Thursday, 22 April 2010

How to grow a big one!

Top Tips from our Garden Manager John Lanyon

- Choose the best site - they like to grow in an open sunny place where they get sun all day

- They like to be warm - do not plant your plant out until the temperatures have risen, the beginning of June I reckon but down here in the right place you could start a couple of weeks earlier

- Soil - veg gardening is all about the soil - it needs to be well dug - this basically fluffs it up, allows the root in and holds onto water and nutrients

- Feeding - these guys are best feed 2 ways - heavily incorporate well rotten manure when digging your plot and then liquid feed every three weeks when the plant is growing

- Let them flower and then wait until the best fruit sets - not necessarily the first, you will sense which one is going to be the best because it will develop the quickest and look keen - then cut the others off

- Then water and water and water your plant and it is the luck of the draw after that

I am looking forward to meeting you and your champion in the Autumn!

ps the most important thing is to enjoy the whole thing and share your fun with others.


Mr John Lanyon
Gardens Manager
Trelissick, Glendurgan, Trerice and Bosloe in Cornwall
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Wednesday, 14 April 2010

Growing Your Own Talk tonight with the Grampound Garden and Allotment Group

I'll be giving a talk tonight on growing your own vegetables this evening. The talk is for members of the Grampound Garden and Allotment Group. Should be a good evening. The village of Grampound has only recently set up its own allotment field under the ownership of a local landowner which I understand has space for around 20 allotment plots, of which 4 have already been taken. For more information contact Val Warrington on ValWarrington@aol.com.

Monday, 12 April 2010

Spring Allotment Workshop a Great Success!

A really good day was had by all last Saturday. Many questions were asked and gardening knowledge was shared between everyone who attended. Around twenty people from St Newlyn East, Grampound Road, Polmassic and Cubert Allotments.

The event went down very well with lots of positive comments about it so another event is in the pipeline for June, so watch this space for updates, venue and date tbc.

Top tips!


The question of what compost to use was raised, suggest looking at TT compost http://www.cornishcompost.co.uk/ 01208 74550 for pricing and quantity queries. Why not buy in bulk and share the cost? Local, recycled, good quality stuff. But do use your own well rotted compost and horse/farm manure too. The high quality bought compost is great for young plants and seedlings in your seed beds, more bulky stuff is good to add in the autumn months so it can break down over the winter.

Don't forget to give your seedlings plenty of light, very important in the early phase of the seedlings growth.


Make use of a cold frame if you can, it helps plants to harden off and ensures young plants have plenty of light before planting out. Don't forget to water them in here, and lift the top in fine weather.


Recycle as many things as possible, why pay when you can get stuff for free? Get creative with bath tubs, old wheelbarrows, bathtubs and old hoses and guttering and windows. This shed was made entirely out of salvaged reusable materials - smart! (Thanks to Simon for the tour inside)

Cover your water butts to keep out of sun prevent algae forming.

Many thanks to all those who contributed their knowledge, time and allotment site to assist with this event. Great stuff all round, see you all again in June. Why not come to Trerice Garden, near Newquay off the A3058?
















Friday, 2 April 2010

Notice of a Spring Allotment Workshop on 10th April 2010 with National Trust Gardener Tamasin Battell

Allotmenteers local to National Trust Trerice are warmly invited to the Grampound Road allotments for a Spring workshop with me Tamasin Battell, Gardener in Charge at National Trust Trerice. Grampound Road is in Cornwall between Truro and St Austell, for directions follow link below.

The workshop will focus on getting started with your own allotment and growing your own fruit and vegetables. It should be a great opportunity for you all to meet, share knowledge and ask questions.

The workshop is to be held on Saturday April 10th from 10am and you are warmly invited to attend, we can expect to be finished by lunchtime although it depends on the level of interest, questions and ideas generated as to the exact finish time.

Please bring along thermos flask, biscuits or a bite to eat. Bring basic tools such as garden forks, small and large and rakes if you would like to do something practical on the day.
Waterproofs may be needed if it is wet, although alternative inside arrangements have been made if the weather is really severe.

Directions: Go right through to the north end of Grampound Road village turn left on to the main Ladock to Grampound road 100 yards along this road there is a car park for the allotments on the right.
The
http://www.woodlandvalley.co.uk contacts page has a map and satellite image of the area for you to navigate around and get your bearings. The allotments are clearly shown on the google map on this page on the north end of Grampound Road village, you can zoom in on them!

I look forward to seeing you all there. Please phone me if you have any questions about the day.

Tam Battell
07866 942 715

Another Year and Another Chance to Grow Your Own Pumpkin for Halloween!

Spring is here and now is the time to get ready to grow your own Pumpkin.
National Trust Trerice is making this easy for you!

Between 12th and 17th April Trerice is holding a number of pumpkin growing workshops. We will share with you the secrets of how to make 2010's Halloween filled with your own home grown pumpkins.

Come along between 11oo and 1430 each day and head for the greenhouse. For a small cost of £1 and you shall be given a number of pumpkin seeds, some compost and pots and growing instructions and helpful advice from our gardening team.

This year, the Trerice Garden Team invite you to return on Saturday 30th October. On this day your Pumpkin will be officially judged. There will be a number of prizes for pumpkins with the strangest shape, the most colourful and the most ugly for example. There will be certificates, photographs and fun pumpkin related activities for all the family.

For more information please telephone our office on 01637 875 404