Welcome

Cliff gardens in Cockwood on a steep slope. The garden opens successfully in summer for charity through the NGS scheme. This year’s dates are June 28/29th and July 5/6th. He and his garden have also appeared on BBC TV Gardeners World. Cliff was excited to share with us all, that after 17 years of patience, he has a sizable GUAVA on the bush! For another exotic he also has PERSIMMON again this year.

He said that February was a challenging time for seed sowing with the present weather conditions, but what we can do is start chitting POTATOES ready for planting in the ground or in deep pots. He loves to encourage children and his grandchildren to find the buried treasure in the soil once the potatoes have grown and flowered. He also grows his CARROTS in pots as they avoid carrot fly if the plants are higher off the ground.

One member mentioned she grew them in sand very successfully.

All PEA and BEAN seeds are sensitive to cold and wet, it`s best to start them off in modules in slightly moist compost so they have good roots before planting out in their rows with support. At the first sign of black fly, nip out the tips as the black-fly are mainly attracted to the new growth. If a plant is infected, you could try a fine spray on your hosepipe to spray them off. Always pick Peas and Beans young for best flavour. He grows 4 seeds in a module, then plants out the whole pot – the pea shoots will hold each other up. He has set up wire mesh between 2 posts for the Peas to scramble up as they grow towards the sun. The young plants may need protection with fleece against mice and pigeons.

Cliff brought some SQUASH from home to show us that as long as the skin is ripened this vegetable will keep well for months.

LETTUCE likes a moist soil, however pigeons and slugs like this salad too. Cliff uses his own invention of a lemonade bottle with a wick to keep the slugs at bay, so the lettuce grows healthily.

Cliff is also experimenting with growing TOMATOES as cordons for a heavy crop. Most tomatoes will layer it they are trailed on the ground but that depends on variety. He grows 18 varieties at home and recommends these for good flavour: Black Sea Man, Kellogs Breakfast, and Sungold. He uses a “soup” of Nettles and Comfrey as a fertiliser in the watering routine.