£600,000 set aside for hundreds of new allotment plots in Cheltenham


There are hundreds of people on waiting lists who want the opportunity to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
And the £600,000 is the estimated cost of providing 290 new plots to meet demand.

Well done Cheltenham!

The second meeting of the Nottingham and Derby Seed Circle

Our second meeting has been booked.

We will meet again at the gardens, on the 16th of March, at 11am until 1pm.

They will be delivering a training session on saving seeds; annuals and biennials, isolation, hand pollination, harvesting, storage and sharing.

Free to attend.

The Rurbanite: Living in the Country without Leaving the City – The Rurbanite: Living in the Country without Leaving the City
available at Amazon

In cities around the world, we are redefining our sense of urban living. No longer satisfied with a grey, sterile metropolis, we want the best of both worlds – the energy and diversity of the city, but a stronger sense of harmony with nature too. The Rurbanite Handbook explains everything you need to know to achieve this, proving it isn’t necessary to move to the country to meet nature head on, including: turning your back garden into an urban homestead putting a green roof on your garden shed planting to encourage wildlife guerrilla gardening keeping bees, hens, quails, ducks learning to identity the wild flowers growing out of cracks in the pavement turning ex-industrial sites into vibrant community gardens

Annual Oxford Seed Swap 2013: at Barracks Lane Community Garden, 16th March, 11am-5pm

more info on this seed swap

Snowdrops are one of the first signs that spring is on the way.
Treat yourself to them – they are planted in the green – when they still have leaves. This is unlike most bulbs that are planted just as bulbs.

Galanthus nivalis (common snowdrop bulbs) £2.49
Position:sun or partial shade Soil: humus-rich, moist but well drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: January and February Flower colour: white Other features: all parts of the plant may cause a mild stomach upset if ingested; contact with the bulbs may cause skin irritation Hardiness: fully hardy Bulb size: 4/5 It’s hard not to love these wonderful bulbs for adding colour to the garden when little else is awake. The nodding white flowers have a small green marking on the inside of each tepal, are honey scented, and appear in late winter. They look particularly good planted in large drifts in grass where they will naturalise quite happily. Alternatively plant them up in clumps in the front of mixed borders, or into pots so they can be admired close up. Garden care: Plant bulbs 5cm deep in dense clusters to form naturalistic drifts. Where bulbs are planted in grass do not cut the grass until after the leaves have died right back. Divide large colonies after flowering while the leaves are still green for use in other moist, well-drained areas.

Leucojum vernum (Spring snowflake bulbs) £4.99
Position: full sun Soil: reliably moist but well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: March to April Flower colour: white with green tips Hardiness: fully hardy Nodding, bell-shaped, white flowers, each with green tips, top upright stems in early spring. Closely related to the snowdrop, this is a later-flowering, taller option that looks wonderful when naturalised in bold drifts throughout a lawn, or allowed to clump up in pockets towards the front of the border. They prefer reliably moist (but not waterlogged) soils, so are ideal for planting on the upper banks of a pond. Garden care: Plant bulbs in autumn 10cm deep and 8 – 10 apart. Allow the plant to die back completely before clearing away the foliage.

Anemone sylvestris (snowdrop anemony, snowdrop windflower) £7.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: moist but well drained, humus-rich soil. Likes neutral or alkaline soils Rate of growth: fast Flowering period: April – May Hardiness: fully hardy A lovely little anemone which forms a mound of deeply cut foliage, topped with nodding white flowers with yellow centres in late spring. The plant gets its common name from the way the flower buds emerge on bent stems, so they hang like snowdrops. Then they straighten up and face outwards as the flowers start to open. The petals catch the breeze, making them look a little like butterflies, and they will grow to form open cup shapes up to 7cm across. They are scented and are good for cutting, but if you leave them on, they will be followed by white woolly seedheads. Find the right spot for them and they will naturalise and spread into large clumps. Garden care: Apply a generous 5-7cm mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant in spring. Cut back to just above ground level if they start to look messy and they will quickly rejuvenate. Where necessary, lift and divide congested clumps in early spring.

Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop – In The Green) £7.99
Position:partial shade Soil: humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: January and February Flower colour: pure white Other features: all parts of the plant may cause a mild stomach upset if ingested; contact with the bulbs may cause skin irritation Hardiness: fully hardy Snowdrop bulbs bought in the autumn tend to get dehydrated and this can lead to disappointing results. This is why planting bulbs ‘in the green’ is becoming more and more popular. Snowdrops are perfect for naturalising in grass. Plant in well-drained, moisture-retentive soil. Garden care: Plant in naturalistic drifts when they arrive. Where bulbs are planted in grass do not cut the grass until after the leaves have died back. Divide large colonies immediately after flowering while the leaves are still green.

