A View from the Potting Shed

There’s still plenty to do in our autumn gardens, including soil improvement (see Topic of the Month), and collecting fallen leaves to make beneficial mulch for your borders. For the Committee autumn means planning to prepare for the AGM in November and

TOPI C OF THE MONT H SOIL IMPROVEMENT

Chalky soils are alkaline, which makes them unsuitable for lime-hating plants, but good for cabbages. They are often shallow and stony, nutrient poor and drought-prone, but free draining. Light sandy soils soon warm up, are also free draining and easy to cultivate, but can dry out quickly. At the other extreme there is heavy clay, impermeable, difficult to work and sticky when wet, although it can be very fertile. Roses grow well on clay.

None of the above, and their many variations, provide the perfect growing medium, but they can certainly be improved by the addition of organic matter for better moisture retention and increased humus levels in the soil. Alan Titchmarsh in the Kitchen Gardener, describes organic matter as the soil’s ‘roughage;’ spongy stuff that solves that moisture retentive but well drained conundrum and imports flourishing colonies of beneficial soil bacteria, which release valuable trace elements. All garden soils will benefit from the addition of organic matter, especially your veg plot. Good soil is essential for growing vegetables, so as you clear and fork over the ground this autumn, finish with a mulch. A good spread of bulky, organic matter, assisted by worms and insects, will help to produce a better soil.

Organic matter for mulching includes home-made compost, well rotted farmyard or stable manure, spent mushroom compost and good old-fashioned straw, which is now making a comeback in organic gardens. produce the New Year programme. In 2023 the

Society will once again offer a wide range of interesting speakers for our popular social evenings, plus coach outings, and of course the summer show. There’s a lot of background work, but well worth it when members clearly enjoy the activities. Not a member? Why not come and join us, the annual membership fee is just £10 per household. See our website seafordhorti. com or contact our Membership Secretary Mrs Lesley

Lambert – email: lesley.lambles52@gmail.com. WH AT TO DO JOBS FOR OCTOBER

3 Thinking about sweet peas for next year? Sow October/November and grow on in a sheltered place e.g. cold frame. 3 Lift perlargoniums that you want to use for spring cuttings. Store in slightly damp compost in a cool, frostfree place. 3 Clean up ground between strawberry rows and mulch with well-rotted compost or manure.

MEMBERS’ NOTICE BOARD

October’s Social Evening welcomes Darren Lerigo, a topiary and pruning specialist, who will entertain us with What Do I Do With This Space?/Cloud Pruning.’ Don’t miss Darren on Tuesday 25th 7pm at St Luke’s Church, Walmer Road. Transport problems to attend social evenings? Contact us and we can try to arrange a lift. On Saturday 1st October the last outing of the year visits RHS Hyde Hall, £22 per person. To reserve your place contact Pippa Logan on 01323 491566.