Awarding the 2020 Banksian Medal

Dear Members,

Since you were deprived of the opportunity to compete for most points in the Summer Show to win the Banksian Medal 2020. The RHS suggests that it should be awarded to someone who has gone ‘above and beyond’ to help the Church Crookham Garden Society survive or has helped other members with their gardening in these difficult times.

We are seeking nominations for the medal, so please name a candidate giving your reasons. Let me know by the end of September.

Liz Kirton (General Secretary)

The Banksian Medal is one of a number of medals awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society, and is named after the great scientist Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820). Mr J.W. Banks, a gardener, was awarded this medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1928.

September gardening advice

Autumn is early here this year. Leaves dropping, berries ripening and apples ready to pick in August. Although the apple crop is heavy this year, potatoes, beans and sweetcorn have not flourished for me in dry, hot, wet, cool fluctuating conditions.

There are still the asters, chrysanthemums and Hederanthas (Schizostolis) to come into their own in September and October, I hope, but the late summer perennials like phlox and crocosmia are giving up.

Here are some jobs you could do:

Harvest: Onions, main crop potatoes, sweetcorn, pumpkins and squashes. Apples and pears will mostly have been picked at the end of August this year. All apart from sweetcorn can be stored in a dark dry place. Sweetcorn cobs freeze well.

Autumn fruiting raspberries and beans will continue to need picking or they will stop producing more.

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