerly colder climate."
Lyn then demonstrated how to prune the various types of hydrangeas…including paniculata , arborescens and macrophilla. Other plants used to demonstrate care and maintenance tips included lavender, dogwoods, herbaceous perennials, sedums, hemerocallis( day lilies), iris sibirica, and various ornamental grasses.
A fact-filled, practical and informative evening’s entertainment was followed by the opportunity for members to purchase plants from the wide selection available which had been brought from Pine Tree Nurseries.
https://pinetreenurseries.co.uk
