NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS

FUCHSIA SOCIETY

APRIL 2017 NEWSLETTER

What is happening in the Garden Centre:

Whilst no longer working in a Garden centre, I can still find time to wander round.  Basket plants and tomato plants are on sale now along with 9cm pot herb plants.  There are plenty of herbaceous perennials should you need to fill in any gaps in your borders. 

I have purchased a new garden gadget (from Kleeneze and NOT from the Garden Centre), a dual tap which fits onto our outdoor tap and allows you to use the hose and also to fill your watering can at the same time.  This comes in very handy when I undoubtedly need to top up the pond whilst wanting to water my plants at the same time. 

What is happening in the Garden: 

• Fruit & Vegetables

I keep religiously watering my seeds, but not seeing much for my hard labour.  I have around a dozen tomato seedlings, 1 x runner bean; 7 pea plants and plenty of garlic shooting up.  However, my potatoes (first crop) are doing very well in their potato barrels, nearly reaching the top.  I am constantly having to earth up.  I am really looking forward to tasting our first yield.  I grew some indoor herbs and have a few basil & parsley seedlings on the kitchen windowsill. 

• Perennials/Garden Shrubs etc

I have transplanted my Japanese anemones, moving them away from the stumpery, allowing room for some new ferns which Bob acquired for me over the internet.  I have also pulled out a whole bed of euphorbias which were taking over the rockery, leaving me with a blank canvas to work with.  Shall I replant with more heucheras again? Or should I buy small rockery plants?  Not sure at the moment… 

I have taken plenty of cuttings: cornus; cotoneaster; forsythia; ribes; hydrangea.  I have also lifted my hardy geraniums and sedum and split.  These I will probably donate to the society and bring along to one of our sales events. 

I have also sown some dahlia seeds.  I am not a dahlia lover, but I have volunteered to take part in a survey for ‘Blooms for bees’; I have sown, some white; red and purple dahlias, and hopefully (if they germinate) I will be able to monitor how many and which bees are attracted to which colour flower.  Meanwhile, I’m just waiting…. 

• Fuchsia Growing

I am busy watering, turning and feeding my fuchsias and really will have to buckle down and start taking some cuttings especially after a visit from our new Turkish neighbours.  Apparently, the mother had been admiring my garden from her bedroom window and thought it time she came round and ask for a tour and for some advice. Whilst, personally, I was embarrassed about the state of my garden, as there is still so much to do, she seemed to be in awe, taking photos on her phone and asking what compost to use, etc. She spotted my fuchsias and wanted to know if they were for sale, of course I said no, but that I would take some cuttings for her.  All this was translated via her daughter as the mother’s English is very limited. To my surprise, we were given two Turkish pasties for our kindness and in anticipation of her forthcoming cuttings! 

• Wildlife/Pondlife

Garden birds still prove to be popular, the blackbirds are showing a little interest in the ivy, but can’t confirm yet whether they have started nesting.  We see a couple of robins, especially when I am out digging in the garden and occasionally a little wren. Whilst I saw frogspawn a few weeks back, that has disappeared, so I believe the fish may have also discovered it.  Squirrels are quite a nuisance.  Whilst we love having the squirrels in the garden and eating nuts, hanging upside down, etc, however, I wish they wouldn’t wreck the feeders!  They are very costly and at the moment it means the birds are going without their regular feed. 

If you remember last month’s meeting began, very informally, with Colin & Lyndon sharing with us some of their best practices and experiences: - 

Colin advised us that he had 20-25 fuchsia cuttings which he was hoping to pot on to sell at one of our future sales events and Pat had got 50 and was also hoping to pot these on etc..  From these original plants, Colin took a further 40 cuttings.  This is sounding very promising… 

Lyndon shared with us his recent experience at Swinshaw Nurseries, located near Accrington, the nursery sold 1500 different cultivars, some were unknown.  However, Lyndon gave the plants a real good inspection and unfortunately found signs of rust. 

Arcadia Nurseries, closed down due to the number of complaints of rust and Lyndon recalled a visit the society made to Wheatcroft Nurseries (now Nottcutts) when we helped to promote a ‘Fuchsia weekend’, offering advice etc.  Most of the plants on display had rust. 

How to identify rust…. Black marks appear on the leaves and orange spores appear on the reverse. 

How to reduce the spread of rust…. 

• Wash hands after touching infected plants
• Use rose Clear 3
• Sterilise scissors with metholated spirits or malt vinegar
• New Plants: quarantine them; inspect and treat before introducing them into your collection.
• Spray with milk
• Aerate Greenhouse, increased air circulation.
• Certain plants are susceptible to rust, i.e. conifers; Bay willowherb 

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Long Tweezers – previously it was mentioned how useful, these long tweezers were.  I remember saying they were available from Kleeneze, but unfortunately they don’t sell them anymore.  Bob searched on the internet and purchased me a pair, they were not as long as the ones from Kleeneze, but they do the job.  However, I think it was Vicky who mentioned that they can be purchased at ‘Tiger’, a shop in Victoria Centre, Nottingham or in the Eagle Centre, Derby. 

We were then treated to a talk from Alan Soloman, who was late arriving due to traffic, but we were very pleased to see him.  He delivered a really interesting talk and with a fantastic slide show to accompany it.  Thanks Alan! 

I took some notes, hints and tips which I hope you will find useful…. 

Alan suggested certain varieties which he felt did well on the show bench in certain classes: 

Generally Good Show Plants:                Tom Thumb (hardy)

                                                            Patio princess (Non Hardy)

                                                            F. Paniculata/Arborescens

Hints & Tips:     grow 5, stop each one at consecutive weeks, more chance of at least one being ready for Show Day. 

Good Basket Plant:                               Dollar Princess (hardy) 

List of Alan’s favourite plants for showing: 

 Step to Step Guide – Propagation to Show Bench 

• Taking Cuttings
• take cuttings with scalpel not scissors, which squeeze the stem
• dip blade in alcohol after each cutting
• cut large leaves in half, keeps moisture in plant, especially when in propagator.
• Always remember to label
• Cutting Medium
• 6 General purpose compost; 1 perlite; 1 vermiculite
• Perlite – good to retain water
• Vermiculite – heat retention
• Perfect medium should be slightly damp; light & fluffy
• Don’t press hard into compost, just a gentle tap.
• Propagation
• For successful rooting temperature needs to be kept at 15^oC
• Air must be humid
• Good light but not direct sunlight
• Should root within 25 days
• Feeding & correct watering
• Feed after 4 to 6 weeks.
• Lift pot, if light, water; if not, don’t

Sow a Seed or Plant a Plant for Your Society

This year we intend to hold 3 plant sales in the hope of not only boosting our funds but also to promote our society. Please note the following dates: - 

NEWSLETTER

If anyone wants any item included in the Newsletter, please let me know, either at a meeting, or phone me on Tel: 0115 8758928, or email: jayne.daykin@ntlworld.com  I will gladly include any article or event in the Newsletter.   

Also, if anyone would rather I send them an electronic copy, please let me know.   

Remember: It is YOUR newsletter.

FUNDRAISING

The easiest way for all internet users to help raise funds for our Society is simply by every time you search the Web you use easysearch. Easysearch combines results from Yahoo!, Windows MSN Live Search and Ask.com in one simple search, the address is http://nottsfuchsia.easysearch.org.uk  Please try it and encourage others too. Don’t forget if you make any purchases on the internet, to go through our webshop to make sure we receive commission from the retailers (currently over 2000 well known retailers), the address is http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/nottsfuchsia .