Click here for the full, illustrated report from Show Chair Carol Martinez.
From storms to sunshine at the summer show
Summer Show 2024
Category Archives: News
Growing potatoes -in a cardboard box
In an experiment for the Spinal Injuries Association, who are keen to make gardening easier for those with mobility issues, Bill Young (54A) grew new potatoes (Duke of York) in a series of carboard wine boxes.
This method of growing potatoes within carboard boxes, is common in Australia and some parts of the USA.
Bill writes
It is ideal for wheelchair users, especially in conjunction with raised beds. Just pop the remains of the carboard box off, hey-presto, the new potatoes are in front of you. I lifted the first two plants today Saturday 8th. of June, and was very pleasantly surprised by the results. It was by far the best results I’ve had, nearly 5 lbs. of perfectly formed tubers. This method works, and I can only say – try it!
Method – I folded down the carboard lid, then folded up the bottom, it in effect created a double-walled tube of carboard. Placed the box on top of the soil.
I added three or four inches of soil, then placed two chitting potatoes within the box, then covered with a mixture of compost and soil up to the brim.
I watered them regularly, unfortunately they came under a sustained attack from slugs and snails. My effective remedy was to pick the slugs and snails off the plants, to be fed to the newts within Alberts pond.
The potatoes grew very well, this I believe was due to the insulating properties of the cardboard. It in effect raised the plants off the colder ground. It insulated them from the colder wet soil and also the colder weather of this awful spring.
The result speaks for itself – one excellent crop of new potatoes. It did however make my allotment look rather untidy, that is, until the potato shaw’s softened outlines and then covered the boxes.
RGS Plant Sale raises £400 for charity
The RGS plant sale held last week raised £400 which been donated to the Royal Hospital for Neuro- Disability. Thanks to all those who supported the event, bringing in many lovely plants for sale which sold more quickly that we anticipated!
Special thanks to all those who manned the stalls and so generously donated the plants. And thanks to everyone who sent in the pictures including Mark Sutcliffe and Jackie Savage.
RGS Summer Show 2024 – Schedule and Entry Form
Once again our Summer Show will be held on Site 2. Please have a look at the schedule and make an effort to enter the show. Everyone will have something to enter: flowers, fruits, vegetables or cakes!
DONATIONS OF PLANTS OR PRODUCE FOR OUR POPULAR STALL WOULD BE VERY WELCOME.
Purple Sprouting Broccoli – the winter marvel..
Nothing much will grow in the cold of winter – after the brussels sprouts have vanished we are firmly in the ‘hunger gap’. But purple sprouting broccoli is extremely hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as -12°C. It responds to even a slight warmth and produces flowering shoots or ‘sprouts’ from February to April when there’s very little else around. Two or three large plants can feed your family. Well worth while planting some now for next year….
Here’s a summary of how to do it, but the best advice can be found from the RHS here
Sow from April to mid-June for harvesting from January to May. Begin in a 9cm pot. Don’t sow too many – just enough to give you 3 or 4 plants securely.
When about 10 cm tall transplant. If you have the space free this can be their final growing spot. However, these plants will take up a lot of space. If you don’t have the space free until the autumn, you can transplant into a large, tall pot and plant out finally as late as September.
Like other brassicas, purple-sprouting broccoli thrives in a fairly heavy, alkaline soil. Avoid an exposed site, where the wind will buffet the stems and loosen the soil around the roots. Fork the soil over, removing stones and perennial weeds. Add some organic matter to improve moisture retention and texture. You may need to add lime if your soil is acidic. Brassicas dislike loose soil, so firm lightly with your foot.
Harvest each flowering shoot carefully – others should grow to replace them. Cut carefully and your crop will last for weeks.
Wisley Trip Roundup 2024
A group of allotmenteers enjoyed a trip to RHS Wisley on 24th April.
It was a tad chilly but thankfully dry and the cold weather ensured the rhododendrons and tulips were still looking magnificent.
The trial beds of tulips were stunning as were the swathes of Camassias rolling down the hill from the World Food Garden. It was interesting to see that, as on our own plots, planting out here had been delayed by the cold wet spring. I’m sure that they, like us , are eagerly awaiting some warmer days and nights and the chance to get those veggies in the ground.
We elected to join a volunteer walk which proved very informative and took us to an area of garden none of us had explored before. We discovered a woodland walk with the most beautiful rhododendrons, a stumpery with ferns unfurling and around the corner a TRex lurking in amongst the tree ferns!
We rounded off the day with a visit to the plant shop … who could resist… arriving back in Roehampton with arms full of goodies. It was great fun … come and join us in 2025!
Many thanks to organiser Shan Karwatowska
Pictures by Shan Karwatowska and Jane Powell
Behind the Privet Hedge
A book by Michael Gilson
This book is about one of the main founders of the RGS, Richard Sudell.
Sudell was a pioneer of suburban gardening who has now had a book written about him and his considerable (and often overlooked) influence on one of the ways our nation revitalised itself after the terrors and destruction of the First World War.
As we showed in our Centenary Exhibition at Putney Library in June 2022, Richard Sudell not only lived on the Roehampton (now Dover House) Estate, but he also encouraged the tenants of the new houses to convert their scrappy garden patches (and the allotments) to create open spaces to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers.
“Behind the Privet Hedge” is published by Reaktion Books in May, priced £16.95. It is available to preorder: https://reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/behind-the-privet-hedge
There is also an interesting article in the April edition of “Garden Answers” about the book and our famous pioneering founder.
