What a great way to end 2011 with Geoff Hodge, free-lance writer famous in gardening circles for his many articles in Gardening News and the RHS journal \u2018The Garden\u2019, a regular on Radio Cambridgeshire and BBC Essex came to Fowlmere. Like a whirlwind he overwhelmed us with his knowledge, sense of humour and tremendous personality. He made his talk on \u2018Growing vegetables\u2019 so interesting that members who only came for the splendid Christmas buffet left the meeting inspired to try their hand at growing vegetables next spring.<\/p>\n
Geoff took us through the simple steps to vegetable growing \u2013 be it in a patio pot, a raised bed, a window sill or the open ground. He described the best tools for the job and gave sound advice \u2013 don\u2019t stand on the soil in the raised beds as you may compress the soil, remember to add organic material to your beds ( there are no nutrients in manure \u2013 but you knew that didn\u2019t you!). Use a soil thermometer as seeds will not germinate below 7\u00baC, keep last year\u2019s seed in its sachet in a cold, dark and dry place \u2013 even better place packets in a tupperware box along with sachets of silica gel (from your new handbags, ladies!) would be an appropriate container, do follow the instructions on the seed packet! etc, etc.His talk could fill a book.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What a great way to end 2011 with Geoff Hodge, free-lance writer famous in gardening circles for his many articles in Gardening News and the RHS journal \u2018The Garden\u2019, a regular on Radio Cambridgeshire and BBC Essex came to Fowlmere. … Continue reading