July/August 2016 - Malmesbury Garden Club

MALMESBURY and DISTRICT GARDEN CLUB
July/August NEWSLETTER 2016
www.malmesburygardenclub.org.uk
Chair and Secretary – Ellie Church
Contributions for the Newsletter should be sent to the Editor: [email protected]
JOTTINGS FROM THE CHAIR . . . .
We had a successful Plant Sale, raising almost £700. Thanks to Graham for his organisational skills and to Gail
for her planted pot. Thank you all for the donations of plants and cakes, to the trestle table movers and
erectors, and all of those involved in the sale of plants and buying of same. A good team effort!
The garden is on its growth spurt now – not sure if the plants or the weeds that grow without invitation are
winning!
The Annual Show on 30 July is next on the agenda. A reminder too of the Harvest Supper on Saturday 22
October. (See below for more information.)
Ellie Church – Chair
– SATURDAY 30 JULY 2016
Our Show is only days away – Saturday 30 July at the village hall in Charlton.
All members should have a copy of our schedule of competitions – if anyone
has lost their copy, or the dog has eaten it, please look at our website or give
me a call – 823944 and I will see you get a copy. Your committee have done
all we can to arrange a good show – what we want now is your support. Just
a few entries from each member and we will have another good show. I
would still like to hear from anyone who is willing to help on the day – there
are lots of little jobs and every little helps. Just a final point – please put in
your entry by the Friday (29th): we can then plan how we are going to set all the classes out – if you
want to bring an additional entry along on the day we will try to accommodate you, but it is so much
easier if you have already indicated that you are going to enter.
Derek
ANNUAL PLANT SALE 28 MAY 2016 . . . .
The weather for our sale was just perfect and with a good supply of plants trade was quite good from the
start. The bedding begonias and petunias we purchased from Dobies sold well. There was a big demand
for runner beans and other vegetables. The gross takings on the day were over £680; allowing for the cost of
Dobies plants, the net profit was £610. The raffle made over £90. The cake stall made
over £45. So I think we can pat ourselves on the back and say well done to everyone.
Thank you all for all your hard work on the day
P.S. I don't usually thank individuals as you all give your best on the day, but on this
occasion I would like to say thank to Mrs Mary Clark for the use of her greenhouse and
the work she has done looking after the plants
Graham Rees
Plant Sale Organizer
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MEETINGS – EVENTS – ACTIVITIES
MEETINGS – EVENTS – ACTIVITIES
Harvest supper . . . .
We will be holding our annual Harvest Supper on 22 October 2016 in Charlton
Village Hall at 7.00 pm for 7.30 start. We will be having a three course meal. The
cost will be £7.50. Numbers are limited.
To reserve a place please see me at our monthly meetings or contact me by
telephone: 01666 510490 or email: [email protected].
Ellie
Other events . . . .
OAKSEY FLOWER FESTIVAL
Saturday-Sunday 17-18 September 2016
Flower Festival in All Saints Church, Oaksey and scarecrow trail in the village.
Refreshments in the village hall.
