Laurie Manser's Garden Hints: 2014

Onion White rot

I have mentioned before about having white rot in my onions and treating the soil with garlic powder.
I still had white rot badly this year (2014) but reading that others seemed to have more success I thought I would try once more. I am not sure where I got the garlic powder last year but when I got some more this year as used for horses it smelt a lot stronger than last years, so I have once more treaeted the soil and will see what happens next year.

Black Berries and sweet peas

I did post a picture of the large flowers on my blackberry canes , now I have started picking some very nice large blackberries

A fortnight ago I had some success with my sweet peas that I now grow on the allotment, four first prizes with one cup, one medal and a certificate.

Had to thin some of my gooseberries this morning, this is their first year but the branches were touching the ground. I did buy from a fruit nursery so that they were lifted one day and I planted them with a little "root grow" the next day.

Spring Show 2014

We managed to put a few entries into the LGA show, Ann got best flower arrangemant and I got the Henry Reader Cup for the best vase of trumpets. I did stage a vase of 3 "MollyAnn" but only got a second.

"Molly Ann" a variety that we have registered with the RHS and Daffodil Society named after our grand daughter.

Managed to win the six vase class and a few others, the single bloom is Bravoure quite a nice 1w/y.
The top photo is top to bottom left to right. Achduart,Estrella, Privateer,Golden Aura,Gold Finger and
Perbeck.

Cutting flowers for flower shows

We try to get members to cut their flowers early for shows but many do not think this is possible so I thought I would show how I manage now that we live in a flat and all my flowers are grown on the allotment some 3/4 mile away. The top picture are flowers cut ready for Saturday's show at Bidborough , today is Wednesday, the lower picture are the flowers I used last Saturday at Pembury, they where nearly all cut the previous Sunday as we were going away for a couple of days. Some of the lower ones may be used again this Saturday.

ready to start begonias

I have just got my begonia corms out ready to start. I would if I had some heat etc. have done this some time ago but now I have to make the best I can. Some of these tubers are over 25 years old.

start of the New Year

Nice sprouts now forming on my seed potatoes but not sure when the ground will dry out enough to think of planting

Bought some seed potatoes yesterday so have laid them out ready for sprouting. Picked sprouts and purple sprouting this morning on the allotment also managed to weed daffodils ready for a feed of Vitax Q4.This picture was taken mid January

Memories of a Garden Boy"

I gave my talk "Memories" at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre today. (24th Feb.2015) .There was a really good attendance with several remembering my vegetable talk form last year.We spotted some posters about the talk so Ann took a photo so that I can use it. We did 2 talks last week and have another on Thursday this week.
Dec. 29th
My talks have now come to an end ,I had a good run with the first one being in 1964 but night driving is now not good. I will still do a few daytime ones but un-illustrated.

Welcome

Welcome to Laurie's Garden hints.
I am a professional gardener with some 60 years experience. If you have any queries and I can help I will be pleased to do so.
I have now retired from being chairman of the Lamberhurst Gardeners' Association after 25 years , Ann my wife who has been Secretary for 24 years has retird from her post as well.
My email address is laurie.manser@virgin.net or you can leave a comment on an exsiting subject.
I have given talks to almost 600 different groups over the past years and always say "this is my way, it may not be the book way but it works for me"
I still give talks to all sorts of groups, I do one "Memories of a Garden Boy" which is about how I was trained as a garden-boy back in 1948. This talk is very popular with retirement groups etc. If you would like a full list of my talks just email me at the above address and I will email a copy to you.