We have a members’ shop ‘The Seed Box’ where we try to stock useful items including seeds, tools and chemicals at very competitive prices. There is a library and a small range of loan equipment.

We also run shows and organise an annual quiz.

How to find us

The Seed Box is situated behind the Flitwick Leisure Centre on Steppingley Road.

Seed Box Opening Hours

Tuesday	6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. (Feb to the end of May only)
Friday	7.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. (Feb to Nov)
Saturday	2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. (Feb to Nov)

Telephone

Outside of these hours you can always leave a message for us on the answering machine on 01525 717289

Email addresses

General enquiries etc.	enquiries@flitwickgardeners.co.uk
Newsletter	newsletter@flitwickgardeners.co.uk

Web site address

Web site

www.flitwickgardeners.co.uk

Current Committee Members

Executive Committee
J-P. R. Carter	Chairman and Show Committee
Colin Stennett	Secretary and Show Secretary
Dave Pateman	Treasurer
Jim Godden	Trading Secretary and Deputy Chairman
Syd Pye
Laurie Arnold	Seeds and Deputy Trading Secretary
Cliff White	Show Committee
Sandra Ridgeway	Membership Secretary and Rota Co-ordinator
Jonathan Wilde	Publications Officer
Jane Fisher	Deputy Secretary and Show Committee

Show Committee
Dave Empson Kath Stennett Ian Holman

Honorary Life Members:
Dave Empson, John Farmer, John Lintern, Linda Pitts, Dougie Rees, Cliff White

Chit chat from the Chair

So, here we are again; Summer has gone and Autumn is upon us; the time when all the hard work of a difficult year comes to fruition. That's the joy (?) of gardening – we never can forecast with certainty the weather for the seasons ahead – and Spring this year certainly tested us, but Summer made up for it and I was pleased by the effort put in by those who exhibited at the Annual Show. Congratulations to the winners, especially to the first timers. If they can do it why can't you?

It is disappointing when the membership in general could do so much more to make the hard work worthwhile for those of us who arrange events for the members. It’s not only us either, the judges travel from far and wide to be at our Show. I know what it means to go to an event and then be faced with a less than inspiring display but thankfully it’s usually the other way round. I am always amazed by the support children get from their parents.

Here we have a recently introduced class for children/grandchildren of members of five radishes, the easiest of vegetables to grow and the entries were... YOU'VE GUESSED IT. The same applies to the self-explanatory Novice classes organised especially for anyone who has never won a first prize.

There is a chance for you to redeem yourselves however; the Autumn Show is coming up soon. It’s a fun event where the biggest, heaviest and longest are displayed; it doesn't matter what they look like, it’s size that matters. So, look at the schedule in this magazine and then decide that this is the time you will enter. After all you never know what it’s like until you try it.

See lots of you at the Show hopefully,

J-P. R. Carter

Chairman

FGA Hyde Hall trip

So here we are behind the Leisure Centre, cars parked, coach arrives, all on board and off we go. M1 – M25 – A12 – a few smaller roads and up the road to the Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Hyde Hall. Weather fine. The lady from the shop comes onto the coach, gives us a brief introduction on the main areas to look at, issues entry tickets, then café for coffee, if you like, and in you go. Up the hill to the main area for the plants split into several gardens. I had two favourites:

· First the Australian garden being re-planted and still establishing. It will be interesting to see in a couple of years.

· Then the dry garden, absolutely fantastic, lots of ideas, may be very pertinent over the next few years.

Look back down the hill, wow! How much fuller the car park is now, but there is no sign of crowds, this is a big site with room for many more areas if the RHS ever decide to. The top of the hill is all about buildings with the café, good drinks and the food we saw looked excellent and prices were very reasonable.

So now to the veg bit. This is effectively one of the RHS gardeners own family veg plot. As such it was less manicured than the plots at Wisley and more interesting for that. This was obviously a worked and cropped veg. garden with empty bits waiting for digging and even a few weeds, just like my plot.

