A very big Thank You to all who donated or bought plants at our recent Plant Sale.
You made a fantastic.
£919.25
for Cancer Research
A very big Thank You to all who donated or bought plants at our recent Plant Sale.
You made a fantastic.
£919.25
for Cancer Research
This month we welcome Elaine Fieldhouse and Barry Reeves who will each present an illustrated talk about compost.
Elaine has spoken to us a number of times and is the proud owner of a multitude of successful compost bins. She will bring a bucket of her compost for us to explore!
Barry will tell us all about Hot Bins! He is very knowledgeable about hot composting and we are very lucky that he is happy to share his knowledge with us.
On Tuesday 9th April 2024
At Aldersbrook Bowls Club E12 5DY
Doors open 7pm for a 7:30pm start
Free for members. and £5 for guests
Our March 2024 meeting will be an illustrated talk by Celia Parker. Celia will tell us about the joys and challenges of a year on her allotment.
On Tuesday 12th March 2024
At Aldersbrook Bowls Club E12 5DY
Doors open 7pm for a 7:30pm start
Free to members £5 non members
We are thrilled to welcome Fergus Garrett to our February Meeting
Fergus Garrett is the CEO at Great Dixter gardens. (www.greatdixter.co.uk)
At the age of 27 Garrett joined the Great Dixter team and worked closely with owner Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006) from 1992 until his death.
Garrett doesn’t favour the use of synthetic chemical interventions in land or plant management. He supports building biodiversity and ecological education.
He has received the Royal Horticultural Society Associate of Honour (2008), the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to the practice of horticulture (2015) and the Victoria Medal of Honour (2019). He is a patron of the Beth Chatto Education Charity, and the President of the Northiam Horticultural Charity; he is on the garden advisory boards for RHS Wisley, the Landcraft Gardening Foundation and Prospect Cottage and has held the role of judge at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Link below to an article about Fergus Garrett in WVD written by AHS Chair Ruth Martin. https://wansteadvillagedirectory.com/
See Events Tab above for more details.
a presentation by Danny Clarke, ‘The Black Gardener’ as seen on ‘Love Your Garden’ ITV.
Danny’s presentation will be:-
‘Love Your Garden. – Gardening on a Budget’
Tuesday 12th December 2023
at Aldersbrook Bowls Club E12 5DY
Doors open 7pm for a 7:30 start
Free to members………..£5 guests
Instead of the June meeting the AHS held its Annual Summer Trip, this year to the beautiful garden of Sissinghurst, created by Vita Sackville West and Harold Nicholson and now owned by the National Trust. Over 70 members and friends went on the visit on a day that started wet but cleared later. At the May meeting Ruth Martin gave a talk about the history and creation of Sissinghurst so hopefully those members who heard the talk were able to use their knowledge to understand and see how the garden has developed and appreciate its beauty today.
An end of year (that is the horticultural year) social for Aldersbrook Horticultural Society took place on a wet Tuesday evening in July. However, despite the weather, about 40 members turned out to share food which members brought and Prosecco provided by the AHS. Although, most of the evening took place indoors, when the sky cleared members were able to admire Theresa Holland’s beautiful garden. A horticultural quiz was enjoyed by several members and won by Julie Donovan. Ruth Martin, the chair of AHS, thanked Theresa for hosting the evening and announced the first meeting of the next horticultural year on Tuesday September 10th when Manoj Malde, a leading garden designer and RHS Ambassador will speak.
Midsummer weather in July should bring plenty sunshine with long warm days that continue late into the evening. Sadly this year, we haven’t had much warm days, but don’t despair, summer is not over yet! At least your water butts are full, ready for drier spells when regular and wise watering will be needed.
Flowers
Weekly deadheading and feeding will help to maintain healthy growth and encourage more flowers.
A great way to keep shrubs neat and compact. Choosing flowers just as they mature, when they are the most fragrant. The best time is late morning – after the dew has dried but before the sun draws out the essential oil. Hang bunches upside down in a well-ventilated, warm dark spot.
Early mornings or evenings are the best time when the stems are full of water and less likely to wilt.
From ripe seed-heads from aquilegias, nigellas, poppies. Ensure that your seeds are dry before storing them in paper envelopes in a dark, cool and dry location.
Fruit and veg
Tackle summer pests and diseases
Pests and diseases can thrive in warm weather.
Don’t forget
The weather has not been as warm and sunny as we would expect for this time of year, but at least we have passed the danger of frost and night temperatures are getting milder. The longest day of the year falls on June 20th, bringing warmer temperatures and extra sunlight. June is the month when we can finally move those tender plants outside including houseplants.
June is a month of plenty in the garden: plenty to harvest, plenty to grow and plenty more to do!
Refresh your roses
They will benefit from extra attention now to provide plentiful blooms in the weeks to come.
Tidy spring perennials
Chop scruffy-looking spring-flowering perennials for potentially a second flush of flowers. Cut Alchemilla mollis, early geraniums and Oriental poppies back to ground level and remove flowering stems of lupins and delphiniums for more blooms.
Sow poppies
If sown direct now, when the soil is warm, many varieties flower within eight weeks. Poppies prefer to be sown direct rather than into a seed tray as they hate root disturbance. Follow Sarah Raven rule of the 4 T’s to succeed with direct sowing:
Plant ahead for next spring: sow biennials
Next spring’s biennials, such as wallflowers, sweet williams, foxgloves and honesty, need time to establish.
If you are short of space, sow them in pots in a sheltered spot until the autumn when they can be planted in their final positions.
Tomatoes
You can now bring your tomatoes out of the greenhouse.
Plants cucurbits
Young courgettes, marrow, squash and pumpkin plants started off indoors can be planted out. They need a sunny site with rich soil enriched with garden compost.
Direct sow outdoor
Regularly sow and harvest beetroots, spring onions, radishes, herbs and salads leaves. Water well in dry weather to reduce risk of them running to seeds.
It is not too late to direct sow in the ground, runner beans and french beans, courgettes and squash.
Plan for a winter harvest
Sow slower-growing vegetables such as cabbages, broccoli and kale for harvesting in winter. Sow seeds in module tray or seedbed for transplanting to final position later.
Don’t forget