Trading Shed Open on 29th October

The trading shed opened for the last session of 2022 on Saturday 29th October. It’s now closed until February 11th 2023.

Plants were donated to the Community Project for Crookham Infants School, who are refurbishing their containers in the grounds.

Have you renewed your 2022 membership?

October Hints and Tips

Here we are, at the beginning of Autumn, the roar of leaf blowers filling the air! I do hope those leaves will be composted to make leaf mould!

Spring 2024 : Church Crookham and Fleet Garden Society, Trading Hut News

The trading hut (fully re-stocked) will be open on Saturdays, 2024, 10am -11.30am – until October 2024

Why not drop in for a chat Saturday mornings and view the range of young plants on sale by members?

Trading Hut, Church Crookham Memorial Hall, Sandy Lane, GU52 8LD, (near the Wyvern pub).

Click here to view/download July 2023 Shed Price List

Most of the harvesting is done: potatoes lifted and stored cool and dark in hessian sacks, apples stored in newspaper on trays, carrots and beetroot are more difficult, but will not stand frost – why not pickle the beetroot? Pumpkins and squash can be stored in a shed or garage once they sound hollow when you tap them.

Now let us start on next year’s produce, by sowing broad beans, planting overwintering onions and shallots, and sowing sweet pea seeds in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse. Plant Spring bulbs (except tulips, leave them until November to reduce the risk of ‘tulip fire’)

Now is the time to divide herbaceous perennials, move small shrubs and plant bare-rooted young trees (these will need firm support)

It is tempting to tidy all top growth of plants once they finish flowering:

Autumn Colour

DO rake up and dispose of diseased leaves from below roses and apple trees;

DO cut out fruited branches of blackberries and their relations so you can tie in new growth.

DO reduce the height of Buddleias, Lavatera and Sambuca to reduce wind rock and snow damage BUT LEAVE the main pruning until March. Most herbaceous plants can be cut down, but some have seed heads useful to birds.

DON’T cut down Penstemons, Gaura or hardy Fuchsias until late Spring to protect the plant from frost; similarly, leave Hydrangea flowers on the bush until March to protect next year’s flower buds.

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