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March2010-February2010-January2010
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Austria 2009-France 2008 -Wales 2008-Wisley Trip
Garlic Wash Recipe
NEWSLETTER MARCH 2010
Email address richard@cheltenhamhorticultural.co.uk
Thursday 8th April
Mr. G.Always
Polyanthus and Primulas
Mr. Always has delighted his audience with many talks over the years.
This evening he will benefit our members with a topical slide show of one of his favourites.
Spring Show, Saturday March 20th Pittville Pump Rooms
The schedules are now available. Please give me a call if you need one, and are unable to attend the March meeting.
It is very important that everyone makes every effort to support the show with entries. At the time of writing (late February) it looks certain that the show will be short on many entries due to the continuing cold weather. We also need a big effort to get a large attendance on the day.
Help is needed as follows – Stewards -- 10:45 AM in the morning. Setting up bracket it will probably be 8.00 AM on a Saturday morning) and I also will need some volunteers on the door, plus some help to put posters up in the park. Cakes and savouries are also needed.
The show is open from 12:30 PM to 4 PM, admittance £2.00.
Cotswold Alpine Garden Society Show
There is a show and large plant sale which will take place on Easter Monday April 5 at Pershore College from 12.00 PM to 4.00 PM, admittance is £1.50. The Alpine Garden will also be open (admittance free).
Flower Arranging Classes
We have now enough people to run classes and I have booked a venue at Highbury Congregational Church Cheltenham for Monday evenings of April12th, April 26th, May 10th and May17th, the fifth class to be arranged later. The classes will be from 7.15pm to 9.15pm, and the cost of the five classes will be about £10.00, depending on the number taking part. We have, at this time, a few places left and I hope that these will be taken up promptly as they represent a bargain opportunity to start this fascinating and useful activity. I am not charging for the tuition, but we need to cover the cost of the room, my travelling expenses and demonstrating materials. Students will be able to buy some materials at cost prices. If you are interested in taking part and would like more information please contact me Tel 01285 654139. If I am not at home please leave your Name and Telephone number on the answering machine. I will deal with the calls in the order I receive them.
Michael E Castle (City and Guilds Floral Art}
In friendship's fragrant garden,
There are flowers of every hue.
Each with its own fair beauty
And its gift of joy for you.
Words of Wisdom from Chris
Can it really be March already? I seem to have been distracted by the treachery of the last months and failed to notice that the days were slipping by. There has not been a day since before Christmas when we could really feel safe about the weather and changes have come in so swiftly too. If you have had your wits about you, there have been odd days when the ground has been workable and everything that was dug has shattered wonderfully in the frost, but for many the ground has sat untouched. It is never too late though and things do catch up, so if you haven’t pushed in Onion sets or shallots, or had plans to put out Garlic or even rhubarb, nature will see them right. Theoretically things are about to burst into life and in just three weeks the clocks will change and spring will be upon us. So, it’s all systems go, with a wide range of vegetable seed needing planting and if you are not in the mood for seed, then plants will be available somewhere. If you haven’t managed much cultivation then get a few bits rolling in pots. Use 9cm pots (that’s three and a half inches to you and me) and just drop them in a line using a trowel. The system gives you a start and works well with seed as well as with young plants. I had some very good beetroot last year, just by filling the pots with compost, denting the top with my thumb and pinching in four seeds. I set the pots out when the seedlings were showing three or four leaves. It is too early for Tomatoes, Peppers and the Marrow family as well as Runner Beans, but just about all other veg can be raised (cold) in this fashion. If you do want to start the tender veg or indeed a few flowers, these can be started on the windowsill. If you are looking for work, then this is also a good month for pruning, a job that I greatly enjoy. There is something very cleansing about it, the ability to restore order and although there are volumes on the rights and wrongs, you can’t go far adrift this month. Nature is about to declare it’s commitment to growth and repair comes easily. Look for outward pointing buds and cut to taste. And finally, the first spuds can go in at the end of the month.
Happy Gardening Chris.