Galanthus ‘S. Arnott’ (snowdrop bulbs) £9.99
Position: cool, partial shade Soil: moderately-fertile, moist but well-drained alkaline to neutral soil. Snowdrops dislike acid soils. Rate of growth: average Flowering period: February-March Flower colour: white with green ‘V’ shaped markings Other Features: flowers cut well for an early posy Hardiness: fully hardy A rare, relatively large and vigorous form, named after Samuel Arnott (born in Dumfries in 1852) who was a keen gardener and snowdrop offocinado. He first discovered this in his garden and later introduced it into cultivation. Like a pumped-up version of the common snowdrop, this super-sized version has deliciously honey-scented flowers. Garden care: Plants will seed readily, but tend to hybridise. Lift and divide overly-large clumps while they are ‘in the green’ every 2-3 years after flowering from March to May. Replant immediately and water in well.

Helleborus x hybridus Harvington double red (Lenten rose hellebore) £9.99
Position: partial shade Soil: heavy, neutral to alkaline soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: February to April Other features: all parts of the plant cause severe discomfort if ingested; the sap may cause skin irritation; dark greyish-green leaves give off an unpleasant odour when crushed Hardiness: fully hardy Red petals form bowl-shaped flowers, each with a prominent boss of golden stamens, in late winter. Plant with spring flowering bulbs like snowdrops or crocus, beneath a canopy of deciduous shrubs or trees for early interest. Garden care: Add lots of well-rotted leaf mould or organic matter to the planting hole. Cut the old leaves back down to the ground in January or February as this will show off the new emerging flowers to best effect. It will also help to get rid of foliar diseases such as Hellebore leaf spot. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base of the plant in autumn and provide a top-dressing of general fertiliser each spring.

De Wit hand crocus / snowdrop bulb planter £9.99
This bulb planter has been a best seller for us. It is perfect for planting small bulbs, such as Crocus, Snowdrops and Crocosmias as it makes holes that are just big enough for the bulb so you don’t get great big holes in the lawn or border. Every De Wit garden tool is handmade in Holland; hand-forged from solid, top quality steel, shaped, sharpened and finally fitted with an oiled, solid ash wood handle of the finest quality. The Dutch are rightly regarded as makers of the finest gardening tools. De Wit have been around longer than anyone. They started in 1898 and the 4th generation of De Wits are now in charge of the business; one is a trained wood turner, the other trained as a blacksmith. De Wit forge their tools from carbon steel in the traditional way. Carbon Steel is naturally tougher than stainless steel and is not prone to metal fatigue. De Wit also burnish their steel. This not only helps to protect it for longer but gives it a patina that blackens it – just like traditional English tools from the Edwardian era. All De Wit tools have turned hardwood handles of oiled Ash. Ash is not only very strong but resists shock better than woods like oak or beech, which is why it was traditionally used for Axe handles. Size Head: 11.5cm long x 4cm wide ( 4.5 x 1.5) Total Length: 18.8cm long (10.5)

De Wit long handled crocus / snowdrop bulb planter £16.99
This bulb planter is perfect for planting small bulbs, such as Crocus, Snowdrops and Crocosmias. Every De Wit garden tool is handmade in Holland; hand-forged from solid, top quality steel, shaped, sharpened and finally fitted with an oiled, solid ash wood handle of the finest quality. The Dutch are rightly regarded as makers of the finest gardening tools. De Wit have been around longer than anyone. They started in 1898 and the 4th generation of De Wits are now in charge of the business; one is a trained wood turner, the other trained as a blacksmith. De Wit forge their tools from carbon steel in the traditional way. Carbon Steel is naturally tougher than stainless steel and is not prone to metal fatigue. De Wit also burnish their steel. This not only helps to protect it for longer but gives it a patina that blackens it – just like traditional English tools from the Edwardian era. All De Wit tools have turned hardwood handles of oiled Ash. Ash is not only very strong but resists shock better than woods like oak or beech, which is why it was traditionally used for Axe handles. The result is a beautiful tool to hold in the hand but rugged and durable. They feel so natural to use that they are like an extension of the person that uses them. These tools will give you a lifetime of use, until you hand them on. Size Head: 10cm long x 4cm wide Total Length: 89cm long (890mm)

Lucky Swansea residents can go and collect some free compost!

Free garden compost is now available to all Swansea residents from the Tir John Community Recycling Site.
Free compost is available on a first come first served basis, and is subject to availability. Compost should be available throughout the summer.

Anyone wishing to make use of this service is advised to bring their own shovel and container.

Once you grow plants you can start to save seeds so you can grow them again next year.

Here’s a great article about saving seeds from RealSeeds

Many of us will have had vegetable plants go to seed – For the person who wants to eat the plant it’s a disaster when a plant puts its energy into making seed but for the plant it’s how it’ll survive into the future.

