Roehampton Garden Society


AGM and Awards 2023

We are delighted to invite all members to our

Social and AGM
Thursday 16th November, St. Margaret’s Church, Putney Park Lane.

7.00pm welcome drinks and snacks, 7.30pm business meeting 8.00pm prizegiving, Christmas Cake raffle and results of the RGS Logo Competition. 8.30pm refreshments

FULL AGENDA

The RGS committee has been working on an updated constitution. Members will be asked to agree this at the AGM. Read about it here.
Annual reports from the committee are listed below. Please read them and bring your questions, comments and suggestions to the AGM.


Chair’s report

In my report I will review what has happened during this RGS year that is from November 2022 to now, sketch out plans for next year and touch on who makes all these things happen.. Helen Finch

Read the full report

Trading Secretary and Seeds reports

Trading: We have had another good year for the Store on Site 2 and the sheds on Site 3. People really appreciate having the facility to buy heavy items on Site 3… Gill Tamsett Read the full report

Seeds: Seed sales are up on last year, especially for peas, broad beans and runner beans. We stock over ten different varieties of tomato plus around two hundred other varieties of vegetables and flowers from Kings Seeds. We offer a 10% discount on all seed sales.

The Seeds area in the site 2 shop is fully stocked. We have many different varieties of broad beans to plant now and lots of seasonal vegetables to plant in January/ February. Annie Hardinge

Show Chair’s report

Writing this during storm Ciaran it is hard to remember that both the summer and autumn shows this year were held on two of the hottest days of the year.
The summer show was held again on Site 2 at the end of June. Although it was very hot there was a strong breeze which played havoc with the tablecloths…. Read the full report

Site 2 Secretary’s report

It has been a busy year on site 2. We said goodbye to Pip Melotte as a very long standing plot holder and contributor to RGS activities but she remains an RGS honorary life member and she does come to our shows. Also Pam Partridge who had a plot for a long time finally relinquished her plot…….. Helen Finch

Read the full report

Site 3 Secretaries’ reports

Inner Area (Plots 101-127)
Alison Linton was site secretary until March 2023. I took over thereafter and I am grateful to Alison for her very helpful handover. During the past 12 months turnover has been very low with only 4 plots being reallocated….. Richard Standen Read full report
Outer Area (Plots 50-100)
The weather this year has been very mixed with long dry periods followed by heavy rain. Crops on most plots were good though, especially tomatoes, and the blight held off until the end of the season. Some plot holders still have large grassed areas which is a pity when crops could be grown in lieu. Foxes continue to damage plots……Vivien Fowler Read full report

Waiting List report

There are currently 366 people on the Primary Waiting List. 85 people were added to the list in the last 12 months and the wait time is about 4 years. As usual approximately 10% (25) of our plots changed hands this year…. Jackie Savage Read the full report


Read Minutes of AGM 2022.
Reports from the 2022 AGM can be read here.


Peat free composts: Water with care..

One of the key adjustments you may need to make when changing from peat-based compost to peat-free is with watering. Peat-free composts, especially those containing composted bark, often hold water for longer, so may need watering less frequently. They also tend to look dry on the surface, making it easy to overwater. So use your fingers to check the moisture levels under the surface where possible, or lift the container to feel how heavy it is. Also water using a small watering can or even a mist sprayer, so it’s easier to control the amount you apply.

Going peat free may mean changing the way we plant and deal with seedlings this winter.

The RHS says:
“Before sowing seeds, make sure the compost is moist but not soggy. Saturated compost is colder, which can slow down germination and may cause seedlings and cuttings to rot.”
 
For more on checking compost moisture and how to water containers, see the RHS video guide to watering.


The John Macleod Lecture – RGS Members invited…

The RHS has invited our members to their John MacLeod Annual Lecture

“Plant Fitness, Sustainable Planting and the Conceptualisation of Understanding Horticultural Plants”

by Professor James Hitchmough

Are we on the brink of transformation or disaster? Join us for an evening of insight and glimpse a world where ecological understanding and innovative horticultural practices converge to create a sustainable future.

Prof. James Hitchmough will paint a compelling picture of how our evolving climate demands a deeper focus on plant fitness, despite a lack of tools and perspectives to address the challenge.

Discover a glimmer of hope as he unveils a framework linking fitness, niche, and geographic range, offering a pathway to a reimagined horticultural landscape that stands resilient in the face of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Date: 16th November 2023
Time/Venue – 14.30 – 15.45 hrs in The Garden Room RHS Wisley Hilltop The Home of Gardening Science.

Please reply to chrismoncrieff@rhs.org.uk if you would like to attend. First two bookings from RGS members will be accepted.

