June 2022 Newsletter 

Things to do this month

 1. Thin out apples to get a better crop later on: leave one dessert apple per cluster, every 10cm (4in) or one cooker every 15cm  (6in)

 2. Begin feeding tomatoes and potted flowers with a high potassium food (Tomatorite etc.)

 3. Take softwood cuttings of: -

     Anthemis, Aubretia, Buddleja, Fuschia, Hydrangea, Lavandula, Lavatera, Osteospernum, Pelargonium, Penstemon, Salvia, etc.

    Collect the cuttings early in the morning and put them straight into a polythene bag

    Trim the base of the cutting to just below a leaf node, leaving 5 - 10 cm (2  - 4in)

    Remove the lowest leaves

    Use a moisture retentive cutting compost (add 50% perlite or vermiculite to an ordinary compost)

    Cover the cuttings with a plastic bag to retain moisture, place in a propagator or on a windowsill, but out of direct sunlight

    The cuttings should root in two to four weeks    

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Places to visit

 The Lovell Qunita Arboretum

 Swettenham Lane, Swettenham, nr Congleton, Cheshire CW12 2LF

 lovellquintarboretum.co.uk

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 Bluebell Cottage Gardens have a new walled garden and greenhouse open.

 Lodge Lane, Dutton, Nr Warrington WA4 4HP see www.bluebellcottage.co.uk

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 *Paul Pennington still has a range of tomatoes on sale to members. See the Tomato Plants page

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