Located in the Shed on the Allotments Behind Avenue Road, Caterham Hill

Caterham and District Horticultural Society – March 2017

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Located in the shed on the allotments behind Avenue Road, Caterham Hill

Open Saturday mornings 9.30 – 12.00

Gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts are looking forward expectantly to longer, brighter days. It is a very temperamental time of the year and the weather could change quite dramatically. Make sure that all your tender, half-hardy, sensitive plants are well protected if frosty weather is forecast.

Here are some useful hints:-

Pest and disease watch. Hoe and prevent weed seedlings from multiplying. Protect delphiniums, hostas and tulips from slugs and snails. Check for greenfly and whitefly on indoor and greenhouse plants.

What to sow

Save money on heating costs by buying plugs from reliable sources.

Early March start with dianthus, impatiens, nicotiana, petunias and salvia.

There is still time to sow begonia, gazania, verbena and pelargonium.

Sow hard annuals direct. On heavy or wet soils sow in trays in the greenhouse or on a window sill.

If outdoor conditions are reasonable sow broad beans, early carrots, lettuce, spring onion, peas, parsnips, radish, spinach and turnips.

In a seed bed sow brussels sprouts, cabbages, calabrese and cauliflower.

Chit early and maincrop potatoes for planting in milder areas.

Sow vegetables for raising in the greenhouse including aubergines, cucumbers, peppers, melons and tomatoes. Germinate at 12-20⁰C (60-70⁰F) in a propagator.

In mild areas, sow celery, celeriac and French beans.

What to plant

Hardened off vegetable seedlings.

Hardy bulbs such as anemone and lily.

Lift and divide herbaceous perennials as well as established clumps of snowdrops and aconite.

New perennials, shrubs and trees in milder conditions.

Transfer badly positioned plants to a more suitable spot.

Plant out chitted potato tubers of earlies but keep an eye on the weather.

Plant onion sets.

What to prune

Remove dead-flowers and the top ring of mahonia leaves.

Shrubs grown for their colourful winter bark.

Plain leaved dogwood and willow.

Remove one or two stems per rose plant and any dead wood.

Buddleia and caryopteris.

We have purchased a variety of useful items for our members, for the start of the growing season. The quality and prices are very reasonable. The team members are always pleased to discuss any gardening matters with welcome visitors. So do visit us Saturday mornings at the hut on the Westway allotments.