Ecolocal run a wonderful range of courses on just the things horticultural that you might want to know or get better at. Based at ‘The Lodge’, a Victorian walled garden in Carshalton, their courses are led by their RHS accredited tutor and help raise funds for community gardening projects benefiting people with learning difficulties and mental health problems.
You may not be aware that they are also restoring the old walled garden, and have volunteering days where you could help. Find out more here
Crows are ferociously intelligent. They can mimic human speech, use tools and gather for what seem to be funeral rites when another crow dies or is killed. They can identify and remember faces, even among large crowds.
And crows can also harbor resentment for longer than you might expect. When a murder (or group) of crows singles out a person as dangerous, its wrath can be passed along well beyond an individual crow’s life span — creating, in short, multigenerational grudges.
Gene Carter, a computer specialist in Seattle, saw crows encroaching on a robin’s nest in his backyard and launched a rake into the air. For the better part of a year, he said, the crows would scream at him or divebomb him. Eventually, they even learned to identify his bus — and to wait for him at the bus stop. (The harassment stopped only when he moved.)
In Michael’s interesting and lively talk he first spoke about the beginnings of the RGS, in particular how Richard Sudell, the forgotten man of garden history, led the new cottage estate of Roehampton (now known as the Dover House Estate) on its garden journey in the interwar years of the last century. He explained how Roehampton became one of the leading garden estates in Britain as our country became the ‘nation of gardeners’ it is known as today.
Michael’s new book Behind the Privet Hedge: Richard Sudell, the Suburban Garden the Beautification of Britain has been highly praised by reviewers and he signed copies for members. We were delighted to welcome him to our AGM.
At our AGM in November, author Michael Gilson, spoke about the early days of the Dover House Estate, created on ‘Garden City’ principles as part of the house building initiative after the first world war. ‘Homes for Heroes’ were declared by prime minister Lloyd-George – which would include the right to green space to grow food. Each house would have it’s own green space and allotment plots would be part of the design.
Of course, many who rented the houses were not naturally green fingered, and had never owned a garden before, so Richard Sudell, a Quaker and political firebrand as well as a well known plantsman and garden writer took on the challenge of helping. He set up training allotments and gave lessons, forming the Roehampton Estate Garden Society. It seems that meetings of the committee took place in the basement at St. Margaret’s church, just below where we have our AGM. Roehampton became one of the leading garden estates in Britain as the country became the ‘nation of gardeners’./
Our centenary exhibition featured boards about this history – which are now in PDF form. We hope you will read and enjoy them.
Agriculture and food growing is a huge growth area for robotics. With current difficulties in finding a skilled workforce to plant and pick, this may be the future.
M&S have just announced successful automated growing of parsnips – an industry first. The technology, includes two robots for bed forming, planting and weeding, two different types of drone to monitor and maintain crop health, and scientific testing on soil health and carbon impact. Green fertiliser, less diesel, less ploughing all combine to reduce the carbon emissions by an amazing 46 per cent. See more here
In another research project Cambridge university has trained a robot to pick iceberg lettuce – one of the most difficult crops to harvest! See more here
It’s still a challenge to train a robot to judge a ripe fruit or notice disease or damage as well as a human can, but the advances are fascinating. Take a look at the latest types of intelligent agricultural machinery.
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.
One of the fascinations about our shows is seeing what other people grow. This year class C33 was for “a pot of one type of home-grown annual herb, growing” and had some interesting entries. Fresh herbs can be difficult to source – and some quite expensive for a small bag, so, if you like to cook, growing them yourself makes sense. If seeds are difficult to germinate, you can often buy a tiny plant in Springtime and grow it on to full size – as good as any houseplant! Take a look below for inspiration…
Hai’s Leucocasia Gigantea – used to make sour fish soup
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
The RGS plant sale held last week raised £400 which been donated to the Royal Hospital for Neuro- Disability. Thanks to all those who supported the event, bringing in many lovely plants for sale which sold more quickly that we anticipated!
Special thanks to all those who manned the stalls and so generously donated the plants. And thanks to everyone who sent in the pictures including Mark Sutcliffe and Jackie Savage.
Once again our Summer Show will be held on Site 2. Please have a look at the schedule and make an effort to enter the show. Everyone will have something to enter: flowers, fruits, vegetables or cakes!
DONATIONS OF PLANTS OR PRODUCE FOR OUR POPULAR STALL WOULD BE VERY WELCOME.
Nothing much will grow in the cold of winter – after the brussels sprouts have vanished we are firmly in the ‘hunger gap’. But purple sprouting broccoli is extremely hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as -12°C. It responds to even a slight warmth and produces flowering shoots or ‘sprouts’ from February to April when there’s very little else around. Two or three large plants can feed your family. Well worth while planting some now for next year….
Here’s a summary of how to do it, but the best advice can be found from the RHS here
Sprouting Broccoli Site 3
Sow from April to mid-June for harvesting from January to May. Begin in a 9cm pot. Don’t sow too many – just enough to give you 3 or 4 plants securely.
When about 10 cm tall transplant. If you have the space free this can be their final growing spot. However, these plants will take up a lot of space. If you don’t have the space free until the autumn, you can transplant into a large, tall pot and plant out finally as late as September.
Like other brassicas, purple-sprouting broccoli thrives in a fairly heavy, alkaline soil. Avoid an exposed site, where the wind will buffet the stems and loosen the soil around the roots. Fork the soil over, removing stones and perennial weeds. Add some organic matter to improve moisture retention and texture. You may need to add lime if your soil is acidic. Brassicas dislike loose soil, so firm lightly with your foot.
Harvest each flowering shoot carefully – others should grow to replace them. Cut carefully and your crop will last for weeks.