Holiday to Kent & Sussex 25th – 30th May 2010
Please contact me for the full itinerary and booking form for our spring holiday for next year to include the following Hever Castle, Leonardslee Garden, National Trust’s Sheffield Park followed by a journey on the Bluebell Line, National Trust’s Sissinghurst Castle Garden and Yesterday’s World in Battle with free time in Rye. On our homeward journey we will visit the RHS Wisley Gardens. Our Hotel: The 3 star Best Western Royal Victoria Hotel (Visit Britain rating) is situated in a prime position on the seafront In St Leonards-on-Sea. It owes its name to a visit born Queen Victoria who was one of many famous visitors over the years, such as King George V, Prince Albert, Edward Vu, Gladstone, and Palmerston & Tennyson. The hotel has over 50 spacious and elegantly furnished bedrooms, many of which feature a separate lounge area and stunning views over the English Channel. All rooms have en-suite facilities with showers over the baths, TV with Freeview, direct dial telephones with data ports, hairdryer, trouser press and tea & coffee- making facilities. The Sea Terrace Restaurant and Piano Lounge and Bar are both situated on the first floor at the top of the grand marble staircase with its 20ft high mirror. There is a lift to all floors. Tour Price £395.00 Single Room Supplement £80.00. Deposit £40.00 This price covers all coach travel, Hotel Half Board Basis and entrance fees to all non National Trust Properties. For those not in the National Trust a group rate charge is made on the day of visit.
Contact Richard or Wendy on 01242 241728 as soon as possible if interested.
The holiday is ABTA bonded through Norman Allen Group Travel, Hereford
Please note this is the last chance to see Leonardslee Garden as it will be permanently closing to the public at the end of June as the house and garden have been sold.
February newsletter 2010
email address richard@cheltenhamhorticultural.co.uk
Thursday 11th March
Don Everitt Lillies and Summer Flowering Bulbs.
Don will be visiting us again, he was trained at Wisley and has 40 years experience in lecturing. His topic tonight will surely be of interest to us all.
Spring Show Saturday, 20 March Pittville Pump Rooms 12:30 PM to 4.00 PM
A note from David Richards, Show Coordinator. Tel. No. 01242 510144.
Please ensure that you encourage as many of your friends and acquaintances to attend the show as possible. We need a large attendance to help cover the high cost of the Pump Rooms. At the time of writing in (late January) it does is look like being a late season so please do your utmost to make as large an entry as you are able to. Daffodils can be advanced by cutting stems about five days before the show.
Also, help will be needed in setting up and taking down the show, taking money on the door, stewarding at 10:45 am on the Saturday morning of the show, and on the cake stand. It would be appreciated if donations of cakes and savouries can be made. Schedules are now available
Trophies and Cups.
Please could you return all trophies and cup at the next meeting to Mrs. Helen Purdon.
Raffle Prizes
“Unwanted Christmas presents”. Could you pass on any suitable items for the monthly raffle.
Thank you.
RHS Benefits Explained
A copy of RHS Benefits will be available to read at our next two meetings.
RHS 'The Garden' From Janet White I have a complete set of 'The Garden' from 1992 to 2008. If any member would like some or all of them, or can suggest a good home for them, please telephone me on 523942
or email at janet@jwhites.freeserve.co.uk
Flower Arranging / Floral Art Spring 2010 from Michael Castle
Since my offer, at the A.G.M. in November, to organise some classes I have received a number of enquiries, mainly about the content and dates. From an economic aspect we need a minimum of 10 people, available at the same time, to book a suitable venue. To include people who are at work, an evening time e.g. 7.15-9.15 pm. seems best. The basic cost to members would be about £10 for a series of 5 classes arranged at fortnightly intervals starting in late March when the evenings are lighter. Monday is a convenient day for me, and so as a starting point for consideration, I suggest the following dates: - March 29th. April 12th. April 26th. May10th and May 17th. The course would cater for beginners and more experienced arrangers and aim to give everyone a good level of competence, and the confidence to tackle designs for the home, the Church and other larger venues, for everyday and special occasions. By making good use of material from the garden or field we can reduce costs and add interest.
Programme for the Course:-
1. Choosing and conditioning (and preserving) plant material - choice of mechanics and containers - setting up a workbox - practical work.
