Some Benefits of Membership of

CHINGFORD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

TRADING STORES

4 ANNUAL SHOWS

SOCIAL EVENTS

HORTICULTURAL ADVICE

FREE TICKETS TO NATIONAL SOCIETIES SHOWS

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION £4.00

To join, contact any Officer of the Society,

call at any Trading Stores or visit our Shows.

THE SOCIETY’S WEB SITE

Regularly updated containing information about the Society including goods available at the Store as well as a full report and pictures from each show plus Show Schedules.

Chingford

HorticulturalSociety

FOUNDED 1889

Handbook 2017

CHINGFORD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Is affiliated to:

THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

THE NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY

THE NATIONAL VEGETABLE SOCIETY

THE NATIONAL SWEET PEA SOCIETY

THE NATIONAL DAHLIA SOCIETY

THE BRITISH FUCHSIA SOCIETY

THE BRITISH DELPHINIUM SOCIETY

THE AIMS OF THE SOCIETY

To further the cause of, and interest in horticulture

throughout its sphere of influence

President

Honorary Vice Presidents

Mr G.R. Baker

Mrs A. Potts

CHAIRMAN

Mr M Watson

12, Queens Grove Road, Chingford, E47BT

020 8524 4472

OTHER LOCAL HORTICULTURAL SHOWS

British Cactus and Succulent Society Waltham Forest Branch8thJuly C.H.S. Hall. Commencing 10.30 a.m. Plant Sales from 9 am

Details:- Mr J Jackson 020 8529 5518

BUCKHURST HILL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Spring Show 8th April

Summer Show 8th July

Autumn Show 9th September

St John’s Church, High Road, Buckhurst Hill

Details:- Mrs J.Jones 020 8257 8996

HIGHAMSPARK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Annual Show5th August

Methodist Church, Winchester Road, Highams Park

Details:- Mr D Spicer 020 8531 3178

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TRADING STORE

Larkshall Road

(opposite Dale View Crescent)

Open Sundays 9.00a.m.-12 Noon

A WIDERANGE OF FERTILIZERS, COMPOSTS & SUNDRIES ARE STOCKED AT COMPETITVE PRICES, INCLUDING:

SOLID FERTILISERS

Weighed to the amount you require

No expensive packaging

JOHN INNES & MULTI PURPOSE COMPOST

Purchase exactly what you require,

Any amount,however small

VEGETABLE SEEDS

POTATOES,ONIONS AND BULBS

Available at the appropriate times

CANES & STAKES,INSECTICIDES

& LIQUID FERTILISERS

Most top brands available

PLANTS

Often available especially in Spring at bargain prices

Manager:Mr T.Steed (020 8529 6311)

Closed for three weeks around Christmas

HORTICULTURAL SUNDRIES

MANURE

The Society has a supply of horse manure available at the Trading Store. No charge is made but members are requested to make a donation of their choice instead.

POTS, SAUCERS AND SEED TRAYS

The Society has a number of these which, although used, are in good condition. In most cases no specific charge is made but a donation is requested.

PLANTS

Plants are sold at bargain prices at the Store throughout the year and at all the Shows. Members with surplus plants are kindly asked to bring them to the Store or to the Shows.

MEMBERSHIP

The Society always needs more volunteers to collect Membership Subscriptions. This is a once a year task and any member able to help should contact the Membership Secretary Mrs L.Mclellan (020 8529 6998)

PLANT OF THE YEAR 2017

LEUCANETHEMUM SHAPCOTT SUMMER CLOUDS

An improved Shasta daisy with an abundance of creamy white flowers

Vigorous in growth,very hardy & good for cutting flowering in July 3’ tall.. .

NEW EXHIBITORS

The society always has a ready welcome for new exhibitors & it is essential that fresh faces come forward to maintain the shows.Help & advice is readily available & a friendly atmosphere prevails.There is a particular need for new vegetable & cookery exhibitors as entries in these categories have fallen recently.Have a go in 2017. .

PRUNING ROSES

It is essential to prune roses to keep them vigorous & healthy & February is the best time to carry it out using sharp secateurs & for thicker stems a pruning saw. Begin by removing any dead or diseased wood & to open up the plant any crossing branches.Different types of roses require different treatment.Old fashioned & shrub types should be cut back by a third whilst hybrid teas should be pruned hard to about 6”.Floribundas require more lenient treatment being reduced to about 15”.When pruning make the cuts a quarter of an inch above an outward facing bud to allow new growth to develop on the outer edges of the plant creating an open shape.Slant the cuts downwards away from the buds to allow rain to drain away

NON FLOWERING BULBS

Sometimes bulbs produce plenty of foliage but bear few or no blooms.This maybe because the soil is starved of nutrients& a balanced liquid feed should be applied after flowering.Never cut off foliage or tie it up but allow to die off naturally clearing away when dead.Non flowering may also be because of overcrowding & it is advisable to lift the bulbs removing any small ones & replanting to give more room .

