Page 21 - link magazine

21
HOME &GARDEN
Plan some colour for Christmas

Bulb catalogues have begun to Claire Beaton tells you how to prepare bulbs but the other favourites will not if
drop through my letterbox and now for winter flowering they have been grown skilfully.
so remind me that I ought to be
thinking of what I want for my Without precise tempera- well. The bulbs should be close
spring displays, and, more im- ture control available, it is best to together in the bowl but not
portantly, to do something now allow an extra two weeks of cold. touching and not rammed down Gardens to visit
if I want to raise my own flowers How to achieve the 'cold' is an- against the compost. If the hya-
for Christmas. other problem, since I do not cinth roots cannot grow through in September
Growing hyacinths to believe there are many houses the compost the bulb is pushed
flower during the Christmas with a cellar in West Swindon. In up and out of the bowl. There are seven gardens
period is the most challenging a cool autumn, an insulated loft When the bulbs are ready to open in Broadwell and Kencot
pastime for the home gardener. should be alright but if there is a bring into the warmth the shoot on 11th September (2p.m. -
Commercial growers have tem- lot of sun the temperature will should be 1-2 ins high. Too low a 6p.m.). The villages are 5 miles
perature controlled facilities rise quickly. The traditional al- temperature at this point and the north-east of Lechlade, east of
which allow them to meet such ternative to a cellar is to bury the shoot will grow tall and spindly. the A361. Admission £1, chil-
precise instructions as 'allow 10 bulbs in sand or ashes in a shady, 'Delft Blue' may require staking, dren 50p.
weeks at 48 degrees F. plus a sheltered spot and keep the cov-
further 22 days at 68-77 degrees ering layer well watered; the o.
F. for full flowering'. These are damp keeps the bulbs cool. The
the growing requirements of penalty for not starting in cool Building Plans prepared, Planning &
Pink Pearl' bulbs prepared for conditions is that the shoots will Building Regulations Approvals obtained
forcing. Perhaps it is just as well grow long and straggly. If it is
that we cannot grow things in too cold then flowering takes "All the headaches taken out of your hands."
this manner at home; it would longer than expected. All work undertaken by fully qualified engineer.
take all the fun out of trying. The bulbs can be planted Telephone Steve Wright on Swindon 871553
Pink hyacinths are the fa- individually in 4" pots, to be
vourite colour for indoor grow- transferred to display bowls
ing. The next favourite is white, when in bud, or can be planted in P B PLUMBING SERVICES
'Carnegie' being the first choice. groups in bowls if the 'cool' pe-
Growers allow 10 weeks cold riod is not going to be too mucky. Boilers Serviced
followed by 22 days in the warm They should be planted in peat Pump Fitting Service
for flowering. 'Delft Blue' is the compost, peat or bulb fibre. The Water Softeners Fitted
favourite blue, requiring differ- important part is to make sure Washing Machines and Dishwashers Fitted
ent timings again; 9 weeks cold the compost is damp before fill- Telephone: (0793) 642995
and 23 days after to flower. ing the pot and not to firm too

West Swindon's

thriving gardeners
From just a few enthusiasts, West Swindon Gardening
Club now has a healthy membership and is planning a
competition for all to enter. Martha Parry visited the
club recently and gives her Impressions.
About 20 people (including dard West Swindon residential
one other newcomer), attended size ... not Lydiard Park as the
the meeting. On arrival we cuttings suggested). EASY PARKING - COLLECTION/DELIVERY SERVICE
found the tables and windowsills Another bit of good fortune MON-FRI. 8am - 6pm; SAT. 8am - 5pm
covered with shrub cuttings, so on offer was a selection of seeds Unit 9, Marlborough Road Industrial Estate,
fresh they were still dripping on collected in Tasmania by David Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 8AX
this rainy evening. Bellamy! These went home with Tel: Swindon 854821
David Greatham (chairman anyone with enough curiosity
and avid plantsman) said the and patience to 'have a go'
invited speaker couldn't come, Following this was a discus- Entrance at the junction of
so he'd just popped out into the sion about a Garden Competi- Lady Lane and Westfield
Way, Haydon Wick.
back garden and brought in a tion... the idea evolved to invite Tel: Swindon 721221
'few' (40 or so) cuttings for an entries next June, to be photo-
identification quiz. Nothing like graphed and judged in mid-July. VISIT YOUR
shared ignorance to break the ice! Hopefully, all entrants photo- LOCAL GARDEN
Actually, quite a few com- graphs will be on public display
mitted gardeners were among next August in the Link Library CENTRE
the members and there was noth- and Mall. Carpet your garden with
ing formal about this 'meeting', I would say the West Swin- HEATHERS.
with the discussion flowing back don Gardening Club is a friendly Immediate effect,
and forth as each cutting was place to start for anyone worried year round pleasure.
identified. about coping with our heavy clay
David followed on with an soil! They are keen to share the Over 50 varieties in stock.
explanation of how to take and secrets of their success. EVERYTHING FOR
YOUR GARDEN
root cuttings and everyone went Details of the gardening com-
home to try their luck with a bit of petition will be published in JfAUTUMN
his garden (which is your stan-
The Link in future editions