2. Principles and elements of design - some simple decorative and interpretive designs - practical work.
3. Proportion and Scale - From miniatures to pedestals - practical work.
4. Designs for gifts (e.g. Thank You s. Birthdays, Anniversaries and Christmas) Practical work.
5. A look at some Contemporary. Designs - Hints for improving Show Exhibits. - Practical work.
If you are interested in taking part or would like more information please contact: - Michael Castle Tel (01285) 654139
New Pest and Diseases threaten British Tomato Supplies
A number of pests and diseases not previously found in the UK currently threaten British tomato supplies, not only those grown here but those imported and packed here. The pest which has triggered most alarm bells is a South American tomato moth (Tuta Absoluta) which has found its way from its natural habitat in the Mediterranean basin and then, in supplies of Spanish tomatoes, to the UK. It has been found here for the first time in 2009 in the number of pack houses and has escaped from some of these onto UK production sites in packing material and crates.
The reason Tuta has spread so quickly is that, apart from attacking the plants, it burrows into the fruit and hitches a lift when affected fruit is marketed. EU plant health authorities are conducting a Pest Risk Analysis and the outcome will determine how the pest is dealt with. If the UK were to be designated as a protected zone, this could have significant consequences for the trade in fresh tomatoes.
The above information from Syd Reed.
Notes from Chris.
So, that’s what the winter’s about. It was a bit of a shock really, you loose touch don’t you? A whole week of snow, quite entertaining to begin with, but a couple of days and the novelty wears off. The mess that precedes normal service is a pain too and the cold has been really penetrating (especially if you opted to leave your Dahlias in the ground). I suspect that there will be quite a number of casualties, with some of the tender shrubs being hammered; I can already see a Ceanothus in my own garden that has definitely had it. I will watch with interest to see how the ‘continental exotics’ introduced in recent years, stand up. Nature is very quick to respond to climatic changes, with many things finding a way to survive. My greatest pleasure through the dark days, was in observing the antics of the wildlife, with even the buzzard moving into domestic spaces in search of a feed, and an orphaned moorhen deciding to take up lodgings alongside my ducks. Early signs are that contrary to expectation the whitefly managed to ride out the storm as well. With the retreat of the snow came the wet, it had to go somewhere and I am starting to think that most went into my vegetable plot. I am just glad that I had the digging done by Christmas. As last year I will broadcast a little well rotted manure across the top to liven the soil up. The year was quite fruitful really and it is worth putting a little something back. If you don’t have access to manure then the chicken pellets are an easy to use, safe alternative. I say safe, the product is not terribly caustic so you can scatter without accurate measurement and are unlikely to scorch (by over dosing). The leaf crops in particular will applaud your attention. With the ground so wet, it is difficult to tuck in to the early planting, but onion sets, shallots and garlic are all in waiting. If we get a couple of dry days I will be out there and will probably pop in a couple of lines of peas too. I am going to turn back the clock this year and have a go with some Alderman peas. They are a very tall variety, with a strong vigorous habit and can reach up over six foot, so will need support. They are very prolific. Finally, get your seed sorted, pinches in pots on the window sill started in the coming days will have some bits fit for planting next month. Salad stuff, the first herbs, green veg and even a bit of hardy bedding. Go on.
Happy Gardening Chris.
Spend a Beautiful Day in the Cotswolds.
Visiting two very different gardens just 5 minutes apart. Mill Dene, “an English Country Garden in the morning and Batsford Arboretum, part of a great estate in the afternoon. Both RHS recommended. Refreshments are available at each venue.
Please send articles for our newsletter, either by post or e-mail me at richard@cheltenhamhorticutural.co.uk
www.cheltenhamhorticultural.co.uk.
January newsletter 2010
email address richard@cheltenhamhorticultural.co.uk
Thursday 11th Feb
Victoria Logue of Whitehall Farmhouse Plants
Propagation of Seeds and Cuttings.
Victoria is a local speaker who will be giving a practical demonstration of seed sowing and propagation tonight, as well as passing on her expertise in horticulture.
