There’s been a debate going on about growing garlic. Should you buy seed garlic – or can you use a supermarket bulb? Is it best to plant now (even September I have seen mentioned) or wait until early next year. How much water should you use – that balance between tiny bulbs and rotting stems.

Monty Don certainly caused controversy by planting a supermarket variety – some swear they grow well – but it will be next spring before the results of the Gardener’s World experiments are known. The latest information suggests that for good results you need garlic that grows in a cold climate – not that imported from sunnier climes. Also concerns have been raised about possible viruses on supermarket bulbs. Both of these concerns are valid.

The store has recommended varieties.

Here’s a great ‘No Dig’ video full of garlic information from Charles Dowding

Here’s a comprehensive growing guide from Gardener’s World… Gardener’s World Guide

In the news this year has been the effect of climate change on our trees. Trees are slow to adapt – and although trees in our woodlands and forests are gradually spreading northwards as new seedlings grow, the pace is too slow and many of our native trees may not survive without help.

It’s good news that English oak trees may be more resilient to warmer climates than other species, but many other well-known species, such as the European beech, will struggle. Read more from New Scientist

Kew Gardens expects to lose 50% of it’s 11,000 trees to heat and drought before the end of the century and is already sourcing more tolerant tree varieties from Europe to fill the gaps. Read about Kew here

In our woodlands our native trees could die off equally suddenly. But should we be helping their migration? An interesting article in the Guardian explains the dilemma Read here

It’s a complicated argument – but one thing is clear, as we plant as many trees as possible in parks, gardens or rewilding ventures such as Skiddaw, the seedlings may need to come from further south if they are to survive. Seedlings from local areas need to populate projects northwards.

Our 100 plus visitors to our Nation Garden’s Scheme open day were delighted with their allotment walk, commented on the many beautiful things that there were to see – in particular two lovely clematis covered arches, and the tea space by the potting shed! Many of them stopped and asked questions on the plots – some shared this year’s gardening challenges.

Most enjoyed the magnificent array of cakes and tea, with outside service provided by our younger helpers – thanks to you all! Many bought plants from the plant stall.

The event was very well organised by the committee, and our sincere thanks to them and to the many who came to help and participated . A huge effort, but very much rewarded.

More than £1000 was raised for the NGS charities.

View an online photo gallery of the occasion here. Photos by Vivienne Fowler and Bella Stebbings

” Wandsworth is a treasure trove of biodiversity, boasting 24 different habitats from heathlands to the River Thames, supporting an astounding array of approximately 3,149 species. From common garden birds to rare bees and bats, and with 23% of the borough designated as Local Wildlife Sites, Wandsworth’s vision for biodiversity is clear: to recognise, value, conserve, enhance, and wisely use our diverse natural resources”…..

Enable need to map our borough’s wildlife and are asking all RGS members to help. Just pick your area, plot or garden, and tell them what you see by filling in the “On Your Street: What Can You Find in Your Garden?” survey online. You only need to do this once before 25th October – but please do contribute if you can.

More about “On your Street” here
Find the Survey Form here

The Survey asks about specific species that you may have seen in the last 5 years. This includes bats, hedgehogs, starlings, house sparrows, swifts, stag beetles…

if you’re unsure – here are some links to identify the birds and bugs in your garden….

Quick and easy garden bird sheet from the WWT

Identify Insects with the Wildlife Trust

Click here for the full, illustrated report from Show Chair Carol Martinez.

From storms to sunshine at the summer show

The RGS Shows often host surprising exhibits, and this year an entry of watercress piqued my interest.

The peppery leaves of watercress (related to nasturtium, mustard cress, radish and wasabi) cheer up many a summer salad – and it seems you don’t need a pond or stream to grow them successfully. The show entry was presented in a bowl containing gravel/compost, held down by stones, and filled with water.

You can grow from seed or cuttings – indeed some of the organic watercress in the supermarket has the odd root on it. Seeds will be best for the ‘microgreens’ approach – just keep the seed tray very moist- a watering tray topped up is a good idea. All microgreens are full of vitamins and minerals and very good for your health.

