Bishampton and District Gardening Club - Pete's Topical Tips

Spring is here…

22/4/2021

Spring is here, as I write this it’s trying to snow! But time has come to plant! I have planted my early potatoes and am waiting to see them show so I can cover them up by earthing them up. If they get too big, I will put some fleece over them if frost is forecast. I will plant my late potatoes at the end of April.

My greenhouses are full of plants; I am taking Dahlia cuttings as I believe I get better plants from cuttings than from tubers. People often wonder if they will flower as they are so small at this time, but by the time the end of May comes around they will be large plants, wanting to get in the ground.

I have some Sweet Pea plants that I planted the beginning of March. They soon came up. Three seeds to a 9cm pot and as soon as they had two sets of leaves, I pinched the tops out to make them branch out. The reason you do this is to make a stronger plant. They are tough plants but a few days hardening off to get them used to the outside will be sensible. I am growing mine up 8 foot canes, with 4 canes tied at the top, with string around to give them something to cling to. I plant one pot with three seedlings in each at the base of each stick. When they flower, cut every flower so they will produce more; if you don’t, they will think ‘that’s it’ and stop growing.

Don’t plant any Gladioli until the broad leaf trees show their leaves. Horse Chestnut is a good indicator; it is nature’s way of telling you to get going with your Glads!

I am running out of room at the moment. My tomatoes are now in 5” pots, but I can’t put them in my big greenhouse as it is full of Chrysanthemum cuttings, and the hardier bedding plants. Some big Cannas in big pots and small brassicas growing on. I also have some lettuce that l would put out if it was warmer. The other big job is lawn mowing the orchard. I like to leave it as long as I can because as soon as I cut it, it comes back stronger and longer!

We sincerely hope to be up and running for a whole host of exciting speakers from September, but as ever will keep you posted via our posters around the village as well as our website: http://www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk/
Happy Spring and stay safe!
Cheers, Pete Chamberlain,
Chairman, Bishampton Gardening Club.

Christmas Wreath Competition

14/11/2020

Well, it’s been a strange year in so many ways but Bishampton Gardening Club hope that you’ll join us in decorating the village with some home-made wreaths. We will be walking the village on the 20th December and to show you’re happy to be part of the competition include BG into the design, or put the letters nearby. We can’t wait to see your designs!

Starting with a circular base is essential for a traditional wreath. Home made by making willow or hazel shoots into a circle. Start by tying four foot long shoots into a rough circle; green covered wire is useful to secure them, you need at least four to weave around not too tight as you need to secure your greenery to the canes. You can use any sort of shrub as long as they have leathery leaves.

Holly, although prickly, is great, especially variegated forms which add colour, Laurel can add bulk, Euonymous in all its forms works well. Once the base looks OK it is time to add your chosen ‘bits and bobs’. Ribbon made into bows, fir cones, natural and sprayed gold or silver. Small ornamental bells, etc. Flowers look OK but don’t last that well.

You can of course ‘cheat’ and buy wire circles, there are circles of plastic that have florists foam inserted, all of which will be disguised with careful placement of foliage. When you hang your wreath bear a thought for your postman, make sure it doesn’t obscure your postbox or leave some prickles close by to savage him or her.

Do be adventurous, like trying to incorporate items that might not be traditional. You never know you might become a trend setter! We sincerely hope to be up and running for a whole host of exciting speakers next year and will keep you posted via our posters around the village as well as our website: http://www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk/

Happy Christmas and stay safe! Hope to see you all soon. Cheers,
Pete Chamberlain,
Chairman, Bishampton Gardening Club.

Summer flowers and produce…

30/7/2020

August is rapidly approaching and that means the lawn won’t need cutting so much or so low as August is often dry. My Dahlias are flowering so well it’s a pity there are no shows. I will be cutting for friends and if any flowers go over I will try and dead head regularly and keep the hoe going amongst the weeds. I cut my Gladioli when two buds are open that way they seem to last longer in the vase. I also cut early in the day, which also helps. Try and leave four leaves on them, it will help to build up the corm for next year.

In the greenhouse, I am cutting cucumbers every day. I have a couple of plants of a half size one. Passandra (1) is wonderful, it produces so regularly, is a nice size and good flavour. The other one is called Pony (2) and that is even smaller but a 1 2 good flavour. The long one is called Carmen (3) and is probably the best show variety, a good cropper and good for the table.

My peppers are colouring up and I have been using them green on salads.
I grow my chilli peppers in a different greenhouse as I worry that if they row alongside the sweet peppers they might cross pollinate and make them hot!

