A View from the Potting Shed

Summer is here, but before you are tempted to pull out the sunbed, bear in mind that the Annual Show is just a few weeks away on Saturday 6th August. The venue is Cradle Hill Community Primary School, where we hope to see a mass of entries in all classes. So before you nod off in the shade, check out the sections in your annual programme, then scan your garden and ponder what could achieve peak perfection by the 6th. Some entries don’t require horticultural skills – there’s baking, home-made preserves, photography and arts and crafts, the latter section open to non-members, as is flower arranging. (Non-members can find details of show classes on our website at www.seafordhorti. com). There’s definitely something for everyone, especially the kids, so see you at the Show.

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wh at to do JOBS TO dO iN JuLy

3 For the biggest dahlias (for showing) you need to disbud plants. Take off the two side buds that generally appear on either side of the ‘boss’ bud. 3 Take cuttings of pinks about 3 inches long using non-flowering shoots. Dip in hormone rooting powder and plant around the edge of a pot using 50/50 potting compost and grit. 3 Continue to sow lettuce and radish.

If you are quick you can still sow some beetroot, try reliable variety Boltardy.

Fashions come and go, and apparently Gladiolus is back ‘in.’ The tall, colourful flower spikes are ideal for cut flowers, and could be grown in your sunny veg patch if you don’t have space in the borders. Try G Mahler, a strong stemmed variety with purple flowers, or G Evergreen for lime green flowers. Gladiolus species are daintier additions for your border; Gladiolus byzantinus (see pic) will produce vivid magenta flowers in May alongside your alliums and tulips. Gladiolus murielae, Abyssinian gladiolus, is another delicate offering with purple throated fragrant white flowers. This one flowers late summer to autumn. Gladioli corms should be deep planted (15cm) in fertile but well drained soil. If soil is heavy, add grit and plant the corms on a layer of sand. The corms are not fully hardy but they can be left in-situ in the south, protected with a layer of mulch.

MEMBERS’ NOTiCE BOARd

PLEASE TAKE NOTE: Annual Show Saturday 6th August at Cradle Hill Community Primary School, Lexden Road. A change of venue due to the sudden unavailability of Seaford Head School. Gardener’s Question Time on 31st May was a fun evening, with topics including peat free compost and slugs. There was good audience participation and a special Jubilee raffle raised £345 for charity. This month’s offering at St Luke’s Church, Walmer Road, 7pm on Tuesday 26th July, is a ticketed event (£4), with Guest Speaker Tom Hart Dyke. This plant hunter is an entertaining speaker with a vast knowledge of plants. Contact Jan Williams 01323 873675 to secure your place. Another ‘not to be missed’ is the coach trip to NT – Polesdon Lacey on Thursday 8th September. Only £18 if you are National Trust Member, contact Pippa Logan 01323 491566, before they sell out.