Category Archives: Capel Horticultural Society

January

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Garden work for January.

Flower garden

Lord Carrington once advised all gardeners ‘Never go into your garden without your secateurs’ – so if you do, have a safe place to keep them as they are expensive to replace.  After all the feasting, it is a good idea to get out into the garden and clear the head by having a look around and seeing how it will all develop in the coming season.

This is the time of year when houseplants are most appreciated.  Azaleas, cineraria and cyclamen will all help to cheer things up.  Do not over water, and most of these plants like cool conditions.

Have a good look at the structure of your garden and decide where to put the plants that give height and substance to the overall shape of the garden.

Make sure that your bulbs that are in pots do not get waterlogged, and keep an eye out for any predators that may be about, such as squirrels, slugs and snails.

Towards the middle of the month start is a good time to make preparations for taking chrysanthemum cuttings.  If you have a cold frame make sure it is ready and make up the necessary soil.  A good mixture is two parts loam, one part peat, and one part sand to ensure good drainage.  Any pots or boxes should be cleaned and the chrysanthemum stools brought in to start them growing sturdy cuttings.

Towards the end of January prune fuchsias.  Cut back all side growth hard, to about 2 mm from the stem.

Vegetables

Rhubarb can be forced using an upturned bucket or tub.  This should be covered with garden fleece to keep off any frost.

When seed potatoes arrive, keep them in a frost-free place and stand the tubers, eye-end uppermost, in shallow boxes.  If you can get large egg trays these are ideal for keeping the tubers upright and just separated to prevent any infection spreading.

To get the best onions start the first sowings this month, and you should give a good dressing of wood ash on the site of the bed that you will use, since onions really do well with a good level of potash.

Why not try some different culinary herbs, for example Basil Lime (Ocimum americanum) which adds a twist of lime flavour to any dish.  It can be grown on the window sill.  Then there is Dill (Antheum gravolens), Oregano (Origanum vulgare) as well as Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) which is an evergreen and Myrrh (Myrrhis odorate).  All can be grown relatively easily from seed.

Clear away the stems and roots of savoy and other green crops that have finished and push on with the winter cultivation whenever this is possible.

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The Great Capel Litter Pick

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This Saturday 8 April we are organising a Litter Pick throughout the village.  Do please consider joining us, put on appropriate footwear, bring a pair of gloves and we shall provide rubbish sacks and litter pickers.  Starting at 10 a.m. in the Memorial Hall Car Park, followed but a well deserved (free) coffee and cake in the Parish Hall.  We plan to be finished by 12 noon.

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Capel Horticultural Society – Annual Allotment Competition

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So, just how is your allotment looking? Well, there is plenty of time to spruce it up for the annual allotment competition. Judging on general cleanliness and cultivations will take place, by an independent judge, at both sites (Recreation Ground and Temple Lane) on Sunday 10th July. The Horticultural society has two cups to award to the best maintained allotments. these will be presented at the Annual Show on August 20th. good luck to all keen Capel allotment keepers!

A reminder that Capel Horticultural Society is an affiliated member of the Royal Horticultural Society and takes part in the RHS Gardens reduced Price Entry Card scheme. this allows one member of the Capel Horticultural Society and one adult guest a 30% reduction on entrance to the RHS Gardens at Wisley (but does not apply on Sundays). If members wish to make use of this facility please contact Jackie Coke tel. 01306 711098.

Garden Notes For February 2016

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Thanks to lan Currie we have a long-range weather forecast for February.  The first half of the month looks to be dominated by high pressure causing frosts. There may be a few snow showers drifting in from the east. The second half of the month could be milder and wetter.  Overall, it will turn out a near normal month for temperature and drier than average for rain.

Soil is the foundation for all plants in the garden and spending time .in its preparation will bring considerable rewards. Ground that is going to be used for root  crops like carrots, turnips, potato and radish should have a pH of about 7 (neutral).  General fertiliser such as Growmore, or an organic alternative, should be raked in a few weeks before sowing at a rate of about 3-4 ounces per square yard.

In February, if you have well-sheltered places why not try some early broad beans, spaced at 20 em? Young carrots are one of the joys of the garden, try sowing some ‘Early Nantes’ or ‘Amsterdam Forcing’. All the big seed-houses do packs of salad leaves, and these can be grown after starting under glass, since they need a bit more heat than the other crops I have mentioned.  Mini-lettuces like ‘Little Gem’ and ‘Tom Thumb’ may also be started and planted out at I Scm spacing when the plants have developed a bit more.

