June 2026: Gardeners’ Question Time

Our version of Gardeners’ Question Time was back for the June meeting and proved once again to be an informative and enjoyable event.

The evening started with a pleasant stroll around the Old Pond Garden, admiring the plants and taking in the evening sun.

Back in the Old Library, we set about tackling questions that had been submitted by members before the meeting. In a change to previous years, there was no formal panel or guest expert. Instead, questions were answered by our very own experts with lots of discussion and contributions from CABAHS members, compered by Kathy and illustrated with slides.

The questions covered a wide range of gardening conundrums, from where to source manure deliveries to deterring pesky pear-pecking parakeets.

Fran shared her experience on the pros and cons of different types of mulch; what to use them for and their specific properties. Having found that manure attracts foxes, and expensive Strulch fails to deliver on its claim to deter slugs and snails, she currently favours bark which is best applied mid Spring or Autumn.

We learned from Kathy that some strange looking gem squash grown from saved seed was the result of cross pollination, a common problem in the promiscuous squash family. Rarely, this can produce toxic fruits so never eat an extremely bitter, unpleasant tasting, monster squash!

Jayne was asked to describe a border combining flowers and vegetables effectively. She said it should be beautiful and productive throughout the year with colourful and decorative varieties of vegetables. Plug plants are good for filling gaps and lots of herbs are a must, along with edible flowers, flowers for pollinators and companion plants like marigolds to deter pests.

Stella gave us the benefit of her experience on the best kind of grow house. Having tried the cheaper plastic covered type she upgraded to a more robust glazed version which, despite the cost and daunting self assembly challenges, she still recommends. She favours siting it in partial shade and recommends adding ventilation (Fran recommended an automatic window opening device); members also suggested bubble wrap or polystyrene for winter insulation.

Isla shared her own garden story as an example to any novice gardener starting from scratch. She moved lots of plants in pots from her previous home but encountered very different conditions in her new North facing garden with overhanging trees and clay soil. She suggested to 1) study the light, 2) give plants space and resist overcrowding, 3) go slowly and start with reliable undemanding plants and 4) attract and share with wildlife.

There was no shortage of suggestions for a favourite garden day trip. Sharon’s suggestions included Charleston Farm Gardens near Lewes. Lots of local gems got a mention including Hall Place, Eltham Palace and Greenwich Park Rose Garden and further afield, Great Comp, Nymans, Riverhill Himalayan Gardens and Walmer Castle near Deal.

A question about rose cuttings was answered by Ruth who has lots of roses in her garden. She has accidentally grown Rosa ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk’ from prunings. Viv similarly grew lots of new plants from rose clippings pushed into the ground to deter squirrels! Ruth advised taking cuttings in the autumn, 8 to 10 inches (20-25cm) long and below a node, remembering to cut straight across the top and slanted at the bottom planting end. These should be inserted around the edge of a pot, remaining dormant over winter but show signs of new growth in Spring.

In between questions Terry gave a practical masterclass in how to take cuttings from Salvia. He uses water to start off cuttings and explained that roots formed by this method are very fragile so care is needed when potting on. Another take away was to keep a pair of folding scissors handy; very useful for anyone wanting cutting material to put their new found knowledge into practice!

Finally, Mandy and Brownie answered the question about how to garden successfully as a couple without killing each other… They often disagree but but their biggest argument involved assembling a greenhouse which nearly ended things. Thankfully, it all worked out and the key is communication and compromise, sound advice for maintaining marital harmony in the garden.

The GQT event was a wonderful opportunity to tap into our collective horticultural knowledge and experience. There was lots of excellent advice and tips to take away, and we got to know more about each other’s gardens and talk all things gardening and plants. Thanks to the demonstration, we can look forward to even more plant donations for future sales. What better way to spend an evening!

Jayne D