So down the hill to the park benches to eat our lunch and drink our drinks, and wow, it is nice to be in the sunshine. Bit of a final look round and off to the nursery area, excellent plants and not bad prices. This is my weakness and out came the dreaded card to pay. To the café and a coffee, wander over to the coach and ask if we could drive round to the nursery or should we walk over with our plants. The driver drove round and opened the luggage area for the plants, not just us thank goodness. All aboard, smaller roads – M25 – M1 – Flitwick - back of Leisure Centre all off except the one lady for whom the driver offered a lift back to Toddington. Bye! Bye! Bus!

I had a good day and I hope everyone else did too. I could not visit Hyde Hall once or twice every year as we do Wisley but it was a great day out and we will probably go there again in a few years to see how it has developed.

So what’s on for next year? Watch the magazine, you never know.

Jim Godden

Trading Secretary

2014 Photography Classes

Below are the photography classes for the 2014 Annual Show:

103 – Near

104 – Far

105 – High

106 – Low

For the children’s photography class the subject is ‘My Friend’.

Membership Renewals

The membership subscription is valid from 1 January until 31 December. If you renew your membership subscription before we close for the winter, you will still be able to make purchases at Newbury Farm Plants, Silsoe where we have an agreement for a 10% discount on plants upon production of your current membership card.

Sandra M Ridgway

Membership Secretary

Annual Show 2013

Yet another stunning show making the hall a sight to behold with exhibits in the majority of classes. Fine weather for most of the summer and on the day of the show meant not only were we able to set up the hall for the show in the dry, people were able to get out and pick items for the show that had been growing so well. It wasn’t just the vegetable and flower classes that were a joy to behold but also the home produce, handicrafts and photographic classes.

The hall was packed with people looking around after the judging was finished and thoroughly enjoying the homemade cakes that were also on sale. Quite a lot of interest was shown by members who had not entered any of our shows before, hopefully they will do in the future, and there was a general interest in the FGA from people who are currently not members.

Some of the classes that had very few, if any, exhibits were for the novice vegetable and flower classes which is again disappointing given the number of members we’ve got in the FGA and who would be able to enter these classes. A novice for these classes is primarily someone who has never won a class in the main vegetable or flower section of the show, so please next year why not give it a try, and enter other classes as well.

Thanks to everyone that helped with the running of the show, made refreshments and lunches for the judges, donated raffle prizes and especially to those that entered exhibits into the show.

Colin Stennett

Show Secretary

Trading Report Autumn 2013

By the time you read this we will not only have bulbs and autumn sown onions in stock, but I hope we will have sold quite a few.

This year I am getting all our autumn bulbs from Spalding Auction house. As we will not be going until two days after writing this I have no idea what we will have. I do guarantee some narcissi, tulips and hyacinths for Christmas but what else depends entirely on what attracts us when we are there. Please come to the Seed Box and have a look as the more we sell, the less wastage we get and the better for us all. Our prices will, as always, be the best we can do.

Whilst on the matter of future items, I’m ordering the potatoes and onions for next year any time now, possibly this evening. The wholesale prices of these have risen dramatically this year and I’ve minimised the price rise the best I can, but this is totally out of my hands. A few years ago I introduced the 10 seed pack for some potatoes. Following the initial success, I extended it to all varieties except the specials and I am delighted to say that success continued. I’m now able to reduce our order slightly which should make a bit more space available in the Seed Box when they are delivered. I have also added a new variety of onion this year ‘Snowball’. I stumbled across a pack of white onions in a supermarket ‘bargain’ bin and had such a good crop that I thought I’d offer us all the chance to try these.

The order form for potatoes and onions is on the back pages of this magazine. Please come and order as soon as possible to ensure you get what you want. For all orders received before the end of trading (30 November) I will do my utmost to ensure we can meet your requirements.

In the Summer Trading Report I promised to report back on the Chempak onion fertiliser. Well my onions this year were possibly my best ever, I know this is not a very scientific test! As this fertiliser has sold well, I’d be more than interested in any other feedback on how good your onions were this year.

As always, I would appreciate any other observations on any products we sell. Equally now is a very good time to ask me to get a product you recommend to FGA members or would like to be available in the Seed Box (no guarantees but it always helps me).

Any time now I will be starting the bulk orders for next year. Generally this starts with the composts, then own pack and finally the rest. I’m always saying that if you have a need for something specific or a lot of something we sell, ask me and I can order it and often offer a considerably cheaper price for your bulk purchase. Now is the ideal time to ask as I can add it to the bulk order and get the absolutely best terms. Even if you want a complete pallet of compost, for instance, I can offer a discount.

