Page 9 - SV 3 2024

Blackberries in flower for a summer crop
At least the lawns looking good, even if the veg are slow!
drop too low. I got a 1 metre cube bag (dumpy bag) and filled it with a mixture
of grass cuttings and shredded pruning’s which I know from experience would heat up quickly and to a good temperature.
All went well, it heated up as the material decomposed and so did the greenhouse to a temperature that I felt would be suitable for tomatoes. Just before I was going to move the tomatoes into the greenhouse,
I noticed that some recently pricked out plants were going yellow and some even brown. Also, a rhubarb plant I had in the greenhouse to force started to get brown patches on the leaves. As they were all in different growing media I eliminated that
as a cause, I had not fed any of them so it was not a fertiliser problem so decided it must be the hotbed. I did not want to take
a chance with the tomatoes so decided to remove the hotbed. Once I started to fork out the material it soon became apparent from the smell it was producing a large amount of ammonia which was really strong by the time I was half way down! I concluded that there was enough ammonia to damage the plants although I had not noticed it when I entered the greenhouse.
It is obviously wise to allow the hotbed
to start the rotting process before adding plants and using manure may be a better option. Lesson learnt!
In this issue we have poems from two members, I did not know we had so many poetic gardeners / members, do we have the next Shakespeare amongst us? Again,
we have articles on a range of topics
so hopefully something of interest for everyone. There are three articles on fruit growing which hopefully may encourage more members to grow fruit which is well worth the time and effort. Gerry Edwards covers growing fruit in containers which is well worth considering if you have a small garden. Adrian Baggaley covers the pear midge which can be a bad problem in some areas. I have done an article for our Scottish members on fruit growing based on a book about fruit growing in Scotland. Despite its northern latitude Scotland
is a very good area for certain fruits in
fact many a raspberry and blackcurrant were bred in Scotland as were some strawberries. Fruit is very good for your health hence the saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away so have a go at growing some of your own.
Also in this issue are the details and agenda for the AGM to be held at the National Championships at the Ardingly Show of which there are details of location etc. We have articles on the use of potatoes in Eire, a historical July seasonal work written just for Eire and the growing of haricot beans taken from an old Irish Garden magazine.
Joao has written some more recipes
to use the crops you have produced, and Emily Harris continues the Its Sow Simple series on a little known and grown crop of brokali. Our chair lady has been kept busy entertaining children at Malvern
and hopefully encouraging them to take up gardening. Ron Nuttall tells us about his plans for the vegetable plot now he is growing less for exhibition. Also, Graeme Le Marquand keeps us up to date on what is happening in Jersey.
I would be very pleased to receive articles from new authors or who have submitted articles in the past, it makes a change from my ramblings. We can all learn from each other whether it
be growing methods, soil care, pest and disease control or tricks you have developed over the years.
Enjoy your growing and exhibiting over the summer.
Simply Vegetables 9