All these seedlings will need to be protected from frosts- use garden fleece as required, but always allow plenty of air to circulate to stop fungal attack such as botrytis which will cause damping off.

Think about getting seed potatoes in February. There is a wide range to choose from.  First earlies like ‘Lady Christie’ do well here, although to get the fuller flavour of second earlies is always nice -try ‘Nadine’.

Dahlia tubers should be started in gentle heat: towards the end of the month for most of us. The keen exhibitors who want to have blooms for the Summer Show (2 1  st August this year) may want to spend the extra time and mone)’ starting them as early as possible.

Rhubarb clumps should be lifted and divided in February.  Tomato seed should be sown in greenhouses with appropriate heat to get them germinated.

Towards the end of February, start of March, bush roses should be pruned.  Use sharp secateurs. Cuts should not be more than Smm above a bud, and should slope away from it.  Prune ‘die-back’ (identified by a brown core in the stem) to healthy wood.  Remove all dead, diseased stems and burn them. Trace suckers back to the roots from which they are growing and pull them away. Always wear protective gloves, the scratches from rose thorns can be nasty.

That reminds me, everyone, but especially all gardeners, should make sure that they keep their tetanus inoculation up-to-date. It should be done at least once every I 0 years. It is available on the NHS and it really is important to be safe rather than sorry.

CAPEL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY NEWS.       At the recent Committee Meeting, David Hall was re­ elected as Chairman for the coming year. On Sunday I Oth April the Annual Spring Show will take place in Capel Village Memorial Hall. Looking further ahead the Society will be holding its Plant Sale on Saturday 7th  May. If you can grow plants for the event please start planning now, all items gratefully received. At the same time we will be having our Garden Jumble which is an opportunity to buy useful

items and to donate items that no longer fit your requirements.

C.C.

CHS Quiz Night & Supper

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Saturday 12 March 2016

Capel Memorial Hall, 7 for 7.30 pm start

Yes, it’s that time of the year again; you can now book your places for the Horticultural Society Quiz

Night and two-course Supper. Terrific quiz (don’t worry, not all the questions are of a horticultural

nature!), good company from the village and further afield, great raffle and (if we say it ourselves) amazing food, all followed by tea and coffee.  All this for the modest price of£ 15 per person.  So call or message your friends now to arrange a team of 8 people.

We shall not be providing a bar facility, so please bring your own wine, beer, soft drinks and most importantly- glasses.  Jugs of water will be available.

Any profits will go to Capel Horticultural Society

For a booking form with menu please contact Jackie Coke by email  jackie.coke@outlook.com or

phone 01306 711098 There is a choice of two main courses or a vegetarian option AND a choice of two desserts or Cheese and Biscuits.

Tickets are already selling rapidly so to avoid disappointment please get your orders  in soon and at the latest by March I st.

JANE MAJOR

Capel Horticultural Society Spring Show 2015

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SPRING SHOW 2015 012Saturday 11 April started wet, chilly and gloomy but by 2 p.m. spirits were lifted on visiting Capel Memorial Hall for the Capel Horticultural Society Annual Spring Show. Beautiful floral displays, daffodils in abundance, lengthy leeks, amazing home produce all combined with home-made cakes and afternoon teas once again brought the village together for a splendid afternoon.

The Annual Summer Show will be taking place on Capel Recreation Ground on Saturday 15 August. Schedules will be available from capelvillage.co.uk and the local shops in Capel from early June.

Trophies and Awards

Greenwood Cup Most points in Children’s Classes, 5 years and younger Lucas Fairbrother
Coke Trophy Most points in Children’s Classes, 6 to 12 years Charlotte Clement
Foreman Cup Most points in Flower and Vegetable Classes Chris Coke
Wheeler Cup Most points in Flower Arranging, Cookery + Photos Dorothy Greenfield and Norman Ede

SPRING SHOW 2015 024Hall Prize for Class 7, Best Collection of Narcissi   …………   David Hall