Jackie Savage.
Plot Inspections – what you need to know
The aim of these inspections is to ensure plots are cultivated to a reasonable standard. We will contact you individually after the inspection if work needs to be done. The aim is to give guidance and encouragement but if there have been problems with cultivation in the past the team will take this into account. With many people on our waiting list we must ensure that allotment plots are not being wasted.
April Plot Inspections
What the plot inspection team will expect to see:
April Inspections
- Weeds removed
- The soil prepared ready for cultivation
- Fruit trees – apple and pear – pruned
- No excessive amounts of rubbish
- The grass cut on the paths between plots. Please do not use weed killer on paths
- There are no obstructions to the paths
November Plot Inspections
What the plot inspection team will expect to see:
- the plot has been tidied up for the winter
- weeds are under control and particularly not likely to invade any neighbouring plots
- paths are not obstructed and are well maintained. Main paths – 45cm wide, paths between plots 30cm wide. Grass cut and no overhanging branches
- rubbish has been cleared or bagged up ready for the November collection. Date TBC. No bonfires are allowed.
For your information
- The normal width for paths on your plot is about 300mm (1 ft) between plots and 450mm (18 inches) for communal paths
- perimeter plots only – 450mm (18 inches) path against neighbours’ fences. Needs to be easy to clear to enable neighbours to maintain their fences.
If there are any temporary circumstances which are preventing you being able to cultivate your plot please let us know by email to rgs.sw15@gmail.com giving your phone number so that the site secretary can contact you.
Site 2: Susan Bennett
Site 3: plots 50 to 100 Nina Buchan
Site 3: plots 101 to 127 Richard Standen
It’s time for softwood herb cuttings
There’s a lot of satisfaction in having a variety of herbs around – not relying on the supermarkets. Now is the right time to take cuttings from Rosemary, Thyme and Sage plants to last throughout the year. The RGS recommends a ‘plastic bag’ greenhouse to shield cutting from draughts, particularly for ‘window sill’ growers.
- Prepare a pot with moist, well drained compost – a mix of peat free with grit or vermiculite, or a specialist cutting compost.
- Take short cuttings, 5-10 cm long from the soft new growth, remove lower leaves and put at least 3 cm into the soil. Use a rooting hormone if you wish, but most cuttings will take at this time of year without this. You can put 4 or 5 cuttings around the side of a single pot.
- Water well and allow to drain.
- Place the pot in a plastic bag which will seal at the top. This isn’t always necessary if you have a greenhouse or cold-frame. Close the bag partially – leave a small ventilation hole.
- Leave in a warm place – greenhouse or cold-frame is ideal, but a windowsill works. Watch for too much moisture build up – open the bag to avoid this.
- After 2-3 weeks remove the bag and leave in a sheltered, temperate, place. Remember to water and you should see new growth within a few weeks.
The RGS joins the National Garden Scheme
The RGS has joined the National Gardens Scheme.
This medical and gardening charity raises funds from their ‘Open Gardens’ scheme. Originally set up in 1927 to support district nurses, the National Garden Scheme now raises millions of pounds for nursing and health charities each year.
They also support charities working in gardens and health, grant bursaries to help community gardening projects and support gardeners at the start of their career.
Many of you may have visited local gardens which open as part of this scheme.
Here is our entry on the NGS Website.
Site 3 will be open to the public as part of the Open Gardens Scheme on 21st July.
Pests and Diseases: how to manage them
There was standing room only in our Store on Sunday 18 February when our guest, Sarah Foss (M.Hort.) engaged RGS members with her talk on Pests and Diseases and how to Manage them. Sarah works for Ecolocal, a community run charity based in Carshalton. She also has a very large allotment and is an examiner for the RHS. Thanks to Georgina O’ Reilly for this summary of her interesting talk. Read it here.
More help with managing slugs can be found here on the RHS website.
Sarah is clear about the need for a balance of allotment creatures and the damage that pesticides can do. Please note that, in 2022, metaldehyde was banned in slug pellets – please be careful what you buy and use.
Metaldehyde ban
In September 2020 the government announced the withdrawal of metaldehyde slug control, with product sales ending in March 2021 and remaining stocks to be used up or disposed of by 31st March 2022. The withdrawal was planned following advice from the UK expert committee on pesticides and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who consider that metaldehyde poses an unacceptable risk to birds and mammals. An initial withdrawal in 2019 was overturned due to problems with incorrect implementation.
Product names for slug pellets for home garden use containing metaldehyde that will be affected by this withdrawal include: Ultimate Slug and Snail Killer, Deadfast Slug Killer, Doff Slug Killer Blue Mini Pellets and Westland Eraza Slug and Snail Killer. Please be aware that these and other product names may be relaunched using ferric phosphate as the main ingredient instead, and check any products you have stored to make sure they are used up or disposed of safely by the end of March 2022.
Fantastic Mr Fox?
Most of us are accustomed to seeing the odd fox in daylight hours – they are part of site wildlife, and seem amazingly unworried by humans.
This lovely photo, taken by Kate Pugh on site 2, shows how relaxed they can be! Certainly, most of us with a greenhouse have experienced the pleasure of a fox visitor enjoying the warmth and sunshine.
We do need to avoid crop damage and other problems that occur if too many foxes live on the sites. They are wild creatures that can give much pleasure. They do love digging under sheds, however!
There is excellent information and advice about living with foxes from the RSPCA – including how to find out if an earth (den) is occupied before you fill it in. Please do read it.