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GROWING IN CONTAINERS

It is better to use John Innes compost rather than multi purpose in all containers including hanging baskets because it retains moisture better & delivers plant food more slowly.Once plants are growing away it is important to feed with an high ratio potash liquid fertiliser on a weekly basis & to keep the plants well watered.To prolong the flowering period remove all dead flowers.If vine weevils are likely to be a problem top the container with sharp gravel.. . . .
APHIDS

Aphids include blackfly & green fly but can also be other colours.They are up to a quarter of an inch long with long legs & antennae.They live in groups & feed by sucking sap from stems,leaves,flower buds & roots.Once feeding they tend to stay put & reproduce very rapidly.The growth of the plant can be effected & they spread viral disease particularly on annual plants such as petunias & nicotianas.Whilst black fly are all too easily seen the other coloured aphids are less obvious & care should be taken to spot them.Once apparent a systemic insecticide should be used & repeated if necessary until they are killed.

TOP TIPS

Never cut back lupin foliage after flowering,,allow to die naturally

Remove the first bud that appears on dahlias to allow plant to develop

Never handle small seedlings by the stem but by the leaf
Add a dash of washing up liquid to spray to help it spread

SELECTING & PREPARING VEGETABLES FOR THE SHOW

Uniformity is important for all exhibits which should be clean & free from pests. BEETROOT Smooth skins are desirable & retain full length of the tap root.Foliage should be trimmed to approx. 75mm long CABBAGESelect good shape with fresh,solid heart.Remove outer discoloured leaves.Stage with 50mm of stalk CARROTSGood shape & colour.Foliage trimmed to approx. 75mm long CAULIFLOWER Solid white curds free from stain.Stage with 50mm of stalk with foliage trimmed back to the level of the curd. COURGETTEYoung & tender fruits required approx. 150mm in length with flower still attached,if possible. CUCUMBER Straight & retain waxy bloom FRENCH/ RUNNER BEANS Straight pods of even length & good colour with no sign of seeds.Exhibit with stalk intact. LEEKS Skins as free from blemishes as possible with no bulbing.Avoid excessive tripping of outer leaves MARROWS Young tender fruits which should be less than 350mm long ONIONS Well ripened with good colour.Necks should be firm & thin.Do not remove too many skins.Tops should be tied & roots trimmed to the base POTATOES Medium size & as free from skin blemishes as possible RHUBARB Fresh,straight & long stalks SHALLOTS Well ripened with thin necks.Remove loose skins & roots.Tie tops.Stage in dry sand in a saucer.

TOMATOESRipe firm fruits of good colour with fresh calyces

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Vice Chairman

Mr G.W.Goddard,25,MorningtonRoad,Chingford E4 5DT 020 8529 7736

Hon Secretary

Mr A.J.Gillingwater,91,Beresford Road,Chingford,E4 6EF 020 8529 2910

Hon Asst Secretary

Mr G W Goddard. 25 Mornington Road, Chingford, E4 5DT 020 8529 7736

Hon Show Secretary

Mrs L Smethurst, 28 Buxton Road, Chingford E4 7DP. 020 8529 2277

Hon Trading Manager

Mr T Steed, 97 Manor Farm Drive, Chingford E4 6HJ020 8529 6311

Hon Membership Secretary

Mrs L.Mclellan.82,Mornington Road,Chingford,E4 7DT 020 8529 6998

Hon Social Secretary

Mrs D.L Ling,2,Onslow Close,Chingford E4 6QD 020 8524 0839

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Mrs S Joseph,Mrs G Killian,, Ms D Telfer

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SECRETARY’S REPORT 2017

Society membership is now 389 which is six less than last year,the smallest reduction for many years.Volunteers continue to be required for collecting of subscriptions.

As usual four shows were staged with entries overall the same as 2016.Judges commented favourably on the quality of exhibits particularly in the flower classes.It was pleasing to see an increase in entries in the floral art but we would like more participants in the cookery section.Cookery classes are to be introduced in the early summer show next year & no entry fees will be charged for all exhibitors next year.We were pleased to welcome the Mayor of Waltham Forest,Cllr.Herrington & his wife to the late autumn show

Trading sales were down on the previous year,no doubt partly due to the poor spring weather.Nevertheless a significant proportion of the membership use the store & every effort is made to keep prices competitive

The ladies group continues to hold monthly meetings which are well supported.

Ten community groups use the hall on a regular basis & all appear satisfied with the facilities available.

During the year we have lost five stalwarts of the society.Tony Potts,former chairman,Wally Kilmartin,long serving committee member,June Pyne,former membership secretary & then show secretary,Sue Appleton who donated many plants & collected subscriptions & Len Pye,one of the leading carnation growers in the country who never forgot his local show & exhibited for many years even after he reached the age of ninety.In their different ways they each gave dedicated support to the society & we miss them all.

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ALLOTMENTS & GARDEN COMPETITIONS

THE GARDEN LOVERS CUP

Awarded for the best garden.Size is not important & the competition is about ordinary gardens,not show places

MCGLADDERY CUP

Awarded for the best allotment.Vegetables only will be judged

LOVEGROVE CUP

Awarded for the second best allotment

FRANCIS & FRANCES HALL CUP

Awarded for the best bed of onions in allotment or garden.Not exceeding 100’ run

ENTRIES FOR THESE COMPETITIONS TO BE MADE BY 12TH JULY TO MRS L SMETHURST – 020 8529 227

DID YOU KNOW?

Annuals are the most attractive flowers of all for bees because they ooze nectar. .

Peonies contain toxic chemicals which deter most pests .

Daffodils produce their flower spikes by Christmas & the bud waits for warmer temperatures before emerging.