There are things to bear in mind – if you grow lots of types of the same plant then you will get cross pollination which means the seed you save won’t be true. Always save dry, ripe seed.

There’s also this great book you can buy – Back Garden Seed Saving: Keeping Our Vegetable Heritage Alive

The book covers saving seeds from: beetroot, spinach, beet, chard, broad bean, carrot, celery, celeriac, cucumber, french bean, leafy brassicas, leek, melon, lettuce, onion, parsnip, pea, pepper, chilli, radish, runner bean, spinach, squash (marrows, pumpinks and courgettes), tomato, turnip and swede.

Each vegetable has a small section on how to grow them and then focuses on selection and saving and drying seeds.

If you’re as bad as me at labelling then maybe you need some incentive like this fantastic labelling machine.

Garden Labeller and Tray Offer £29.47
Offer includes:Garden Labeller G100 – Create professional-looking labels for your home and garden. This Garden Labeller from Brother produces adhesive labels that are completely rain-proof, fade-proof, heat-resistant and frost-resistant. Easy to use, the hand-held device has an A-Z keyboard and can produce labels in a range of attractive fonts and effects. Comes complete with a 12mm (1/2) x 8m (26’3) roll of black on white tape. Powered by 6 AAA batteries (not included).Value Trays – These great value black plastic trays, each containing 45 individual 5.8cm (21/4) square cells, are an easy and economical way to raise young plants. Finger holes allow you to remove each plug with minimal root disturbance. Length 56cm (22), width 31cm (121/4), depth 8cm (3). Pack of 8 trays.Magic Seeder – A seed dispenser designed especially for planting small flower and vegetable seeds, and particularly ideal for pots and plug trays. Quick and easy to use, it distributes seeds accurately and eliminates thinning out. Varying thumb pressure can regulate size or quantity of seed.White Labels – With our pack of 80 reusable, rot-proof 10cm (4) white plant labels you can keep tabs on all your seedlings, plants and shrubs. Use them pushed in pots or trays. Absolutely invaluable!

Lovely flowers to grow, fantastic scents.

Ornamental Tobacco Plant Seeds £1.85
A must for the white garden. Great near the house or patio where you can sit out in the evenings and inhale the exquisite fragrance from the white blooms. Nicotiana comes from Argentina and is best grown as an annual in a sunny spot.

Nicotiana Plants – F1 Perfume Mix £6.99
A bedding nicotiana with a full colour range and beautiful scent, that will bloom for months. Height 35-40cm (14-16).PICK & MIX Extra Value Plug Plants – Buy any 4 packs or more for ONLY £3.99 per pack!

Nicotiana Plants – F1 Perfume Mix £8.99
A bedding nicotiana with a full colour range and beautiful scent, that will bloom for months. Height 35-40cm (14-16).PICK & MIX Garden Ready Plug Plants – Buy any 4 packs or more for ONLY £5.99 per pack!

Nicotiana Plants – F1 Perfume Mix £7.99
A bedding nicotiana with a full colour range and beautiful scent, that will bloom for months. Height 35-40cm (14-16).PICK & MIX Value Plug Plants – Buy any 4 packs or more for ONLY £4.99 per pack!

Nicotiana Meercat Seeds £1.85
For a change from traditional nicotianas, why not give this one a try? Its elongated, trumpet-shaped green blooms are produced in abundance on branching plants of even height. A lovely contrast to other flower colours! Height 50-70cm (20-28). HHA – Half-hardy annual.

Nicotiana F1 Super Hybrid Mix Seeds £2.65
A first-class nicotiana, producing masses of upward-facing flowers that stand up well to sun or rain, and will keep coming over a long period. HHA – Half hardy annual. Height 30-36cm (12-14).(VALUE HYBRIDS – Hybrid flower seed, as most people know, gives the best results, but because production costs are high, the seed can be quite expensive. In recent years, Suttons have been working hard with flower breeders to find ways of reducing these costs and the result is our extremely popular Value hybrids range of high quality seed at great value prices.)

Nicotiana F1 Perfume Mix Seeds £2.65
A bedding/patio nicotiana with a full colour range and beautiful scent! The plants are well-branched for maximum flower power, and will bloom over a long period. Hybrid performance with old fashioned fragrance. HHA – Half hardy annual. Height 40-46cm (16-18).

Nicotiana Evening Fragrance Mix Seeds £1.99
A mixture of flesh pink, rose, red, lilac, mauve, purple and white flowers. Wonderfully fragrant, particularly in the evening. Flowers like long trumpets, brightly coloured, throughout the summer. HHA – Half hardy annual. Height 90cm (3′).