I have some Sweet Williams in cell trays ready to go out on the allotment. They make a good cut flower. I also used them in the village planters last year. I sowed Violas a couple of weeks ago and they are ready for pricking out. I sowed some Pansies yesterday, so they don’t all come at once and I don’t get bored doing them.

My new bulb catalogue has dropped through the letter box so that will need to be dealt with; some of my friends order as well so it helps to reduce carriage charges.

Happy growing and we hope to see you (safely) soon.

Do keep checking our website for some fun images and film from Bishampton Gardens as well as our updates on events.

www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk or email info@bishamptongardenigclub.org.uk

Cheers, Pete Chamberlain, Chairman, Bishampton Gardening Club.

Picking, pruning and sowing…

12/7/2020

I have several pots of lilies outside my front door, and I look every day for the red lily beetles.

They are crafty! You have to cup your hand under the leaf to catch them when they drop. If they go on the floor they lie still and upside down and unless you put a sheet of newspaper you won’t find them. I pop them on the top of my green bin and squash them with a thumbnail. You could drop them in a jam jar with water or insecticide if you are squeamish or you could spray with a Pyrethroid spray.

Fruit is forming on apples and pears, it is worth thinning for better fruit. You want a hands breath between each ideally. With plums, it’s a matter of judgement. Victoria’s always seem to set too many and then it breaks their branches, so a bit of judicious thinning will keep the tree safe. Broken branches allow silver leaf disease to contaminate the tree.

Now is the time to put some more salad leaves, lettuce and the like in. It will grow and be ready for salads with home grown tomatoes. How often do you think a salad would be nice and find no lettuce? A point to remember is lettuce does not germinate well if it’s too hot, so put the tray in a cool place out of direct sun and off the ground away from slugs and snails.

Anyone wanting to grow Sweet Williams, Wallflowers or Pansies for Winter and Spring containers - hurry up and put the seed in! Also, Foxgloves, Lupins and Delphiniums can be sown now for next year.

Happy growing and we hope to see you (safely) soon.

Do keep checking our website for some fun images and film from Bishampton Gardens as well as our updates on events.
www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk or email info@bishamptongardenigclub.org.uk

Cheers, Pete Chamberlain, Chairman, Bishampton Gardening Club.

Time for tomatoes…

23/5/2020

Some useful pointers for those growing that annual favourite - tomatoes. It is important to know whether the variety you are growing is it ‘indeterminate’ or ’cordon’ . Both names refer to a plant that likes to grow on a single stem. When it has grown up a string or stake it will produce shoots at leaf axils, These need to be broken off rather than cut out. Breaking will stop any other shoots growing; cutting often results in shoots forming again. Most plants will support 6 or 7 trusses. I always tell people to buy the biggest growbag they can get. If growing in pots, get one as big as a bucket.
The other type of tomato is the ‘determinate’ or ‘bush’ variety. These start as a single stem that breaks into many shoots, all with flower trusses which can be grown in a big hanging basket, a planter, or a big pot. Some varieties make huge plants, mostly bearing small fruits. Once the first flowers show and small tomatoes have formed, add some tomato fertiliser to every can of water; you are sure to be repaid with loads of fruit and healthy foliage.

Watering is vital. Don’t let the plants dry out when they have fruit, or you risk a condition called ‘blossom end rot’ which results in a black or brown patch at the bottom of the fruit. However, try not to get water on the foliage. If you are worried about pollination, just tap the plant gently.

Many books say that you can’t grow cucumber in the same greenhouse as tomatoes. Yes you can! They enjoy warmth, so plant them further away from the door and not until the end of May. Always make sure you buy or grow F1 hybrids. The variety ‘Carmen’ is a standard size or ’Passandra’ which is half the size but very prolific.

Lets get colour in to the garden this summer…

4/6/2019

Clematis Montana will cease flowering soon; then it is time to prune it if you want to reduce its size. Bedding plants that have been put out need to be watered well to get them settled. If you want to grow Wallflowers or Sweet Williams to flower next spring, put the seed in now. Any Polyanthus that have finished flowering, can be pulled apart into small divisions so that they will be vigorous and flower well next year.

One of my favourite flowers is the Dahlia. It comes in so many forms from small pom-poms; star shapes; anemone flowers; small balls; cactus flowers and decorative – some single; some double; some with dark leaves; others with fern-like leaves. They all make a show making plants about two feet in diameter and anything from two to four feet in height – they start flowering in July and keep going until the first frosts. All this from a cutting in a 3½” pot! I will have a few spares that I will bring to our June meeting when Rachel Salisbury is talking about ‘Really Useful Plants’.