For those of you that would like to visit her website the address is as follows - victoria@wfplants.co.uk
Vice Presidents Monthly Article
Here we go again, roll up, roll up, the rollercoaster ride of 2010 is about to begin. Just off one and straight on to the next, amazing, where the time goes when you are having fun. Last year was good fun actually, not quite as warm as we might have liked, the wind didn’t often die back ,but growth generally was good and certain things were fantastic (most notably the soft fruit). So, it’s down to business once more. This is the month of planning and purchasing, working through the seed catalogues, selecting your spuds, shallots and onion sets and weather permitting even planting a few bits. It is a great time; I just love the tease of the imminent new beginning. It is surprising the things that are already underway, most notably the autumn sown broad beans, which just will not hold back and I am even having to pinch out my second sowing. The potato selection is an interesting challenge this time, in the wake of three very blighty seasons. I just cannot get excited about the apparently blight free varieties, so I am having a dabble with Opera, I think, a very promising spud with a good flavour, that and a bit of Claret (a very pretty salad variety) which has become a favourite. All sounds rather classy actually opera and a spot of claret! I shan’t be planting the spuds just yet, but am getting stuck in to some other planting. The shallots, garlic and onions all did quite well from early planting and I will be splitting up some rhubarb if the ground stays soft. Last years was wonderful and I fancy a bigger patch. If you decide to divide some, be selective, damaged crowns take a year to repair and you don’t want to compromise this years supply. I am also going to get a few pinches of seed underway too (as usual keeping the emphasis on, the pinch). I have been very pleased with some of my seed raised old fashioned bedding, calendula and cornflower are a doddle and well worth space. They also are very popular with the insects and butterflies, providing an early food source. You will need to raise them on the window sill, but if you put the plants out around Easter time on a mild day, they will toughen up quickly and offer an early show. And finally, I continue to enjoy the wackier bits of gardening and over Christmas was drawn to a very showy display of boxes with glossy images of fragrant garden plants. On inspection I discovered that each box actually contained a large very heavily scented candle. The range was extensive and the marketing bold. The suggestion being that simply by lighting a candle in the garden you could recapture that balmy night beneath the jasmine or dream of hand in hand soirees under the Mimosa, and once the rain stops, I might give it a go.
Happy Gardening Chris
Holiday to Kent & Sussex 25th – 30th May 2010
Please contact me for the full itinerary and booking form for our spring holiday for next year to include the following Hever Castle, Leonardslee Garden, National Trust’s Sheffield Park followed by a journey on the Bluebell Line, National Trust’s Sissinghurst Castle Garden and Yesterday’s World in Battle with free time in Rye. On our homeward journey we will visit the RHS Wisley Gardens. Our Hotel: The 3 star Best Western Royal Victoria Hotel (Visit Britain rating) is situated in a prime position on the seafront In St Leonards-on-Sea . It owes its name to a visit born Queen Victoria who was one of many famous visitors over the years, such as King George V, Prince Albert, Edward Vu, Gladstone, Palmerston & Tennyson. The hotel has over 50 spacious and elegantly furnished bedrooms, many of which feature a separate lounge area and stunning views over the English Channel. All rooms have en-suite facilities with showers over the baths, TV with Freeview, direct dial telephones with data ports, hairdryer, trouser press and tea & coffee- making facilities. The Sea Terrace Restaurant and Piano Lounge and Bar are both situated on the first floor at the top of the grand marble staircase with its 20ft high mirror. There is a lift to all floors. Tour Price £395.00 Single Room Supplement £80.00. Deposit £40.00 This price covers all coach travel, Hotel Half Board Basis and entrance fees to all non National Trust Properties. For those not in the National Trust a group rate charge is made on the day of visit.
Contact Richard or Wendy on 01242 241728 as soon as possible if interested.
The holiday is ABTA bonded through Norman Allen Group Travel, Hereford
Special Potato Weekend at Dundry Nursery
A celebration of the potato
Sat 23rd & Sun 24th Jan 2010
Over 150 Varieties on sale.
