Hillingdon Allotment News  13: General information part 2

Free compost -- get those bags ready! 

As part of Compost Awareness Week held from the 6th to the 12th May, West London Composting in New Years Green Lane Harefield is giving away free compost which will be available from the site on Sunday 6th May. Take your own bags. http://www.wlcompost.co.uk/

How are you reading this newsletter?

All allotment tenants should be getting 3 copies of this newsletter annually, either posted direct, on those few sites that do not have a secretary, or via your own representative.

If you are not getting a copy from your site representative, then ask them why they are not doing their job in giving out the newsletters. If you are not sure who he or she is, or want to become one yourself, contact Carina Browne, the Federation secretary on 0208 841 2708 for details.

Now there’s a funny thing

It is recognized that about ten percent of the human population is left handed, but are you aware that the same proportion of climbing plants are also left handed. So while most plants including climbing French beans are right handed, Runner beans are left handed and climb in the opposite direction!

Encouraging Children

It is not always easy to get some children involved in growing things as they can easily become bored and sometimes require instant results to keep them interested. Here perhaps are a few ideas that you can try to get them started.
For quick results try growing some mustard and cress on a piece of damp cloth or sponge in a light place such as a windowsill. These grow very quickly and the results can also be eaten which is a bonus if your child does not like eating green vegetables.The one that I like the best is to grow broad beans on the side of a jam jar with some blotting paper or kitchen roll, with about a half inch of water in the bottom so that both the roots and the shoots can be seen when they start to grow. Once the plants get too big for the jar they can be planted out and cared for in the garden. Carrot tops, peanuts, apple pips, radish (the multicoloured variety from Thompson and Morgan look good), and avocado seeds can all be used to good effect.
For a little competition between groups why not try a ‘shallot in a pot’? Each child is given one shallot in a 4 inch pot containing suitable compost such as John Innes number 2 or 3, and then grown on by them for a period and then the results judged, with possibly prizes for all as an encouragement.

Tetanus injections 

Anyone who has not had a tetanus injection, or who has not had a booster injection in the past ten years should arrange to get one as soon as possible. Tetanus is a nasty but very preventable infection and anyone who is working with soil, or dealing with any other organic material, even if you always wear gloves, should make an appointment with their doctor at the earliest possible time.

Attention all Society / Show Secretaries.

If you your meetings or shows listed in 2007/8 then let the editor know before the next copy date:-(Copy dates for Newsletters are: - 1st Feb; 1st. July and 1st. Nov. each year)

Ruislip Central Horticultural Society Meetings

Ruislip Central Horticultural Society holds it’s meetings in St Lawrence’s Church Hall, Eastcote. Their next two meetings are on April 24th starting at 8pm entitled ‘Alpine and rock garden plants for small gardens’ by Paul Ingwersen, and on May 22nd entitled ‘12 months of colour in the garden, Fun quiz & wild flowers’, by John Negus. Members £1, non-members £2 – includes tea and biscuits. All are welcome.

Chinese Proverb
All gardeners know better than other gardeners.

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