This year we tried stocking Clover Professional. I’ve been able to compare my normal compost (Clover 4 for 3) and the professional alongside each other same plants, same day, same feeding, etc., and there is a definite early advantage to the Professional and it is considerably heavier which must be good for patio pots. I shall certainly be using Clover Professional for most of my season long growing next year but continue to recommend the ordinary Clover for all seed and cutting use.

As I’m writing this we have nearly run out of ‘normal’ Clover and will be looking at which other compost we may want to clear out, discounts are possible. Whilst mentioning compost, I apologise that I seriously misjudged the amount of New Horizon grow bags we would sell this year and we ran out very early. This was actually due to not being able to justify a direct delivery from Bowers and having to buy the ordinary grow bags at warehouse prices, hence the New Horizon grow bags were very competitively priced. Rest assured I will be ordering New Horizon grow bags next year and hope to have enough.

I was rather disappointed at the take up of our offer of Hative Du Niort shallots for a new class in the Annual Show. However those who did take the shallots did show and I hope they will all be using some of this years’ shallots to grow some for next year. I have a few more than I need and will be making my spares available in an attempt to expand on the initial success of this new class. It would be appreciated if anyone else with excess shallots would make them available via the Seed Box, just bring in any excess and I will package them up to be available in December.

Don’t forget that we should have Dobies and T&M catalogues that you can take home to browse and then order your seed via FGA and receive significant discounts (40% in 2013) on your purchases. Don’t forget that the FGA show has classes for flowers and growing them from seed can cost 40% less than not much, and would help to develop the flower display at our Annual Show. Overall, showing veg and flowers is not difficult, sow them, grow them bring them along and we will help you show them, easy!

I did ask what you all thought of our opening hours. To date I’ve had exactly zero feedback so I assume our hours are suitable to members.

Whilst on this, we always need volunteers in particular to assist on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons with operating the counter, carrying out compost, etc. to member’s cars and on delivery day, this year 13 December. Also if you can count we will be stocktaking on Saturday 7 December from about 9.00 am until finished.

Finally please note that in December and January we do not officially open, but as we have a lot of sorting and weighing to do we may be in the Seed Box on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons but cannot guarantee it. Our last official day of trading will be Saturday 30 November and our first official day of trading next year will be Saturday 1 February.

So now you turn to the back of this magazine, order your potatoes and onions, bring your order along to the Seed Box and pay a small deposit or the full amount. Whilst there make sure you renew your membership for next year and pick up the seed catalogues you want (assuming they have arrived by then).

Happy Gardening

Jim Godden

Trading Secretary

FGA Quiz – 24 October

Why not get a team of 4 together and come along to the FGA quiz which will be held on Thursday 24 October in the Village Hall. Doors open at 7.30pm for a prompt start at 8.00pm. The entry fee is £12 per team and covers the cost of the Quiz plus a light supper and raffle tickets for each member of the team.

Please tell us if you wish to join in so that we can be sure to get the catering right. For further details or to register an entry contact Dave Empson on 01525 718145 or myself either on 01525 716982 or by email colin_online@thestennetts.co.uk

Colin Stennett

Show Secretary

Free while stocks last!

This year we are again giving away daffodil bulbs (with a pot, bulb fibre and a set of growing instructions) to under 16s who are the children of members for growing on through the winter and early spring to be exhibited at the Spring Show next year. We are using the same variety as in the previous couple of years as they have proved to be very successful.

These bulbs are FREE so let’s encourage the next generation of gardeners. To claim, please collect from the Seed Box – provided the rush is not too great and they have not all gone – and don’t forget to bring them along to the Spring Show.

The children also proved to be very good at growing onions, there was a great display at the Annual Show. So we are definitely giving away onion sets for children to grow next year and will have them available for collection when members collect their own potato and onion orders, or from the Seed Box in February.

AUTUMN SHOW SCHEDULE – Saturday 5^th October 2013

FLITWICK VILLAGE HALL

SHOW RULES

The rules of the annual show shall apply throughout the show, with the exception

of Rule 2. An Exhibitor may show up to 2 entries per class in the autumn show.