MALMESBURY CARNIVAL OPEN GARDENS
7 August 2016
Malmesbury Carnival Open Gardens Afternoon takes place on Sunday 7 August, raising
money for local causes. Anyone with a garden of any size, right down to compact
courtyards, within reasonable walking distance from the Market Cross, may participate. If
you are interested please contact Sue Poolman: tel. 01666 826363 or [email protected]
Further details of these open gardens can be found in the ‘Yellow
Book’ or on the NGS website: http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/find-agarden.aspx
Sunday 3 July
Blicks Hill House, Blicks Hill, Malmesbury SN16
9HZ
The Old Mill, Ramsbury SN8 2PN
Priory House, Market Street, Bradford-on-Avon
BA15 1LH
Sunday 24 July
130 Ladyfield Road and Allotments, Ladyfield
Road, Chippenham SN14 0AP
Sweet Briar Cottage, 19 Gladstone Road,
Chippenham SN15 3BW
Sunday 10 July
84 Studley Lane, Studley, Calne SN11 9NH
Sunday 31 July
Crofton Lock House, Crofton, Great Bedwyn,
Marlborough SN8 3DW
Thursday 14 & Friday 15 July
Windmill Cottage, Kings Road, Market Lavington
SN10 4QB
Saturday 6 August
Duck Pond Barn, Church Lane, Wingfield,
Trowbridge BA14 9LW
Sunday 17 July
Broadleas House Gardens, Devizes SN10 5JQ
Lydiard Park Walled Garden, Lydiard Tregoze,
Swindon SN5 3PA
Twigs Community Garden, Manor Garden Centre,
Cheney Manor, Swindon SN2 2QJ
Sunday 7 August
Priory House, Market Street, Bradford-on-Avon
BA15 1LH
Sunday 14 August
The Old Mill, Ramsbury SN8 2PN
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FROM THE GARDEN by KEITH
P. ‘true blue’, blue with deep blue throat, ht 50cm;
P. ‘firebird’, orange red, ht 75cm; P. ‘Hidcote
pink’, rose pink, ht 120cm; P. ‘Burford white’,
white, ht 75cm.
Comments from the garden . . . .
For the first time in one of my gardens I look after
we have had a visit of Canadian geese. They
nested and now we have three young ones
walking around the lawns and swimming on the
large pond. They are lovely to see but what a
mess they make on the lawns.
Penstemon . . . .
Some years ago I made a collection of about fifty
different varieties. I believe there are at least
three hundred in the national collection. I found
that not all were hardy but the colour range was
amazing. These plants are easy to grow and will
continue to flower if faded flower heads are
removed. If you grow from seed they will flower
in the first year and, of course, every year after
that. One of my favourite varieties is ‘Sour
grapes’, mauve/purple and white on every tubular
flower, all the way up the flower stalk, this variety
can reach 3ft in height. I have yet to find a
problem with these flowers: no caterpillars ,
aphids or fungal diseases. They flower in full sun
or semi-shade and are mostly self-supporting. I
have grown them in flower pots, window boxes
and flower borders. Nearly all seed and flower
catalogues list them and most garden centres
have them. If you do decide to add them to your
garden
plants,
here are
just a few
to tempt
your
appetite:
P.
‘Red
riding
hood’,
deep red,
ht 80cm;
P. ‘sweet
cherry’,
red with white throat, ht 60cm; P. ‘strawberries
and cream’, white and pink with red throat, ht
60cm; P. ‘blackberry’, deep red cerise, ht 60cm;
There are evergreen and semi-evergreen varieties.
At the end of the flowering season, trim plants to
half their height for
the winter period. In
early spring, trim by
half their height again
to stop plants from
becoming too woody.
Keith’s choice
plant . . . .
Phygelius, or cape fuchsia: related to Penstemon
and Antirrhinum (snapdragon), this low evergreen
shrub, 3-4ft high, has long tubular flowers in a
number of colours – pink, red, yellow and orange.
Pests’ Paradise . . . .
Gladioli thrips: the foliage develops small black
spots, the flowers are also discoloured and may
fail to open. The sap-feeding thrip, which is
brownish black or pale yellow when young, can be
found in the flower bud and on the lower part of
the leaves. Spray with a pesticide as directed, in
the evenings. Thrips are more troublesome in hot,
dry summers.
No disease please . . . .
Rose rust: bright orange spots develop on the
upper leaf surface with bright orange spore
masses beneath. These can be spotted in early
summer. Disease can also appear on stems as
bright orange spots. Prune out stem infestations
and burn. Spray all rose plants in affected area
during the evening with fungicide and repeat two
weeks later. In subsequent years, spray as leaves
are emerging in early spring.
Plants to enjoy in July/August
Aster, Liliums, Campanula, Rudbeckia, Dahlia,
Verbascum, Potentilla, Chrysanthemum, Erigeron,
Fuchsia, Penstemon.