I hope you are preparing to enter our Summer Show in August and we are also looking for gardens for next year’s Open Gardens. Please speak to a member of the club for how to get involved.

Don’t forget to feed your plants!

We’d love to see you at our regular meetings – first Wednesday of the month – Bishampton Villages Hall @ 7:30pm
Happy growing.
Cheers,
Pete Chamberlain, Chairman, Bishampton & District Gardening Club.
email info@bishamptongardenigclub.org.uk

Cleaning and preparation for the year ahead…

15/1/2019

February and March 2019

January in the greenhouse is time for a good clean. Too many are used as sheds; poor use for a valuable asset! Why not grow salad leaves in troughs? ‘Cut-and-come-again’ lettuce will germinate in a cold greenhouse all the year round and give healthy salad crops you know are good for you! I have successfully grown Mizuna outside as well as Mituna; which is just as hardy. Or try Spinach in troughs and for a spicy alternative try Giant Red Mustard. Radishes are another alternative. If you let any go to seed the seed pods can be eaten too!

I don’t start heating my green house until Valentines’ Day. Then it is all systems go - Dahlias are put on the hotbed to start them growing, ready for cuttings to be taken later. Any spare room you can fill with tomatoes; chilli peppers; sweet peppers or aubergines. Start them in 4”/10cm pots in a fine compost; when they germinate and have two true leaves, I pot them into 3”/9cm pots. Make sure you consider quantity; 2 growbags with 3 plants in, is a good number for most.

I did germinate my show onions in a propagator in the house. I don’t believe in unnecessary expense, so as the house is warm, the onions grow in the dining room near a south facing window. They are now in cell trays and come February 14th, will be moved into the greenhouse to benefit from the extra light. They will also be potted into 3”/9cm pots before being hardened off in April and then planted direct into the ground. I also sow some annuals into cell trays ready to plant out in April on the plot, to offer pollinators some early sustenance.

Most fruit trees can be pruned from now to March; only apples and pears in the top. Damsons, plums and cherries should be pruned when they are in growth – so May until August. This is in order to reduce the chance of silver leaf. Soft fruit pruning needs to be done for blackcurrants – take out the old wood. The best flowers and fruit occur on last year’s wood; so don’t cut that out. Redcurrants fruit on old wood so leave alone unless the bushes are getting out of control. Not many people grow white currants which is a shame because they are sweeter then the other two. Gooseberries have a habit of growing branches that drag on the ground, I always cut these out as it is bad enough picking through the spiny horrors without grovelling on hands and knees to pick soil splashed fruit.

Don’t forget our Spring Show, it’s on Sunday 7th April this year. Remember, you don’t have to be a member to enter – see our website for details of this year’s exciting monthly meeting topics and visits planned as well as an application form.

www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk or email info@bishamptongardenigclub.org.uk

Cheers,
Pete Chamberlain, Chairman, Bishampton & District Gardening Club.

The nights are drawing in…

14/11/2018

Now the nights come earlier, I will be perusing the seed catalogues and pondering over what I am going to grow next year. I don’t always believe the glossy pictures and overzealous descriptions. I have been caught out in the past by glowing descriptions of a cut flower with long stems and continuous flowers, only to find it is a foot high and a single stem. I have lifted all my Gladioli and have cut the leaves off. I leave them in the greenhouse to dry and after a fortnight I remove the old corm and roots. Some of the little cormlets I keep and grow on next year, but only the special ones.

I have lifted all my Dahlia tubers and boxed them up. They are now residing in the barn, hopefully, they will be ready to take cutting from in the Spring. I have left a row in, but have covered them with a good 4” of rotten horse manure from a known source. You have to be careful about buying manure as if the straw has been sprayed with a hormone weed killer, it can hang around and be toxic to a lot of plants, particularly tomatoes. I used to live near large hay fields and the famer always told me if he was spraying, as I used to grow about 400 tomatoes in a Polytunnel. There is still time to plant Winter and Spring pots. Under-plant Pansies and Bellis and Polyanthus with Hyacinths, Tulips and Daffodils. Dutch Iris will continue to give colour with late Tulips, in fact any bulbs will push their way through the foliage above, so it is worth checking they haven’t lifted any plants as they grow.