Entries to be made at the show.

Children may enter any class, where their entry will be judged as a

children’s class.

Staging to be between 1 pm and 2 pm.

Judging to be between 2 pm and 3 pm.

Public admitted 3 pm – No admission charge.

SCHEDULE

CLASS

HEAVIEST AND LONGEST

	1	Heaviest Marrow
	2	Heaviest Onion
	3	Heaviest Beetroot
	4	Heaviest Carrot
	5	Heaviest Cabbage
	6	Heaviest Potato
	7	Heaviest Tomato
	8	Longest Runner Bean
	9	Largest Sunflower Head
	10	Heaviest Parsnip
	11	Smallest Ripe Tomato
	12	Freak Vegetable

VEGETABLES

	13	Five Potatoes - White - One variety
	14	Five Potatoes - Other than white - One variety
	15	One Cauliflower
	16	Three Carrots
	17	Two Leeks
	18	Two Parsnips
	19	Five Tomatoes
	20	Any other Vegetable – 2 or more items

NSALG Trophy – most points in Vegetable classes

FLOWERS

	21	Three Chrysanthemums - Spray stems
	22	Three Dahlias - Cactus or Semi-cactus
	23	Three Dahlias - Decorative
	24	Three Dahlias - Ball
	25	Three Dahlias - Pompon
	26	Three Roses – any variety
	27	One Pot Plant - Flower
	28	One Pot Plant - Foliage
	29	One Pot of Alpine
	30	One Vase of Flowering Shrub
	31	One Vase of a single variety of Annual, Biennial or Perennial
	32	One Vase of Mixed Annuals, Biennials or Perennials

Cliff White Trophy – Best exhibit in Flower classes

FRUIT

	33	Four Apples - Dessert
	34	Four Apples - Cooking
	35	Four Pears
	36	Nine Soft Fruit
	37	A Bunch of Grapes
	38	Any other fruit, including nuts, not mentioned above

PUMPKINS

	40	Heaviest Pumpkin
	41	Decorated / Carved Pumpkin - children

Flitwick Gardeners’ Association

Telephone - 01525 – 717289 (24 hour answerphone)

Pre Season Potato and Onion Sets Order Form - 2014

Name ............................................…………………………………………

Address .......................……….........................................………………...

…………………………………. Telephone .....………..........................

F.G.A. Membership Number ....…….....

Please reserve the following packs of Seed Potatoes and Onion sets for me when they are delivered

Orders handed in by the end of Dec 2013 will be telephoned to advise when they are ready for collection.

Number of Packs Variety 3 Kg (10) Total Cost

3kg 10 seed

“First Earlies” (3 Kg)

........... ………… Duke of York (RED) £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Epicure £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Foremost £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Pentland Javelin £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Maris Bard £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Rocket (EARLY) £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Swift (VERY EARLY) £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Vanessa £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Winston £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

“Second Earlies” (3 Kg)

........... ………… Charlotte £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Kestrel £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Marfona £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Wilja £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

“Main Crop” (3 Kg)

........... ………… Cara £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Desiree £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Estima £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… King Edward £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Majestic £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Maris Piper £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Pentland Crown £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Picasso £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Romano £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

........... ………… Sarpo Mira £ 3.25 (£1.50) .........

“10 seed packs”

................ Anya (Salad) £ 2.15 .........

................ Osprey £ 2.15 .........

................ Pink Fir Apple (Salad) £ 2.15 .........

................ International Kidney £ 2.15 .........

“Onion Sets and Shallots”

........... Golden Gourmet Shallots (0.5 Kg) £ 1.50 .........

........... Red Sun Shallots (0.5 Kg) £ 1.50 .........

……… Snowball (white) Onion Sets (0.5 Kg) £ 1.40 ……..

........... Sturon Onion Sets (0.5 Kg) £ 1.40 .........

........... Stuttgarter Onion Sets (0.5 Kg) £ 1.40 .........

........... Red Baron Onion Sets (0.5 Kg) £ 1.40 .........

____________ Total Due £...................

+ Total number of packs

_spud____sets__ Less Deposit Paid £ ................... (Minimum Deposit 50p per pack)

BALANCE DUE £ ....................

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For F.G.A. use

Telephoned …………………………