Chalfont St Peter Garden Club Newsletter - May 2010

Chairman : Grace Hunter
Secretary : Susan Mills
Garden Hut Manager : Tony Gelder
Assistant Hut Manager : Keith Gould
Treasurer : Robert Bastin
Newsletter : Diana Longshaw

Club Spring Show - Wednesday, 21st April 2010

Spring Show Report

The evening was successful with good entries in all the classes. The overall winner was
Connie May who was presented with the Davis Cup by Alan Davison.
In the photographic section, judged by the audience, winners were Class 1- Rosemary Southam, Class 2- Connie May, Class 3- Claire de Carle. Thanks are given to the catering team for proving the excellent food and drink, also the show team, which included stewards, judges, photo section, quiz, and general organisation, and also everyone who took part

Jane’s May Garden Tips

Companion planting is an effective way to keep your vegetable plants healthy. By mixing veg plants and flowers you will confuse pests making it harder for them to spot crops. Some pests are attracted by scent so by scattering strong smelling plants will help to mask them, also companion plants can attract useful predators. Marigolds (tagetes) are popular alongside tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers to deter whitefly, herbs can be grown (chives) to release scent and their flowers attract hoverflies. Nasturtiums are good to eat plus black fly and cabbage white butterfly lay eggs on them, attracting beneficial insects.

Prune back clematis Montana after flowering and tie in other climbers. Cut back and divide spring flowering perennials – doronicums, pulmonarias and primulas, after division replant in soil that has been revitalised with organic material. Trim back alyssum, ababis and aubrieta almost to the ground, fresh growth will soon appear. Harden off bedding plants prior to planting out by putting them in a sheltered spot during the day and bring them in at night. Beware of late frosts keeping some fleece handy if frost is forecast. Feed and weed lawns to encourage growth as well as regular mowing on a fairly high setting. Crops to sow now beetroot, cabbage, carrot, spinach, lettuce and salad crops. Thin seedlings to the recommended distance for better yields and less congestion, water to settle remaining seedlings. Plant out marrows, courgettes and squashes later in the month, plant into enriched soil allowing plenty of room for each plant. Plant out or sow runner and French beans, outside tomatoes can also be put in position. Earth up potatoes as the shoots appear. Pinch out the tops of broad beans to prevent black fly.

Google, more information on companion planting.

Items from the Hut likely to be needed this month include :
Canes – from 3ft to 8 ft
Lawn treatment ,
Feed & weed 360 m2 £18.50
Feed weed & mosskiller -for 400sq mt £20 or £13 for 200m2 for small lawns Grass seed – Quickfix with growmore (500 gms) back in stock £3.60
Verdone for killing weeds concentrate £5.75 or RTU £5.05
Fleece £3.50 for 16 mt roll or £5 for 2 rolls - protect plants or fruit blossom from possible late frosts, as predicted by weather man at March meeting, also cover carrots to protect against carrot fly

The Hut

May, as Jane says, is a busy time in our gardens & allotments. The hut is well stocked but anything not in stock ask and we will inform you if we can get the item.
May 9th & 16th, the hut will be open from 10am to 12:30, other Sundays from 10am to noon - Please remember to bring your Membership card.

OFFERS this month

• Multipurpose Compost – 3 bags of 60lts for £10.50
• Small bags of composts- 35 lts
• Muti purpose composts– £3.00
• Seed & Cutting compost - £3.50
• Ericaceous -£3.75
• Or 3 bags – one Multi purpose & 2 seed &cutting or ericaceous for £10.00
• Standard growbags 3 for £4.50
• Pot up containers & hanging baskets
• Compost – multi purpose, as above and/ or John Innis – 25lts at £3.10
• Water crystals – £3 for 150gms
• Osmocote tablets (sold in 10,20,0r 30 ) and 0.5 kg of granules.
• Pest control
  • Slugs - range of products include pellets , gel and copper tape for pots
  • Insecticides – we have Bug killer concentrate &, RTU and aerosol -Lilly beetle, apple sawfly etc
  • Fungicides - gooseberries, apples etc
  • Multirose & Roseclear concentrate and RTU- fungicide & insecticide for flowers
  • moth traps to hang in fruit trees and refills for various types of fruit

Anything related to the garden hut, please contact me by email: 

PLANT SALE

This year we are holding a Plant sale at the garden hut on Sunday May 16th from 10am to 12 noon. There will be 10 spaces; we ask you to provide your own table.
Members will have to pre-book by contacting the Hut Manager either by email
hut-manager@gardenclub.org.uk.
A donation will be requested for a Charity to be agreed at next Committee meeting. For those members with only a small quantity of plants, they can be placed on the Garden Club table. Again please pre-book.

Keith’s Outings

Our next outing is to STANDEN HOUSE near Wheatley, West Sussex, on Wed., 23rd June. This Victorian house with a William Morris interior has an arts & crafts centre where ceramics, furniture and metalwork are to be seen in the workshops. There are 12 acres of gardens and pleasant views of the High Weald and Weirwood Reservoir with various woodland walks, also to be enjoyed. Coffee/ tea & biscuits included as usual. Entrance cost for non National Trust members is £7.30 each.
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Please book me………seats for Standen House @ £15 each for club members & ……….seats @ £17 each for all others plus £7.30 entry for non National Trust Members. Total of £…………

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I would also like to give you advance info. about the July 14th outing to Claydon House, Bucks,(N/T) a special, this one! This will have waitress service in the Carriage House restaurant. I have booked tea/coffee with biscuits on arrival and will also take care of the tip for the luncheon bookings, which are at group prices: menus B @ £9.50 (Bucks rarebit &cake/pud / tea/coff.) & C @ £12.50 (soup otd/ploughmans/tea/coff ). It would be nice for us all to lunch together for once, so I hope you all are agreeable - many thanks - Keith

Next Event

On Wednesday, 19th May, 2010. Ian Hawes will be giving a talk on Badgers & Wildlife rescue
Meet at the Chalfont St Peter Church Hall at 8 p.m. There is a £1 entry charge for Non Members and Refreshments are available. Please show your Membership Card.