Nicotiana Affinis Seeds £1.85
Large, perfumed white flowers. Flowers like long trumpets, brightly coloured, throughout the summer. HHA – Half hardy annual. Height 90cm (3′).

Hint for avoiding carrot fly: Sow your seeds in a plastic container and put it on top of your compost bin. this should keep it out of the way of carrot fly. This allows you to control the fineness of the soil – sandy soil stone and manure free is good – any lumps distort the shape of carrots.
You can use fine mesh too to keep away carrot fly or try companion planting.

Carrot Amsterdam Forcing 3 Seeds £2.25
Amsterdam Forcing 3 is a carrot with a superb taste that can be grown in tubs, raised beds or borders. Harvest from small finger size or wait until they’re bigger. Can be sown under glass or in succession outdoors for small, succulent roots.

Carrot Autumn King 2 Seeds £5.55
Good-sized, cylindrical, red-cored roots of extra fine quality. Larger than the Nantes type, and good for storing. RHS Award of Garden Merit winner.

Carrot Caracas Seed £1.65
An open-pollinated mini chantenay variety, which is ideal for small beds & containers. Needs to be sown closely together and used fresh from the plot. Standard variety.

Carrot Chantenay Red Cored 2 Seeds £1.49
A first-class carrot, producing good quality, flavoursome carrots over a long cropping period. Increasingly popular in supermarkets, it is ideal for boiling, steaming or stir-frying.

Carrot Early Nantes 5 Seeds £1.85
Early Nantes 5 is a suberb tasting carrot that’s excellent for successional sowing, or in frames or under cloches for early roots. Suitable for salads, cooking or freezing.

Carrot F1 Bangor Seeds £2.45
An excellent, heavy yielding Nantes/Berlicum hybrid. Medium early maturing roots, smooth skinned, cylindrical and uniform in colour. Stores well. Resistant to Greentop and cracking. RHS Award of Garden Merit winner.

Carrot F1 Bolero Seeds £1.29
A first-class maincrop Nantes type, producing a good crop of conical, smooth-skinned, deep orange roots, which have come out as the number one choice in taste trials. High Alternaria resistance.

Carrot F1 Eskimo Seeds £3.55
Eskimo can be cropped late and stored, or overwintered on well drained soils. A very strong carrot with robust tops, and high Cavity Spot and Alternaria tolerance. Recommended by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany. RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Frost-tolerant Eskimo carrot wins NIAB award.

Carrot F1 Flyaway Organic Seeds £2.45
A carrot fly resistant variety, producing attractive, tasty roots in garden or raised bed. RHS Award of Garden Merit winner.

Carrot F1 Komarno Seeds £1.85
This late-maturing F1 hybrid will reliably provide you with a heavy crop of high quality, great tasting, tapering orange roots.

Carrot F1 Maestro Seeds £3.55
This superior carrot also has excellent disease tolerance (including Cavity Spot and Alternaria). Actually bred for root quality and reliability of crop, it has good foliage health and vigour, and is ideal for organic production. Variety recommended by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany. RHS Award of Garden Merit winner.

Carrot F1 Rainbow Seeds £1.65
An unusual and fascinating carrot mixture, producing delicious roots in an array of shades – even the fussiest of kids may be tempted by the look of it!

Carrot F1 Resistafly Seeds £2.55
Ideal for organic growers, this delicious, high quality Nantes-type variety is a good choice for anyone worried about those pesky pests! Recommended for deep freezing.

Carrot Katrin Seeds £1.85
A tasty chantenay-type carrot which is resistant to bolting. Ready to harvest approximately 125 days after sowing. Standard variety.

Carrot Nantes 2 Mars Organic Seeds £1.99
A tasty early to mid-season bunching carrot which stores well.

Carrot Rondo Seeds £1.85
A tasty, uniform, round carrot with good internal and external colouring, which yielded well in our trials. Ideal for shallow soils as well as containers. Globe-shaped variety.

Carrot Seeds – Early Nantes 5 £1.85
Superb taste. Quick to grow. For salads, stir fry or freezing.

Carrot Seeds – F1 Purple Haze £2.25
The first hybrid purple carrot combining great taste and a vigorous growth habit with a colour that will brighten up mealtimes and could be a good way to encourage children to eat vegetables!

Carrot Seeds – Ideal £1.49
Easy to grow. High in vitamin A. Quick to mature. Baby carrot type. Ready in just 12 weeks.

Carrot Seeds – Rondo £1.85
Easy to grow. Tasty, succulent carrots. For pots, raised beds or garden.

Carrot St. Valery Seeds £1.85
Reliable maincrop carrot producing long, tapering roots; excellent for winter storage.

Carrot Yellowstone Seeds £2.45
High in vitamin A, C, and beta carotene, it’s also very tasty…and easy to grow, too!