At our October meeting we took stock, with everyone agreeing they have greatly enjoyed our group and discussions over the past gardening year. A common theme was that we have  all benefited from learning from others in activities, discussions and demonstrations. Sharing plants and cuttings etc. has increased our garden stocks and Summer meetings in group members’ gardens plus Ness Gardens with Gardeners Question Time visit  mid September were hugely enjoyed by all.

Examples of those things we agreed to do more of this coming year include

– developing our propagation skills further with more demonstrations and practical activity;  all members will aim to bring materials to meetings for others’ to take cuttings from. We agreed to increase the sharing of surplus plants/ rooted cuttings/seeds etc and to aim to have visits such as to continue to visit other members’ gardens and to visit NGS open gardens, as a group. A tour of a local garden nursery centre is planned for the Spring and we will also seek to arrange for occasional outside ‘expert’ speakers to talk to the group providing this proves viable. We aim  to try growing a vegetable that we haven’t grown before, with on-going  review and ‘next steps’ advice  – it was generally agreed that in the Spring we should try peas (variety Kelvedene Wonder). Members were keen to have a ‘what’s this and what do I do with it?’ and ‘how do I treat this/make this better?’ type session to share and learn from others’ knowledge and expertise. We  also agreed to ‘cross fertilise’ with the flower arranging group  for any items etc of mutual interest

Todays’ demonstration of taking geranium cuttings (most left with a new cutting to root) provided the following tips which have been successfully applied by one member:

Let the geranium plant dry out slightly before taking the cutting. Take a non flowering piece as your cutting ensuring that 4 nodes are visible on the lower stem. Remove all larger leaves from the cutting and shorten it to just below the 4 nodes (cutting ultimately about 4 inches long). Place  the cutting at the edge of a pot of compost (multi purpose compost is fine) ensuring the 4 nodes are below the compost’ surface.  DO NOT OVERWATER

Further RHS advice is at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=338#section-5

Plot update : Our plot at Hudson Primary has produced good onions this year; all members who wish to are able to get involved and enjoy.

New members are very welcome to join us; 1st Monday of the month at St Andrews Parish Hall Deyes Lane

NB: Meetings of the Cottage Garden Society take place on the third Wednesday of the month at Haskayne Village Hall – next meeting is on18th October at 7.30