june 2024
Ian & Caroline Lycett – King FOOD, FORAGING, MEDICINE and MAGIC
We knew we would be in for an entertaining time as Ian and Caroline came dressed in 17th century outfits with fresh plant samples. They started their talk by informing us that back in medieval times, men were considered to be Hot & Dry and women – Cool and Dry! People were influenced by information both written and perceived from the bible and the church.
· Ian asked us to identify a plant he was holding … it was what we know as Yarrow. The Romans used this as a military herb to wipe wounds and prevent infection. It is a mild herb that goes well with cheese.
· Elderflower was easily identified by our members – we all knew that the flowers can be made into cordial or fritters and the berries used to make wine in autumn. What we were not aware of was the leaves when rubbed on the skin are a natural insecticide against midges, mosquitoes and other insects.
· If bladder stones were a problem in times gone by, then perhaps Dandelion may have helped. Also know in French as “Piss a Lit “(wet the bed) the name derives from “Dent de Lion” (Lion teeth) the shape of the leaf. It is a diuretic and helps to pass the stones with repeated use.
· Another invasive “weed” that we all instantly recognised was Ground Elder (not related to the elder tree) also called Bishops Weed. Apparently, it`s good for gout, tastes like celery when raw and like Mango when cooked.
· A game that children played ages ago was throwing Cleavers or goose grass at each other as it`s sticky buds adhered to any clothes which kept children occupied for a while. The cooked leaves are very peppery. Caroline then gave us an insight into where the term Pin Money came from – in olden times pins were L shaped metal, so people saved up money to purchase these at the local fair. They used the buds of cleavers at the end to protect the fingertips and identify where you had used them.
· Woundwort has been identified as far back as Anglo-Saxon times. This plant has antiseptic properties and won`t stick to blood so was used to stop bandages sticking to a wound, like a gauze.
· The Romans brought Nettles to Britain as a medicinal. They are so versatile and used as a gargle to soothe throat infections, and a very nutritious soup can be made with the new young growth, they also make a refreshing herbal tea. Most importantly it is a fibre crop with paper and strong rope being made from the stems. In fact, in present day Germany, nettles are grown commercially to make an Eco cloth.
· Days Eye is named as the flower follows the sun, more commonly known as Daisy, the leaves can be made into an antiseptic eye wash and is helpful with hay fever symptoms too. The small leaves taste like Lambs Lettuce.
· Ian then told a tale about Rosebay Willow Herb that is endemic along roadside verges. People burnt the leaves and spread the ashes in their thresholds to deter snakes! There is a Bible connection here with the only snake in Britain is the Adder.
· Seed pods of Garlic Mustard were passed around to taste – they were very tasty – mildly garlic, my favourite! This is also named Jack by the Hedge.
· A very practical use for the large Burdock leaf was as wrapping for any food as paper was very expensive.
· Caroline showed us a salve she has made from finely chopped Plantain leaves. She uses this as an anti-inflammatory which also helps with any sting from insects or nettles. Squeeze the juice straight onto your skin and it will promote skin growth. The seeds can be made into flour too.
· To end their informative and fascinating talk, Ian then told us about the properties of Ivy – after chewing the stem the sap sets in a decaying tooth like a filling. He described primitive dentistry from a barber surgeon, which we all winced at, and how people managed back in those times.
May 30th
More veg from the garden with cliff curd
Star of BBC Gardeners World, NGS Open Gardens, friend and society member, Cliff and his wife Chris’ Garden on the side of the hill at Cockwood. We have previously heard him speak about fruit and some veg he grows successfully but was back to continue with part 3 for more interesting facts and top tips for growing vegetables here in Devon.
Given the wet weather recently which has brought about an abundance of slugs and snails, Cliff places pieces of cardboard near to newly planted brassicas and courgettes for instance. The molluscs enjoy the damp cover so you can dispose of them anyway you see fit. Cliff has Chickens so in his polytunnel he uses air bricks as the slugs and snails gather in the holes overnight which is a nice treat for his chickens for breakfast.
A welcome tip for controlling black fly on Broad Beans is to pinch out the top 6 inch tip of the plant as below this the stems have hardened off and therefore less likely to be affected. If any black fly remain they can be blasted with a hose.
