Kinver Horticultural Society

Following the talk by Robert Barlow, lots of us went home with bags full of luscious Hosta plants and, hopefully the secrets of how to grow them well. Robert has turned what had been a hobby into a thriving business after being made redundant from his job in the automotive industry. Starting with a handful of plants that he started to split in 2010 he now has 300 varieties and over 4,000 plants in stock and holds Gold and Silver medals to RHS standard. His wife lovingly describes his passion as ‘an obsession’!

His tips – when planting in pots Ericacious compost is best mixed 10/1 sharp sand. Feed around April and June but never after the end of July – he likened this practice to us going to bed with a strong coffee as the plants will be deterred from hibernation. On the topic of slugs, he said most plants have enemies be it greenfly or beetles buy there are around 2,000 slugs or snails in a square meter of ground with an eye on your hostas - so trouble is never far away. Tips to avoid damage 1. Keep the garden tidy. 2. Encourage predators, especially song thrushes and hedgehogs. 3. Other options are nematodes, (but the conditions must be right for them), gravel, eggshells, coffee grounds, beer traps - but with a sugar solution in them, otherwise it’s a waste of good beer) and garlic water. One very effective thing is to put down newspaper at night and take it up in the morning with an inevitable collection of slugs on the underside. He uses slug pellets but says they should be broadcast thinly, (slug pellets attract slugs so the last place you want them is encircling your prize plants), and make a date to use them on Valentines Day which is the best time of the year! One of our members, a huge Hosta fan, commented that organic slug pellets work a treat for her.

Finally, we were told that Hostas are edible. They are considered quite a delicacy in the Far East!

Competition winners: - Flowering Shrub: Ingrid Caras-Altas, Geraldine Woodisse.

Flower of the Month:1. Jean Oliver, Ingrid Caras-Altas, Jean Oliver.

The next meeting is at 7.30pm on July 28 at St Peter's Church Hall, Vicarage Drive, Kinver when Dr Michael Leach, wildlife photographer, explorer and writer will be entertaining us with 'Animals Behaving Badly'. Visitors very welcome kinverhorti.org.uk