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FROM THE VEGETABLE PLOT by KEITH
Comments from the veg plot . . . .
I have a greenhouse without glass, and I have a
few ideas.
I will update you in the
November/December newsletter.
Fill your freezer. . . .
As I only have a small vegetable plot, I grow
most things to eat now but also to put into
the freezer for winter use. Sweetcorn is great
at barbecues but save a few for the freezer.
My broad beans are nearly ready to pick in
mid-June; they are lovely on their own or
with a Sunday roast, but do save a few for the
freezer. Carrots from your garden are a must
– the taste is so good. My first carrot from
the garden is washed under the tap and
eaten as it is. Again, save a few for the
freezer. Dwarf French beans, especially the
pencil varieties, are always given a place in
my vegetable plot, as are climbing beans. I
always grow them up a tepee or wigwam
made with 8ft
canes as this
saves
space.
Save some of
these for the
freezer.
There
are
a
good
number of pea
varieties, even
climbing
peas.
Most peas, if fed
well, will give
you enough to
eat and a few for
the freezer. In mid-summer the quantity of
vegetables available can be too much.
Cauliflowers and green sprouting broccoli, if
producing all at the same time, are also good
for the freezer. A few other vegetable
varieties you could freeze are beetroot,
courgette, cabbage, fennel (bulb variety),
tomatoes, sweet peppers, and chillies.
Seasonal activities . . . .
Most of the vegetable planting should now be
complete, although a continuation of salad
varieties and radish should be sown at two or
three week intervals. If the tops of broad
beans were not pinched out, watch out for
blackfly; these will also invade your runner
beans. Check for asparagus beetle on the
ferns
and
caterpillars on your
brassicas (cabbage
etc). Blight will also
attack these. Spray
all these with a
pesticide as directed. At the moment the
ground is very wet so watch out for slugs.
Should the ground dry out and you have
seedling rows, keep an eye out for flee beetle
(will show as peppered holes on the young
leaves). Sow all peas by mid-July to avoid
mildew in early autumn. Spray potato haulms
(tops) and outdoor tomatoes with fungicide
to prevent blight.
No fruit nightmares . . . .
Gooseberry sawfly: larvae deposited on
underside of leaves, caterpillars marked with
black spots hatch and are about 20mm long.
Bushes will lose all leaves within a few days.
Spray with pesticide as directed.
Some vegetables to enjoy in May/June
Courgettes, tomatoes, carrots, dwarf French beans,
spring onions, peas, potatoes, spinach, cabbage,
cauliflowers, radish, salad leaves, self-blanching celery,
runner beans, spinach beet (Swiss chard).
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Tasks for July/August
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Spray roses against pests/diseases and
dead head
Prune shrubs that have finished
flowering: spire, broom japonica etc.
Continue to tie in tall-growing perennials
as necessary
Prune hard back bearded iris and apply
general fertilizer a 2 oz per sq yd
Prune winter flowering heathers, to
promote new growth for the coming
winter
Feed tubs and hanging baskets at ten day
intervals
Protect ripening fruit from birds
Raise mower height in dry weather
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Complete planting of half hardy annuals
Prune back one or two blackcurrant
canes to promote new growth (pick crop
first)
Tie in new growth of loganberry and
blackberry
For yellowing of raspberry leaf, water in
sequesterine of iron as directed
Complete brassica planting, protect
against pigeons
Spray all brassica plants against
caterpillars
Complete late plantings of leeks, peas,
beetroot and spinach
Sow spring cabbage seed
Notes from Derek . . . .
I just don't believe it!
In early May I suddenly needed some more plastic
seed trays. I went to Dobbies Garden Centre – a
terrific range of clothing, DVD's, birthday cards,
armies of gnomes, but no seed trays! I came back
to Malmesbury to the Garden Centre – again, no
seed trays – I didn’t believe it! They were due in
anytime. I received 20 seed trays from Amazon
next day.
