SHAWFORD AND COMPTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Spring Show - 21 March 2000
First day of Spring and the scene at the Scout Hall for the Annual Spring Flower show on 21st March was enough to persuade anyone that Spring had arrived. The Hall was filled with the sight and fragrance of daffodils hyacinths, flowering shrubs, pansies and polyanthus.
There were 79 entries to the Show; there were two winners tying for first place, Gill Coleman and Kathy West, to whom the handsome Flower Show Trophy was presented shared for six months each; Saskia Marshall was third. Once again Peter Puddle and Percy Cole deserve great credit for the organisation and arrangements for the Show and also Colin Jones for preparing all the necessary forms and collating the points.

Janet Foulsham, a national and county judge for the WI, who judged the show for the third year running, said the exhibits were of an exceptionally high standard, as Adrian Walmsley's brilliant photographs show.

CHAIRMAN’S TALK AND DEMONSTRATION

Growing Plants from seed is far from easy; the right compost is needed, fresh seeds, sown at the correct depth and at the right conditions of temperature and light for maximum germination A better way is to buy Kindergarten plants that are at the right stage to thrive. Pricking the seedlings out is not difficult, all you need is a seed tray with divisions if possible, compost and a dibber or pencil. Water the seedlings and leave them to drain for half an hour, plant them in the compost tray, holding them by the leaf, making sure to firm up the soil. Keep them moist but not wet and within a couple of weeks they should be growing well.

The next month or so is the time to start begonia tubers growing. Place them halfway into a tray of wet peat; when the shoots are about 2' long pot them on into a 5" pot in compost. Similarly with dahlia tubers - get a box of moist peat, put the tubers in and cuttings will soon appear.

Last autumn the Chairman gave members a fuschia cutting with instructions on how to grow a standard. This should now have been potted on, taking out side shoots leaving the top three or four, and keep feeding! The standard fuschia that members grew last year and which hopefully has survived the winier, probably needs attention. If it is shooting vigorously keep it in check to get a well shaped head and continue to cut back side shoots. The Chairman then demonstrated the steps needed to plant a hanging basket - start by lining the basket well with moss; place a circle of plastic sheeting in the bottom; fill with compost including Osmacote and water crystals; start planting and when three quarters full plant your centre plant, a good one is Fuschia Annabel. Continue to the top and finish off with trailing plants, geraniums or whatever you choose

JOBS FOR THE MONTH

  • Greenhouses - watch out for white fly and green fly. Pruning roses - remember that each type of rose needs different pruning, be sure to look it up.
  • Lawns - kill moss, scarify then feed; do not rush to mow.
  • Fruit trees - fertilise with Top Rose
  • Winter Jasmine - prune hard

APRIL AND MAY MEETINGS

The next meeting of the Society will be on 8th April when the speaker will be Mr Andrew Mclndoe talking on "Colour in the Garden". The competition will be for "The Best Bunch of 12 Narcissii in a Vase - Any Variety".

Would members please note a change in date and speaker for the May meeting. Owing to Mr Bill Boyd’s illness the meeting will now take place on Tuesday 23rd May and the speaker will be Mr N Giles who will talk on "Ground Cover for Shrubberies and Herbaceous Borders".

MONTY DAWSON