The doors to the Old Laboratory at RHS Wisley are opening to members and visitors for the first time in over a century on 20 March. Now hosting memories of plant scientists and scientific discoveries, together with horticulturally themed exhibitions, you can step back in time with scientists in the early days of Wisley.
Entry to the Old Laboratory is included with normal garden admission.
Book a timed slot to visit the Old Laboratory on your visit to Wisley – free entry to RHS members.
Looking for inspiration? Just want to see some ideas?
Gardener designer, Jack Wallington, shares his techniques for planning your own kitchen garden and shows you how to start sowing seeds indoors. View on Youtube
Lots of good tips and tricks for beginners from the RHS website here
And a masterclass in how to make good compost and why you need it from Monty Don View on Youtube
On the 18th February whilst digging, during a welcome blink of sun, this encouraged the frogs in Alberts pond to croak repeatedly. It also spurred the sparrows to start flirting, the brownish black headed cocks, were desperate to impress their ladies. Choice seeds were being laid gently in front of the lady of their hearts desire, to either be peck up immediately or rejected with scorn by her.
I haven’t seen the goldfinches for at least ten days, anticipating spring, they’ve probably disappeared to the countryside. My allotment owner, not RGS or the council – the owner is called robin redbreast, surprised me, turning up with a companion, both quite enthusiastically and amicably, following me as I dug and moved pots, cleared away dead material. They had a beano on small worms, beetles and much else, so-much-so they only had a little of the cheddar from my sandwich.
On the same day I discovered a red-tailed bumblebee comatosed on the path. I think a wing was damaged, never-the-less it was a welcome sign of spring. Two of our enthusiastic lady plot holders, excitedly told me they’d seen a butterfly. From their description, it sounds as if it was probably a small copper – Lycaena phlaese, but on this I could be totally wrong. All plot holders should be aware – their sheds on the plots are ideal place for insects to hibernate. During late autumn and winter, the shed offers inside, a dry area full of neuks and crannies. They can spin their cocoons with some security, no birds beak will come probing for them. I am guessing, but the I suspect the butterfly probably developed from a cocoon spun in a shed with a fair bit of glass, near the big apple tree at the top of the allotments. During sunny periods, the elevated temperature speeded up its development, hence the early appearance.
with thanks to Bill Young
Frost information can be confusing. Weather forecasters may predict either a light frost or hard frost in our area. So, what is the difference and how are plants affected by hard frost versus light ones?
If Light Frost is forecast this usually means that the air will become frosty, but the soil temperature just below the surface should remain above freezing. In a Hard Frost both the air and the ground freeze. A strong wind can make a frost more damaging.
A Light Frost can affect leaves and growing shoots, including fruit blossom, but many plants will survive. A Hard Frost will affect most growing shoots and some plant stems. This can quite easily result in plant death. Many plants will benefit from protection, particularly with a light frost. A good layer of mulch or leaf mould will help plants under the ground, but single plastic sheeting and fleece are not always effective with temperatures as low as they were this winter.
The level of damage may depend on the time of year. Once shrubs and perennials break dormancy, they begin producing new growth and flower buds for the current season. Some plants can shrug off a frost with little noticeable damage, but in many cases the new foliage and buds will be seriously damaged or even killed by a Hard Frost which comes later in the year.
How can you spot the signs of frost damage? What can you practically do to protect your plants? If it happens, is your plant really dead? Some advice and help from two website articles below…
Read this helpful article from the RHS.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/prevention-protection/frost-damage?
Is that plant really dead? Some good advice to help you find out here…
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/salvage-plants-and-gardens_n_5092025
Potatoes and Onions will be available from the Main Store from Sunday 28th January.
Potatoes are sold by the kilo and you can pick and mix.
red duke of york
first early
charlotte
second early
kestrel
second early
picasso
maincrop
king edward
maincrop
Onion and Shallot sets for Spring planting
Find here sightings and reports of wildlife you may find close to your allotment plot. You can find it at any time in the Planting and Growing section of the website.Please do email the RGS if you have wildlife photos and information to share….
It seems that growing mushrooms at home and in the vegetable patch gathered interest during lockdown. The RHS plans its first fungi display at Chelsea.
Now you can see them growing in the kitchen garden at Kew….nine different mushrooms in seven growing mediums! Their short course ‘Grow your own mushrooms’ will run in February.
Kew’s Fungarium holds over 1.25 million dried specimens. Find out more about the fungarium in this video
FInd out about the course here
A special event at the St. Margarets Christmas Fayre will help you to make a splendid wreath.
The cost is £35 to include all materials. Please book ahead here
Have you noticed how the memorial fountain in Roehampton village has been looking lovely of late? The original drinking troughs and basins have been put to new use.
A group of local people and businesses have made trough gardens out of the old water basins. Ongoing maintenance is done by volunteers Vicky Pigott and Val Jones (details below), with water provided by Hungerford Motors, the garage opposite – but they need more help to keep the plants thriving and would love Roehampton Garden Society members – close neighbours – to be involved.
About an hour a month is enough. Interested to join this go-ahead group?
Please contact: Vicky Pigott, chair SW15 Women’s Network at vicky.marie.pigott@gmail.com or Val Jones, Putney (and Roehampton) Society – jones.val@gmail.com if you can help.
They promise becoming a Fountain Friend will be a pleasure, not a chore! Read more about their project here.
Just a litte colour can make all the difference. Not all houseplants are expensive – watch the supermarkets and garden centres for a bargain. Cyclamens will last a long time inside as well as out….
You’ll want to keep them flowering as long as possible – so here’s some advice to read on choosing and caring for your houseplants.
Caring for houseplants – (RHS) All about houseplants -(RHS) The ultimate guide to houseplants -(Plantcare for beginners)