If it isn’t frosty, and you haven’t already done it, give the lawn a last cut and put the lawnmower away. It is always a good idea to let it run out of fuel, so you can have an easy start in the Spring. Please do get your tickets for our annual Christmas dinner – for only £18 you get a three course dinner along with a very silly local quiz that’ll make you realise how unobservant you are as well as a hearty laugh or two.

For further information on your local, friendly gardening club, please do get in touch, all our details are online: www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk or email info@bishamptongardenigclub.org.uk
Cheers, Pete Chamberlain, Chairman, Bishampton & District Gardening Club.

Autumn is nearly here…

21/9/2018

Autumn is approaching fast, time for a tidy up in the garden. Try to gather any fallen fruit; a lot will have grubs in and will overwinter in the soil to reproduce in the Spring. Put them on the compost heap with the last of the grass cuttings to heat up and decompose. Tidy up any broken branches, I have several plum branches that were too heavily laden and broke under the extra weight. With the showers of rain the lawns are recovering well and will require cutting probably into November.

I never feed the lawn in Autumn, I think one weed and feed in Spring is enough. If you are lawn proud, then my regime will not be for you; I think feeding needs more lawn moving so I don’t do it.

Keep dead-heading roses and Dahlias; both will keep flowering until the first frosts. With the Dahlias you have to decide whether to leave in the ground or dig up the tubers and store them dry until next year. If leaving in the ground, it is best to mulch with three inches of compost as they will not survive the frosts otherwise. Any foliage from Dahlias will compost more readily if reduced in size by shredding or just throwing them on the lawn and running the lawn mower over them a couple of times. It is surprising how small an area they go into when chopped up. Needless to say, a rotary lawn mower not a cylinder mower!

Don’t forget it’s time to buy new bulbs and things like Amaryllis or Hyacinth for the home to cheer it up over winter, or as a seasonal gift. More on this next time. We’d also love to see you at our monthly meetings in the Villages Hall, Bishampton – it is always the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30. We offer a variety of speakers as well as evening trips and days out.

Any questions? Please do get in touch, all our details are online:
www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk or email info@bishamptongardenigclub.org.uk
Cheers, Pete Chamberlain, Chairman, Bishampton & District Gardening Club.

Summer nearly here…

21/5/2018

Have you all cut back your Forsythia yet? In the next few weeks, any Weigelia that has flowered can be cut back as it is another shrub that flowers on last year’s new shoots! Indeed, any evergreen shrub can be cut back into a manageable shape; Robinia and similar can get out of hand if not kept under control. Most hedges will look better for a quick trim, new growth will be easy to cut and a large hedge can be done in a very short time. If you haven’t got a mechanical hedge trimmer, I have often used a strimmer, don’t forget the safety glasses!

Primroses and Polyanthus that are overcrowded can be split up and divided. If you want to grow some from seed early June is the time to sow them. Similarly, if you want Wallflowers, Sweet Williams, Foxgloves or other triennials from seed, get these in June as well. I usually grow them in a deep seed tray and prick them out into cell trays (15 inserts in a tray) then put them in their final position in early October. Anyone wanting Forget-me-nots to go with a bed of tulips if you haven’t got seedlings springing up all over the place sow some seed now.

Anyone growing Runner Beans who finds they run out of steam early in September, why don’t you try a late sowing? Put two seeds in some 9cm or 3½ inch pots in late June and enjoy some tender beans up to the first frosts.

I will plant my Dahlias that I have raised from cuttings in the first week of June as I plant them out, I pinch the tops out to make them bush out. I restrict them to different amounts of stems according to the size of the bloom. The average size decorative or cactus will support 10-12 stems. Disbudding will give you maximum size of bloom. Gladioli jumping up through the ground, like plenty of water and a top dressing of general fertilizer. Good look with all your growing!

What are you doing, Wednesday 6th June? Why not join the Gardening Club – we’re very friendly! In June, we have the pleasure of Helen Picton and her fascinating talk, ‘Daisy Days – the rise, fall and renaissance of the Michaelmas Daisy.’ Also, in the evening of June 20th we are visiting the prestigious Croome Walled Garden, with a guided tour and optional refreshments afterwards. If you’d like to come, but can’t get a lift, contact us and we’ll do our best!

You can now pick up your free copy of our Summer Show Schedule, or download it online. We would love you and your loved ones to enter your blooms or veg or even crafts to make the August show an amazing spectacle.
Plenty for young children to enter as well. Any questions? Please do get in touch, all our details are online: www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk or email info@bishamptongardenigclub.org.uk
See you soon!

Cheers, Pete Chamberlain, Chairman, Bishampton Gardening Club.