2024 May Newsletter
Our Society > Newsletters hints and tips
May 2024
Dear Members
At last there has been a reduction in the amount of rain we have received in the last four months, and the ground is drying out. Unfortunately the temperature has not risen as we would have expected at this time of year. We must be very careful with tender plants. I would normally look to be planting out baskets and tubs during the first week of May, but I don’t think this will be happening this year. I am still lighting my paraffin heaters in the greenhouse overnight. I have lost several bedding plants and cucumber plants due to low temperatures and my tomato plants are still quite small.
The greenhouse is full with new plants, and I have two cloches for protecting my overwintered greenhouse plants. The cloches are based on the design of Geoff Hamilton when he was the presenter of Gardeners’ World in the 1980s and 1990s. See attached photos. I have had the domed
water piping supports since his show and have to replace the polythene every three years.
On a more positive note my garden is at its best at present with Forget Me Nots and Bluebells and shrubs awakening from the winter.
Our April meeting had David Usher talking about the Regeneration of Hestercombe Gardens. The meeting was very well attended. I have had very positive feedback from some of our members regarding the quality of the speaker and the content of the talk.
Our speaker for the next meeting on Thursday 9 th May is Matthew Symonds who will talk om ' Gardening in small places' (this is a change to our previously notofied speaker).
I attach a copy of South Bank Nurseries current plant listings that are available for purchase this week. Last year this was very popular with our members and we will be doing it again this year.
To clarify a few points. The prices do not include VAT. We will need to add 20% to the price and round the price to a convenient figure.
The figures *18 and *15 indicate how many plants there are in a full tray. We can purchase individual pots, 6 packs, or multiples of them.
Example: One Alicante Tomato would be 90p
One 6 pack Cabbage would be £2
One Litre Geranium would be £2.50
I hope I have not confused you with my explanations above, but we will be buying plants that are roughly half the price of Garden Centres. Could you please email me your requirements by the beginning of next week, or drop a note into my house?n
Memberships can be renewed before and after the speaker has finished his talk.
As per the AGM voting, Single Membership is £10, Family Membership is £15.
Entrance for the meeting is £2 per member and £3 per non-member.
St Peter’s Church Hall, Baytree Road. Meeting starts at 7.30pm.
I can be contacted on my email if any more information is required.
Kind regards,
John Chapman,
Chairman