Growing watercress in containers is a safer option than growing it in water – commercial growers know how to keep the water fresh and bacteria-free, but this is much harder to do in a garden situation. To prevent any stagnation, make sure to flush the pots through twice a week with fresh water. Mixing charcoal with the compost will also help to keep things fresh.

The key is consistent moisture and not too much sun – but watch out for those snails!
Lots of advice online – but here’s a starter for you
https://www.thompson-morgan.com/how-to-grow-watercress
https://forestry.com/guides/how-to-grow-watercress-comprehensive-guide-from-seed-to-harvest/

In an experiment for the Spinal Injuries Association, who are keen to make gardening easier for those with mobility issues, Bill Young (54A) grew new potatoes (Duke of York) in a series of carboard wine boxes.

This method of growing potatoes within carboard boxes, is common in Australia and some parts of the USA.

Bill writes

It is ideal for wheelchair users, especially in conjunction with raised beds. Just pop the remains of the carboard box off, hey-presto, the new potatoes are in front of you. I lifted the first two plants today Saturday 8th. of June, and was very pleasantly surprised by the results.  It was by far the best results I’ve had, nearly 5 lbs. of perfectly formed tubers.  This method works, and I can only say – try it!

Method – I folded down the carboard lid, then folded up the bottom, it in effect created a double-walled tube of carboard.  Placed the box on top of the soil.
I added three or four inches of soil, then placed two chitting potatoes within the box, then covered with a mixture of compost and soil up to the brim.
I watered them regularly, unfortunately they came under a sustained attack from slugs and snails.  My effective remedy was to pick the slugs and snails off the plants, to be fed to the newts within Alberts pond.
The potatoes grew very well, this I believe was due to the insulating properties of the cardboard. It in effect raised the plants off the colder ground. It insulated them from the colder wet soil and also the colder weather of this awful spring.
The result speaks for itself – one excellent crop of new potatoes.  It did however make my allotment look rather untidy, that is, until the potato shaw’s softened outlines and then covered the boxes. 

The National Gardens scheme is supporting the Spinal Association to provide gardens at all their centres. Our open allotments day will help contribute to this cause. Read more here

Last month, a group of RGS members visited the RHS Lindley Library in Vincent Square. The Library holds world-renowned collections of early printed books, the archives of the RHS, botanical art collections and modern books on the history of horticulture, botanical art and practical gardening. One of our members was delighted to find her own book on their shelves! Thanks to all those who sent in pictures for this article.

The librarians had prepared exhibits for us to see, and presented them in a most interesting way. The first was an archive of the Ruhleben Horticultural Society – set up in an internment camp for British men just outside Berlin during the first world war. The inmates, needing both occupation and food, set up a Horticultural Society and kitchen gardens growing everything from potatoes to exotic fruit and flowers. The society became an associate member of the RHS, who sent them parcels of seeds, and they held two shows per year.

if you are interested in the history of Ruhleben, you can see more here.

Our next treat was to view two very old leather bound herbals. These were encyclopaedias of plants and their (largely) medicinal uses. Most medicines were plant based, and knowledge of how to identify and use them was of great importance.

John Gerard (also John Gerarde, 1545-1612) was an English herbalist with a large garden in Holborn. His 1,484-page illustrated Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes, was first published in 1597, and the Lindley Library owns a copy. It is the first herbal to include an index of ‘ailments’ – which were quite a contrast to today’s illnesses.

Elizabeth Blackwell’s Herbal, published between 1737 and 1739, shows her beautiful botanical artwork, all in colour. These wonderful botanical prints also show insects that she found on the plants to help with their identification. Elizabeth compiled her Curious Herbal at the instigation of Sir Hans Sloane, as a means of raising money to redeem her husband, Alexander from imprisonment for debt. She rented a house opposite the Chelsea Physic Garden, and used that as her source of plants. See more of her lovely illustrations here.