Hall Prize for Class 19, Best Bowl of Flowering Bulbs     …………   Not awarded

Hall Prize for Class 23, Best Tray of Seedlings    …………   Chris Coke

Attridge Prize for Best Child’s Spring Garden on a Plate

Class 62 (5 years and younger)     ………..   Emilia Herrington

Class 72 (6 to 12 years)     ………… Not awarded

Spring Show Results

Class Description First Second Third
1 3 Trumpet narcissi Norman Greenwood David Hall Stephanie Jennings
2 3 Large cupped narcissi Neil Carter Chris Coke
3 3 Short cupped narcissi Dot Thorp/Norman Greenwood Neil Carter
4 3 Double narcissi Neil Carter Dot Thorp
5 3 Multi-headed narcissi Dot Thorp Neil Carter David Hall
6 3 Dwarf or Miniature narcissi Chris Coke Neil Carter Stephanie Jennings
7 9 Narcissi David Hall Norman Greenwood Neil Carter
8 3 Tulips, one variety Norman Greenwood Chris Coke Neil Carter
9 5 Tulips Chris Coke Dot Thorp Neil Carter
10 10 Spring flowers Chris Coke
11 6 Primulas Stephanie Jennings Chris Coke David Hall
12 4 Pansy blooms Neil Carter Chris Coke
13 1 Camellia bloom Alison Clement Mandy Schryver Stephanie Jennings
14 3 Camellia blooms Mandy Schryver Stephanie Jennings
15 3 Flowering shrub/tree stems Norman Greenwood Dot Thorp
16 1 Flowering plant Chris Coke Dot Thorp
20 1 Cactus or succulent Daniel Clement
22 Pot of Alpine plants Chris Coke
23 Tray of seedlings Chris Coke Neil Carter
25 3 Sticks of rhubarb Jo Collinson
26 3 Leeks Peter Ede Dot Thorp
27 3 Vegetables Rosemary Goddard Judith Hall
30 Floral exhibit “A Spring Day” Alexandra Fairbrother
31 Floral exhibit “New Hope Alexandra Fairbrother
40 Jar of marmalade Peter Ede Norman Ede Rosemary Goddard
41 Jar of chutney Paul Hinton Rosemary Goddard Suzanne Burlinson
42 Jar of pickled onions Suzanne Burlinson
45 5 Easter biscuits Jo Collinson James Collinson
46 Simnel cake James Collinson Norman Ede
47 5 Pieces of traybake Rosemary Goddard Mandy Schryver Julie Hinton
49 Loaf of bread, machine made Norman Ede
50 Loaf of specialist bread, machine made Norman Ede
52 An item of handicraft Margaret Greenwood Liz Arthur
60 Decorated egg         5 years and younger Lucas Fairbrother Alyssa Chilvers Amelia Chilvers
61 Easter card                                 “ Amelia Chilvers Alexander Chilvers Lucas Fairbrother
62 Spring garden on a plate           “ Emilia Herrington Oscar Fairbrother Lucas Fairbrother
63 Decorated spring hat                 “ Lucas Fairbrother/ Oscar Fairbrother
64 5 Decorated small cakes           “ Lucas Fairbrother Oscar Fairbrother Emilia Herrington
65 Drawing or painting “Springtime” Oscar Fairbrother Lucas Fairbrother Amelia Chilvers/ Alexander Chilvers
70 5 Easter bunny biscuits           6 – 12 years Charlotte Clement Amy Hinton
71 Pop-up Easter card                     “ Amy Hinton Angus Hinton
73 Decorated spring hat                 “ Laura Pusey
74 5 Decorated small cakes           “ Angus Hinton Charlotte Clement
75 Drawing or painting “Springtime” Charlotte Clement
81 Colour photograph Dorothy Greenfield Debbie Styles
82 Capel Parish photograph John Morgan
83 Photograph of a winter or spring scene Dorothy Greenfield
84 Photograph with person as focus Dorothy Greenfield

 

SPRING SHOW 2015 018

Capel Litter Pick

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With help from other village organisations, Capel Horticultural Society will again be organising a Litter Pick on Saturday 18 April. Starting from the car park by Capel Memorial Hall at 10 a.m. all are welcome to help come and keep the village looking clean and tidy. Best to wear your wellies and bring a pair of gloves, bags and grabbers will be provided, and as a “thank you” there will be free coffee and cake for all those who come along to help.

Plant Sale & Jumble Garden

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On Saturday 9th May Capel Horticultural Society will be holding a Plant Sale at Capel Memorial Hall. Starting at 10 a.m. there will be an amazing selection of affordable plants – flowers, fruit and vegetables, for sale. All sorts of second hand garden implements and tools can be found in the bring and buy Garden Jumble taking place in the car park. Bargains galore and the opportunity for a cup of tea and a slice of delicious home-made cake.