If you are thinking about setting up a gardening group in your community and need help, it may be worth contacting the Scottish Gardeners’ Forum (SGF).
It is a comparatively new organisation, initially sponsored by the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society which is more than 200 years old.
To quote the aims and objectives, the SGF membership is focused on gardening clubs, allotment societies and the like, rather than on individuals.
Its objectives are:
To advance education in the knowledge and best practice of all aspects of gardening and horticulture for the public benefit in Scotland;
To foster co-operation among general and specialist horticultural and gardening societies/clubs/associations /branches for their mutual benefit;
To encourage the retention and development of existing and new societies;
To provide a voice for the non-professional sector of gardening in Scotland.
Member groups have access to:
A register of judges for shows etc – updated regularly;
A register of speakers – updated regularly;
A register of societies;
Access to Public Liability Insurance;
Access to a nationwide network of like-minded enthusiasts.
In the nicest possible sense it is also a terrific talking shop.
While club office-bearers would be expected to attend the AGM, club members are also made very welcome and rightly so, because there are usually good speakers to inspire and inform and the interaction among attendees who otherwise would not have the chance to meet, it is just magic.
Almost as a PS I should say that the organisers of Gardening Scotland are indebted to the members of SGF because it looks after and stewards the much-vaunted Pallet Garden Competition at the annual show.
These comments come at a time when many clubs and societies, not just gardening, are having difficulty in attracting new members and indeed within the organisations, finding people willing to take some responsibility for the management.
Contact the SGF secretary at secretary@scottishgardenersforum.org.uk if you want to know more.
Seed and plant discounts
I’m not devious in any sense, though a trifle transparent perhaps.
The other day I received a note from the seed company Mr Fothergill’s.
Headlined “Fantastic Savings with the NEW Allotment and Garden Club Service from Mr Fothergill’s”, you can now save up to 60% on your seed-only orders and 15% on non-seed.
Now if you’re seriously into gardening this should command your attention and perhaps a little bit of action.
Quite obviously, to benefit from these offers, you have to be a member of a recognised club.
Secondly, that club has to get organised to bring together individual requirements, to create a bulk order of not less than £100.
Further orders of £50+ will receive a similar discount.
This is not new, many established gardening clubs have operated this system for years but in this age of austerity and for the many new groups and organisations that have appeared in recent times, I did feel that the details were worth highlighting.
For more info contact gardening-club@ fothergills.co.uk
Job of the week
This has to be clearing out and cleaning the glasshouse. I got to mention this task briefly on our last Beechgrove programme of the 2013 series.
As you are all aware, cleanliness is next to godliness (the wag says “only in some dictionaries”).
In glasshouse horticulture it is vital.
This is not a natural environment for plants and that makes them more susceptible to pest and disease attack. Not only that, there is likely to be a dearth of friendly organisms that might help to protect your plants.
The answer – a wee dose of Calvinist enthusiasm, as follows:
Clear out all the stuff that has collected over the season, organic and inorganic;
Fumigate using sulphur or garlic candles. Once the candles are alight, on retreating, be sure to block up any gaping holes (disconnect the automatic ventilators) taping round the edges of doors if they are slack, to keep the smoke in. Leave entirely closed for 24 hours;
Whereas all green plants must be removed before using sulphur, with the exception of fully dormant vine, peach etc, garlic fumigation will not damage growing plants left in situ.
Follow with a thorough wash-down using a mild sterilant like Citrox.