Roehampton Garden Society

Category Archives: Uncategorized


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Small Space Planting

Small space and container planting and companion planting are interesting features on a visit to the rooftop farm.

‘3 Sisters’ planting is sweetcorn planted next to french beans that will climb up the corn stems and squash planted in between the corn to give a beneficial effect from nitrogen fixing. All the crops benefit. The varieties you use do matter, for instance a large and rampant squash would be very difficult to control in a container.

In this container the varieties used are all from Dobies organic list: Sweetcorn ‘Earlybird’, French beans ‘Blauhilde’ , Squash Uchiki kuri.

3 sisters in container
Varieties growing
French beans secure on corn stalks

French marigolds and basil used as companion planting to prevent aphids on the rambling Costoluto tomato and fennel next to a melon.

Thriving container grown french beans
Melon and companion
Marigolds and basil with tomato

Re-purposed supermarket plastic boxes, such as delivery crates, lined with weed-proof fabric to make excellent growing containers..

Repurposed supermarket boxes

Boxes grow carrots and beetroot of good quality. Cavolo Nero and Courgettes grow well in containers.

Cavolo and Courgette containers


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Visiting the Rooftop Farm


Who knew …. A farm on top of Wimbledon Quarter shopping centre?? Amazingly there is!

Informative and interesting tours take place each month during the growing season where you can see container grown fruit and vegetables and the rooms used to produce oyster mushrooms. You can also admire, from afar, the farm rooftop beehives, moved further away from people for swarming season. (Purchase the honey in the Old Fire Station cafe on Queens Road.) They produced 298 jars last year!


Demonstrating organic gardening, companion planting and a circular economy, the farm is manned by volunteer gardeners. Many of the containers are repurposed from the shopping centre industrial skip, the mushrooms are grown on coffee ground waste from the cafes and the vegetables produced are supplied to local restaurants. It’s a masterclass in container planting in quite a forbidding space.

Chard
Unusual herbs
Mini Aubergines enjoy the heat


The variety of produce is surprising in what first appears to be a small space. The open site is intensely sunny – everything is grown from seed. Careful selection of seeds makes success possible – smaller varieties preferred.

Oyster mushrooms grow in two rooms next to ventilation machinery. Climate controlled for maximum humidity, they don’t like temperatures much above 25 degrees, so have found the summer challenging. With just the right amount of starter, used coffee grounds can produce mushrooms 3 times before being consigned to the compost heap. Everything is composted and re-used.


If you’d like to join a tour, ticket price includes a half price beverage and 50% off the farm honey and mushrooms in the Old Fire Station cafe in Queen’s Road. The tours can be found on Eventbrite, and we will try to let you know when the next one is happening.

with thanks to Shan Karwatowska


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A Sunny Summer Show for 2026


It was the year of the cactus. The strikingly tall pot plant dominated the tables for the summer show. In spite of some very mixed weather in the weeks just before the show there were still some good crops to display. The cakes for tea were as good as ever- and enjoyed in the outside sunshine. Thanks to David and Mariangela Renshaw for running an entertaining auction (above). A lovely relaxed event.


Our thanks to all the many volunteers who make these events possible. So many members give hours of their time to pre-organising, setting up and running the event on the day. Show entries are received, show cards printed and given out, judging is organised and recorded. Donations of plants and cakes are brought in, stalls and tables are manned, teas constantly made…..

Thank you volunteers for all you do.

Read the full show report from show chair Carol Martinez


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A Rose for Remembrance

On a beautiful sunny morning members of the RGS gathered at St Margaret’s church to remember Jeannette Sweetland, a plotholder on Site 3, who died a few weeks ago. Jeanette was known for her gardening expertise, interest in art and the natural world and beautifully kept allotment plot. She is much missed by her allotment friends and neighbours. We joined her friends and colleagues from St Margaret’s to share reminiscences of Jeanette’s many kindnesses and planted a lovely rose in the church grounds in her memory.

The RGS chose to plant a Gertrude Jekyll rose, named after the famous plantswoman and garden designer, in remembrance of Jeanette, pictured here painting happily on her plot.

Photographs: Ben Speedy, Patrick Crawford.


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The Art-K watercolour workshop

Art-K of Putney came to the allotments on Sunday 12 April and gave a most enjoyable Art Taster Session using watercolours to 12 RGS members. Many thanks to Sue for organising the event and to Steven, the teacher from Art-K.


“Thank you for arranging this afternoon’s art session.  I really enjoyed it and found it ever so relaxing. Stephen was lovely and it was well organised” Amanda Flint.

Art K offer adult and children’s classes at their premises in Lacy Road.

Photographs by Amanda Flint and Jackie Savage


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AGM 2025 Documents to Read

These annual reports show what happens each year on our Allotments. The committee manages the RGS and the allotments, events and general maintenance.

Please read the reports and bring any questions to the AGM on 20th November, or submit by email to rgs.sw15@gmail.com.

Agenda 2025

Nominations for the Committee 2025

Committee Reports


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Plant and Garden Bric-a-Brac Sale 18th May

A Plant and One Off Garden Bric-a-Brac Sale is being held 10am – 12 noon, Sunday 18 May 2025 on Site 2, (The Pleasance SW15 5HF).
Find new plants and other interesting items for your plot or garden.

Donated plants: very welcome from 9.30 on the day.

Garden Bric-a-Brac – pre-loved garden items: Please bring to Site 2 at 9.30 on day of Sale.  Please put your name on the bottom of the item (so we can return if unsold) and give us an idea of what you think the value might be.

Interesting pots, old tools, useful horticultural items…

No unloved or household items please.


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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.

Photo by Kate Pugh

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.


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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.


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Plot Inspections – what you need to know

Twice a year all the allotment plots are inspected by the Site Secretaries.

The purpose of these inspections is to ensure plots are being cultivated to a reasonable standard. At this time of year the team would expect your plot to:

• have plenty of crops which are being harvested
• at least 60% of the plot under cultivation
• have weeds under control, especially bindweed
• have no excessive amount of rubbish
• have the grass cut on the paths between plots (please do not use weed killer on paths)

If there is a problem with your plot, you will be contacted after the inspection. With many people on our waiting list we must ensure that allotment plots are not being wasted, but we understand that there may be temporary circumstances which are preventing your being able to cultivate your plot.

if you are having difficulty please contact your site secretary or email rgs.sw15@gmail.com