James Hitchmough is Professor Emeritus in Horticultural Ecology in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Sheffield.
He retired from the University in September 2022, but continues to co-supervise his final tranche of 5 PhD students as they complete their studies. Two of these students are working on understanding and quantifying plant fitness for the changing climate.
James continues to develop new types of designed plantings (as he always has) in landscape architectural practice often in collaboration with Tom Stuart Smith but currently also with Piet Oudolf.
Most of his consultancy and design work is however in China and Australia where he works primarily with their native flora. The perspectives that come from his integration of academic research and practice shapes a world view, that makes him an in-demand conference speaker around the world.


The Commons Conservators Wildlife Report

The Wimbledon and Putney Commons’ Wildlife and Environment Report 2022 has just been published.

This monitoring report on the wildlife species living on our commons shows health of our local wildlife, with winners and losers changing year on year.

This year the report shows:

28 species of butterfly were recorded – a slight increase on 2021. There was a more noticeable increase in dragonfly species, up by nine to 21, including a single Norfolk Hawker and a Keeled Skimmer which is a typical wet heathland species not seen on the Common since 2018.

16 Common Lizards were spotted, an increase on the previous year while frogs, toads and newts continue to spawn in many of the ponds.

The stag beetle population continues to decline with only 21 reported by visitors, a continuation of the fall since 2014.

While a number of new species are appearing, there is broader concern expressed in the report that more common species of butterfly are declining in numbers continuing a trend seen over the last few years. In particular Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Common Blue are showing significant declines over the past 5 years.

Read the full report on The Conservators website here


The RGS Constitution November 2023

The Constitution has been revised – please read the new version here. For comparison, the existing constitution can be read here.

The main differences are:

  • There are different voting rights for all RGS members as opposed to Plot Holders, Plot Holder Partners and Plot Holder Assistants.
  • The roles listed reflect how the Committee is currently structured.
  • Responsibilities for the Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer are more explicit especially regarding access to the RGS bank account and authority to enter into contracts with utility providers.
  • Quorum requirements added for General Meetings, both the AGM and EGM. 
  • A disclaimer has been added at the end.

At the AGM there will be an opportunity to ask questions about the new Constitution. The Chair will request that the membership approve the document and thus have it ratified as our new Constitution.


More or Less in the insect world

Our allotment sites have been home to greater numbers of Red Admiral butterflies this year. Such a welcome sight and a little good news. Peacock butterflies didn’t do quite so well, however, and numbers of the Small Tortoishell and Green-veined white slumped. If you’re interested in the full results of the Butterfly Count this year check them out here.

Red Admiral

The other insect species having a startlingly good year in Roehampton is a small brown grasshopper – seen in hundreds by those mowing the paths this summer as they scramble away from the mower. Look out for them hopping on your plot.

Common Field Grasshopper

If anyone is curious about our native grasshoppers there is more to see here


Soil Health and Propagation – two interesting courses at Carshalton

Both workshops are led by a RHS qualified and experienced tutor, and as always, there will be lots of information to take home.

Soil Health – for growing great veg
(Saturday 30th September 2023)
Soil Health – Find out More

On the Soil Health workshop, participants will:
– Learn how to test and improve their soil
– Find out how our soils work to store carbon and water
– Learn the secrets of making great compost
– Find out how to make free plant fertilisers and tonics at home

Autumn & Winter Plant Propagation
(Saturday 21st October 2023)
Autumn & Winter Plant Propagation -Find out More

The Plant propagation workshop covers:
– Hardwood cuttings
– Leaf Cuttings
– Root Cuttings
– Air Layering
– Seed sowing including chipping and vernalization
Participants will be able to take home a selection of propagated material.


The problem with Charlotte..

A conversation in the Store one Sunday led to Jackie Savage contacting the RHS helpline about a problem with Charlotte Salad Potatoes this year…

Jackie says:

I have a plentiful harvest from the seed potatoes I planted in March but when I cook them I find that they are not the waxy, pale yellow salad potatoes that I love. I clean them and leave the skins on and then boil them for 8 to 10 minutes. The skins fall off but the potato is white and floury. I cannot use them to make potato salad as they do not hold their shape, but they are tasty as mash. I was not the only one to experience this so I wrote to the RHS helpline and received this answer:

This breaking down of the potato is known as sloughing. The exact cause is unclear. Potassium deficiency has been discussed and, as sulphate of potash is fairly cheap and widely available, adding this at 20 g per sq yard would seem be worth trying. It is reported that disintegration decreases with storage and it may be that the potatoes will be better after a few months of storage.
It is said that adding some bicarbonate of soda to the cooking water helps maintain the intercellular bonds and reduces sloughing. It would be interesting to know if microwaving, baking and steaming also led to disintegration.

RHS Helpline

Jackie would be really interested to hear if anyone else has had the same experience and if they have any suggestions or solutions. She says: “Perhaps I should give up on Charlottes and grow a different salad potato? Or add sulphate of potash at the time of planting? I am reluctant to add bicarbonate of soda to the cooking water.”

Have you had a similar experience this year – or have you any advice to offer? Please email your suggestions to rgs.sw15 @gmail.com