Just a few days ago I was back in our Garden
Centre and there was a slight hold-up at the
checkout – a young Japanese tourist wanted to
buy Fuchsia seeds. Sadly none of the staff who
were called to assist knew what they were talking
about. It took the intervention of a couple of us
gardeners to explain that any Fuchsias for sale in
this garden centre were all grown from cuttings! I
suppose the poor little Japanese girl might have
got a better answer from the staff if she had asked
for Rose Seeds.
Still moaning
I thought I had seen most everything – I was
shocked to see a large snail climbing up the
outside of my bedroom window
– a bungalow maybe, but 15
feet off the ground – I
just couldn't believe it! I
hate snails.
As usual, without warning,
the tap on my water butt gave up the ghost.
Fortunately, tucked away
in the darkest corner of the
garden centre, I found a
replacement. I have long
arms (but a fat tummy), so
it was a very difficult job
fitting the plastic nut inside
the very bottom of this
large water butt – I ended
up crawling part way inside and came out smelling
differently.
Flower pouches
I have found these to be very useful to hang on a
rather uninteresting fence. The biggest problem is
getting water to the plants at the bottom of the
pouch. I have tried everything. Plastic tubes tend
to clog up with soil after a while. My best solution
is to line the inside back of the pouch with a good
thick layer of old newspaper. I then stuff the
pouch like a turkey, putting in the plants as I push
the compost in. This way I can help feed the roots
into the holes in the pouch. When full, I fold up
the remainder of the newspaper to close the end
of the pouch, secure the end with a large 'springback' clip (like a large paper clip) and lay the
planted up pouch horizontally on the greenhouse
bench until the plants start growing. Then I hang
them up outside.
Derek
Page | 5
Recipe
No-cook strawberry jam . . . .
Ingredients
850g caster sugar
500g firm ripe strawberries hulled
½ bottle liquid pectin (Certo) or 1 sachet pectin crystals
Juice of 1 medium lemon (about 3-4 tbsp)
Method
1. Heat oven to 140oC/fan 120oC/gas 1. Tip the
sugar into a shallow dish and warm in the
oven for about 10 mins.
2. Meanwhile, hull the strawberries and crush in
a large bowl with a potato masher or fork.
Stir in the warm sugar and leave for about 4
hrs, at room temperature, stirring
occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Mix in the pectin, stirring well, then add 3
tbsp lemon juice. Ladle the fruit crush into 56 small clean freezerproof containers, or jars.
Cover loosely with cling film and leave at
room temperature for about 3 hrs then check
to see if the mixture is setting. If it still
appears quite runny, tip the pots back into
the bowl and mix in another tbsp of lemon
juice, then repeat the process with the pots.
Leave for at least 24 hrs at room
temperature, by which time the mixture
should have reached a soft set. Cover tightly
with lids and freeze until required. Freezes for
up to 8 months – keep in the fridge after
defrosting. The jam may go cloudy after
freezing – but when thawed, just stir and it
will go clear again.
Ellie
Greenhouse for sale . . . .
Mrs Clark of 6 Niebull Close, Malmesbury has a 6' x 8' greenhouse for sale.
The buyer will have to dismantle it to move it.
Please contact Mrs Clark on 01666 822990.
Editor’s postscript . . . .
I visited the Gardeners’ World Live exhibition in Birmingham recently.
Lots of lovely plants, clever gadgets and luxury garden furniture, but little
that we can’t get in our own excellent local garden centres. The small
show gardens were particularly interesting, though. They showed just
how much you can pack into a tiny space – flowers, vegetables and even
miniature wildlife ponds. Vegetables can be beautiful to look at, as well
as good to eat, and don’t need to be hidden away in a separate veg plot
at the bottom of the garden, as demonstrated by this colourful mixture
of flowers and edibles on a narrow boat.
Alison
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