Mick Poultney, a Black Country gardener and member of Cradley Gardening Club and the National Vegetable Society, was the guest at the February meeting.

He is well known for his composting skills and is a qualified NVS judge.

He admitted that some of his methods of composting were unconventional. He sometimes spends a penny on the compost heap because “Nitrogen is a brilliant activator for the compost”. He grows all manner of fruit and vegetables using his magic compost and makes his own pickled onions, beetroot and jams.

His advice was to keep the compost moist so that the material breaks down, shred all newspaper only using black and white print. Turn the compost every week and the worms will also help it to break down. He added that these were ”bostin” items.

It was important to keep the bins cool, use eggshells, tea leaves, egg boxes, grass cuttings and spent coffee grounds. Good things to add to the compost were kelp tablets, soil from molehills, dried leaves, and worm casts. Do not add lemons, oranges or onions. The compost heap will bring rich rewards as it is low cost and environmentally friendly.

Chairman Derek Walker had brought the potted hardy polyanthus plants for members to grow on at home.

His advice was to keep them in a sheltered position outside and keep them moist. Bring them in for three weeks under cover to encourage blooms for the Spring Show.

The next meeting will be today with Bob Brown, from Cotswold Garden Flowers, speaking on ‘Too Many Plants – Too Little Space’ at the Mercure Hotel.

The society has arranged coach trips to Burghley at Stamford in Lincolnshire on May 19 to meet up with Michael Ecob and an evening visit to The Bannut Garden at Bromyard on Wednesday, June 12.

There is also a planned trip to the Dorothy Clive Garden at Willoughbridge and Hodnet Hall gardens at Market Drayton on June 30. Tickets are still available.