Squash is an easy crop to grow – in fact he has had success growing some in a compost heap. They like moisture and plenty of feed. When harvested in November, they store well in a dry place until summer next year if the skins are fully ripened in the sun. Cliff is experimenting growing the variety Chow Chow on trellis this year.
We then had a demonstration of the way Cliff grows and protects his Lettuce – he plants the young lettuce into a half lemonade bottle with a wick to keep it well watered. Simple but ingenious, he had lots of interest in this method from the keen audience.
Cliff grows 15 varieties of Tomato. Among his favorites are Moneymaker, Green Zebra, Crimson Cherry, Crimson Crush, and Sungold. He grows them as cordons and gets long trusses of fruit as he plants them deep which develops more roots. He also saves seed from the tomato pulp which when dried on kitchen paper can be planted out in rows in a seed tray – easier to identify when germinated.
Cliff plants 4 Peas to a module then plants out in a block when the roots show out the bottom of the pot, before planting out he makes sure they are well watered. This year he is growing a heritage variety from Knightshayes which will grow 8feet high scrambling up chicken wire or wigwam. These heritage peas are a lovely colour in flower and can have 12 peas to a pod whereas other varieties only have 6.
Sweetcorn does best when planted in a block as it`s wind germinated, when ripe the tassels change colour and also the cobs change from white to pale yellow. When picked it is much sweeter if it`s eaten straight away.
An architectural plant if you have room is Cardoon or Artichoke with very large grey leaves and purple flowers to attract bees both plants can grow to about 8 feet high and wide.
An investment in any veg plot is Asparagus. The 1st year it`s planted don`t harvest, 2nd year a sparse harvest, then from the 3rd year you may be able to cut up to 30 spears a day in season – usually May.
Cliff loves to get children involved in garden projects like sowing and growing Radish as they are quick growing in about 6 weeks. Also growing Potatoes in large bags or pots – it`s a delight to see the children picking the spuds out of the soil knowing they have grown their own. Even better when they actually eat the produce.
He concluded his very informative talk illustrated with images from his extensive plot with a Q&A session where he answered questions on Badgers love of sweetcorn, Potash use and how to deter Deer.
april 25th
all about hanging baskets
Brian has previously talked to us about his passion for pelargoniums. He was back to tell us all about hanging baskets and the secret of his success with the floral wonders.
He described the different styles and shapes available through garden centers and online. He recommended a 14-inch diameter wire basket which would take 9 plants to fill.
The liner, thick black plastic is fine – recycling an old compost bag rather than a too thin black bin bag is ok. Unless you want to use a more decorative outer layer like coir or green sunshade netting which he used in the demonstration.
Steadying the basket on a bucket to fill.
He filled the basket halfway with a mix of compost and red sand to help with drainage. Other mixes could include perlite or vermiculite, this sandy mix suits his basket and garden well. If using water retaining crystals, ensure that they have been mixed with water before adding to the moist compost as the crystals will wick any moisture from the compost. Also add slow-release fertiliser now. Gently firming the compost to squash the lining materials, this is the time to plant through the sides if you`d like that end display. Trim the liners to an inch of the rim of the basket and select the feature plant for the centre of the basket – this may be a Fuchsia or Pelargonium. Then after topping up the compost, use a selection of plants such as Lobelia, Verbena, Nemesia, Bacopa, Bidens, Oxalis sunset glow and Surfinia Petunias to fill the outer rim and create a colourful display of your choice.
During the summer it is essential to water at least daily, maybe even twice a day depending on where the basket will be hung. Do NOT let the basket dry out as it`s then difficult to get the compost back to decent moisture levels. Apply a high potash fertiliser such as Tomato feed once a week for continuous flowering.
Brian recommended a swivel clip so that the basket can be turned to make an even round display if you twist it a quarter turn every few days. Of course, the bracket onto the wall must be strong enough to take the weight of a full basket.
Happily, hanging baskets don`t suffer with many pests but keep an eye out for caterpillars from butterflies. If white fly is present, then spray with a teaspoon of washing-up liquid in a pint of water to see them off in an ecological way.