At our meeting today, Dec. 5th, we celebrated the impact of the milder weather and the relatively late frosts with, for example, sweet peas only just finished flowering for one member and artichokes and tomatoes still growing for another!

Dahlias: Leaving dahlias in the ground and heavily mulching them or digging up and storing the tubers was discussed. It is really important if the tubers are dug up for them to be washed in lukewarm water (to remove soil etc) and then placed upside down to allow them to dry before being  planted in compost and stored in a dry frost free place. (Dusting on fungicidal powder first can be valuable in preventing disease.) The tubers  can then be replanted outside once the danger of frost passes. Also at this point cuttings can be taken where the tubers have sprouted.

Guess the plant (and cuttings): Maureen (Ward) had brought a variety of plant pieces from her garden including nerines, jasmine, sage, mallow and heather and having all guessed/identified these we discussed their propagation with some cuttings and seeds being taken by most.

Eliminating resistant/difficult weeds eg bindweed,  and the use of  systemic weedkillers.  The  potential success of allowing these weeds to grow up canes and then spraying with the weedkiller again if the first ‘attack’ on them  is not successful was shared

Plot update: Onions and garlic planted last month aren’t showing yet

Members’ favourite plants at this time of year:  These included Hellebores, Mahonia, Christmas Cheer Rhododendron, Pheasant Eye Narcissus and Cotoneaster Coral Beauty

Tip of the month: To be sure Christmas Cactus will be flowering at Christmas start watering and feeding the plant  regularly 8 weeks before Christmas

Planting seeds in the New Year – one member enjoys starting her seeds in plastic mushroom/meat trays with fibre type pots/ cardboard rolls  (10 to a tray) on New Years day eg 3 sweet pea seeds in compost in each fibre pot. The trays sit on the windowsill and the tray watered with the seedling growing tips pinched out to stop legginess. Once the weather is frost free the trays are then placed outside to harden off the seedlings before planting out

Spring planting soil preparation– we talked about the value and accessibility of  manure  and the increasing popularity and benefits of using chicken manure pellets in early Spring when the garden is still dormant

We agreed this had been a good meeting enjoyed by all.

Practical Gardening Group meeting 7th November

We continued our discussions around garden planning including the use of Feng Shui in the garden. We agreed that each member would identify if they had a ‘problem’ area in their garden to improve. The group could all work together on these ‘problem areas’ at future meetings

Composting tips:

• don’t include in the compost heap:  roses with black spot, anything else which has prickles, weeds such as horsetail or anything which is diseased or which has been treated with weedkiller etc until at least six weeks have passed .
• mix greens and browns fairly equally : can include anything which has grown (but see above), cardboard, cartons, paper (not glossy)
• the heap needs to be wet not dry and warmed by the sun  if possible

Tip of the month: crush eggshells and microwave for a few minutes. Excellent around plants for discouraging snails

Guess the plant: One member brought a large plant stem for the group to identify. It transpired this was a Jerusalem Artichoke plant which had been easy to grow; the artichokes apparently make gorgeous soup.

Plot update: Garlic and onions have been planted. Broad beans, raspberries , gooseberries  will be planted soon

Cuttings:  Maureen demonstrated taking hardwood buddleia cuttings – cutting below a growing node and using  ratchet secatuers which Maureen  advised are good for anyone with weaker hands. All but the top two leaves were removed for the cutting to then be started in gritty compost. A number of members took these cuttings away to start at home.