Growing potatoes in pots and containers
by Sue Ryan
Many vegetables can successfully be grown in pots when space in the ground is short and potatoes are no exception. Here is an easy guide showing how you can grow your own potatoes even if you don't have a garden. I grow early potatoes in buckets (potatoes that mature in May or June, depending on how warm your local climate is) as these can easily be moved if the need arises, although maincrop varieties will be better suited to deeper and wider pots (an old dustbin will do, as will empty compost sacks) to give enough room for the tubers to swell. Here, I describe my method for growing first early variety potatoes in buckets, but the principle is the same for whichever container you choose, as long as they have drainage holes made in the bottom. All the growing times I have given relate to what works for me in the warmer climes of the southern UK; for those of you who live 'up North', it would be best to delay for 3-4 weeks. First of all, I place the seed potatoes out to chit (start sprouting) around the middle of January. Any frost free place with plenty of light can be used. I place them in cardboard egg boxes with the part showing the most amount of 'eyes' at the top as this is where the chits will form. Our landing windowsill is a good place as there is no nearby heating and it stays quite cool. You can usually start planting first earlies from the end of February, but I have the advantage of a heated greenhouse and plant the first ones up from the middle of February and these are moved outside at a later date. The buckets have around a dozen holes drilled into the bottom for drainage. I have also painted numbers onto the buckets, which comes in handy for when they get moved around so I know which order they were planted up, as I spread the planting out so we have a steady supply, rather than having all the potatoes ready at the same time. I use a general multi-purpose compost and place about 10cm of compost in the bottom of the bucket, then place either two large, or three small seed, potatoes on the compost with the chits facing upwards, then half fill the bucket with more compost and water it well. When shoots are growing strongly, I then fill the bucket with more compost, leaving enough room at the top to allow for watering. I keep the compost just moist, as potatoes dislike being either very wet or very dry. The potatoes will be ready for harvesting around 10-12 weeks after planting. Some varieties flower and some do not but, for those that do; I usually find that once they have flowered, they are ready for harvesting around two weeks later. Another indication of when they are ready is when the foliage suddenly flops over the bucket and will begin to turn yellow. Of course, if you are impatient like me, you can have a gentle root around inside the bucket to see how big the potatoes are. I usually find that the uppermost potatoes can be found at about a quarter of the depth into the bucket and therefore they have not been exposed to the light which would make them go green (green potatoes are poisonous). I have read that some people cover the surface of the compost with black plastic, at the stage of filling the bucket with compost, to stop the light getting through, but I find it is not necessary to use the plastic as the tubers are not harmed with out it and it also encourages slugs and snails to hide underneath it. Harvesting is easy, tip the bucket out and collect all your potatoes. The compost can be re-used elsewhere around the garden or added to the compost bin/heap. Planting Guide for Potatoes First earlies - plant from the end February to late May and will be ready for harvesting 10-12 weeks from planting. Second earlies - plant from the middle of March to late May and will be ready for harvesting around 13 weeks from planting. Early maincrop - plant from the end of March to late May and will be ready for harvesting around 15 weeks from planting. Late maincrop - plant from the end of March to late May and will be ready for harvesting around 20 weeks from planting.
By kind permission of www.wildchicken This site is well worth visiting it has a wealth of interesting articles and ideas.
Our trip began very early one Thursday from Cheltenham, making our way to Boppard for our overnight stop, where we arrived late afternoon. On Friday we journeyed to Feldkirch arriving early evening. Saturday was a free day so most of us went into Feldkirch,where it was a festival day. Sunday we drove along the shore of Lake Constance to reach the Flower island of Mainau. On Monday we had a drive through the scenic countryside and finding the trout cabin where we decided to have lunch. Tuesday saw us having a ride on the Glacier Express to St Mortiz from Tiefencastel.Then back over the various passes to Feldkirch. Wednesday saw us in Meersburg.
Thursday we said us farewell to our holiday hotel travelling to our overnight hotel, then the next day returning to Cheltenham everybody enjoyed the holiday. Now we are all looking forward to Norfolk.
2010 Holidays
At present we are trying to arrange 2 holidays in 2010 the first being to Kent and Sussex, the second will be Northumberland visiting Alnwick Castle & Gardens.
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The best slug and snail repellent yet
I have used and shown various barriers to keep my hostas free from holes (e.g. gravel, soot, egg shells, holly leaves, pine needles, cat litter and coffee grounds ) but I have kept the best solution up my sleeve for the past five years while it has been on trial.
Garlic Wash Recipe.
1. Crush two large garlic bulbs.
2. Add to two pints of water and boil for three minutes until blanched
3. Cool, strain and make back up to two pints with water.
4. Use one tablespoon of mixture per gallon of water in a watering can with a rose.
5. Pour over leaves in late afternoon on a dry day.
6. Repeat every fourteen days. Use other methods early in the year until shoots and leaves appear.
This recipe has also been used on sweet peas, hollyhocks, delphiniums and some leaf vegetables, e.g. lettuce. Una Dunnett, NCCPG National plant Collection Holder of Hostas
France May 2008
  
Gardens at Villandry Enjoying Coffee at Saumur Castle Gardens at Angers
  
Group arriving at Chenonceau Gardens at Chenonceau Wisteria at Chenonceau
Wales 2008
 
Gardens at Plas Newydd A View from Portmeirion
Wisley Day Trip
 
Group at the Rock Garden Wisley Waterlilly pool at Wisley
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