Gardeners Question Time Tips

Dawlish Transition Gardener’s question time with Toby Buckland, Shirley Tamblyn and Jo Hooper


What is a good way to grow apple trees?
An interesting way is as a fruit hedge with a different variety every few feet.
Adam’s Apples can give advice on the varieties to grow.
Plants for the future: pfaf.org have good database for planting information.


Cox Orange Pippin are a good variety to grow but they can be prone to scab. In this area in the past cider apples were grown as this was not so much of a problem. One way to counteract this is to spray with seaweed foliar feed.

How do you get fruit trees off to a good start in containers?
50% John Innes and 50% multi purpose peat free compost will provide well for fruit trees in containers.
Blueberry bushes need acidic soil, and as with all berry crops don’t forget to net to protect from birds.
Most berry plants enjoy higher levels of rainfall to crop well.
Cranberries need acidic soil conditions and high levels of rainfall for a good September crop.


Growing food as a beginner – where should I start?
Grow veg. you like. Salad leaves like rocket are an easy place to start. Many veg. can be grown in containers if not much space is available; even carrots can be grown in pots.


It is a good idea to get children involved to spur the family on with crops like runner beans- pick young and tender,


Swap produce with other people to give more variety,


During hot weather a watering system is essential with rain butts, however even waste washing water can be used in times of drought.


Which food plants are particularly suited to growing in our local climate?
Brassicas are an ideal cliff top plant- cover with fleece to keep aphids off when young then harden off with full light access.
Chard is also a good tasty plant to grow.
Pak Choi and Joy Choi Chinese greens will thrive as long as the ground is moist.
Autumn planted cabbages appreciate a dressing of garden lime. It is always good to know the acidity level of your soil. West Country compost is very alkaline and can be used as a mulch for cabbages.


Peas are another food plant that love lots of water- it is essential to keep them moist as they do not like drought conditions. An easy way to grow them is in guttering with end stops. It is best to plant them in April or May. By moonlight is also said to be an auspicious planting time if trying out biodynamic gardening methods.


Beans grow well in a trench lined with compost with an organic mulch.


Sweet Potatoes- the easiest way is to grow them in a polytunnel. They like to have warm roots so grow through black plastic to warm the soil. You can order chits from nurseries or start your own off in an airing cupboard.


Potatoes are best grown from seed potatoes to avoid disease. They do not like frosts so plant out after that. They can also be grown successfully in tubs in a green house.


Jerusalem Artichokes are a dependable plant to grow. They are a useful soup ingredient, and a member of the sunflower family so they can be grown to a height of 7 to 8 feet to act as a windbreak. However they can be invasive.


When is the best time to plant?
There will be times of glut and famine depending on the weather and soil conditions. It is important to make a plan for successional crops. A crop of planted F1 seeds will all tend to mature at once. Plant in small quantities and different varieties. Be aware of the hungry gap after Christmas.


What sort of fertiliser would you recommend?
Seaweed collected from the beach is a useful natural fertiliser. Collect after a rain storm if possible as the longer it lies there the more salty it will be. It is especially good around brassicas, asparagus and under potato plants.


How to grow healthy courgettes?
If courgettes are rotten in the ends then the ground or the air has been too moist. Keep pests at bay with a dressing of seaweed. Prevent Club root by growing rhubarb alongside- due to the effects of its oxalic acid.

Garden Share rejuvenates Westcliff Primary School

Dawlish Transition have set up a garden share with Westcliff Primary School to rejuvenate their garden.

We started work on the 5th May when the garden looked like this:












and by the end of the day it looked like this and we even managed to salvage some raspberry plants

A couple of working visits later the plot is planted up with potatoes, onions, celeriac, runner beans, tomatoes, courgettes, fennel, borage and chives.

We also moved the water butt and rigged up a plastic bottle to collect rain water from the green house roof.

If you would like to help out or want to know more about Garden Share  please email us at
dawlishtransition@gmail.com

Seedling Swap on Sat 26th May 2012, 9.30-11am

Dawlish Transition are holding a Seedling Swap on Saturday  26th May 2012, 9.30-11 am outside the URC, The Strand, Dawlish as part of  Delicious Dawlish - growing food anywhere and everywhere.

Bring along your spare vegetable seedlings to exchange or buy young food plants for sale at bargain prices.

“Delicious Dawlish” launch Thursday 8th March

Dawlish Transition “Delicious Dawlish” launch

Thursday 8th March, 7pm, The White Room, South Devon Inn, Strand Hill, Dawlish

We are holding a social and information evening to help everyone reduce costs by growing food in whatever space is available. Toby Buckland, well known as a presenter on BBC Garden Live and a local online garden nursery owner, will be talking about growing edible plants anywhere and everywhere. This will follow a short film about the successful “Incredible Edible Todmorden” initiative. The group is hoping that experienced and new gardeners will come along and be involved in a seed swap and put their gardening questions to Toby Buckland and a panel of local experts

Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the ‘Delicious Dawlish’ evening at the South Devon Inn on Thursday March 8th from 7pm. Places can be booked by calling 01626 862063. Entry costs just £1 per person, all welcome.