Monday 9th July found my sister and I heading over to the Crafty Gardeners for a day of volunteering on their three allotment plots in Wolverhampton. For a little more information about this community interest company, why not take a look at Volunteering with the Crafty Gardeners.

Monday was all about helping with preparing plants for an up and coming event on the 27th July , where the Crafty Gardeners will be selling plants. When working with the group, I base my advice on questions I raise. Through discussion and explanation we come up with a solution , rather than me just saying “ this is how we do it “

My most frequent question when looking at plants the Crafty Gardeners have propagated for sale is “ would you buy this plant at a garden centre ? “ and I generally start off with “ well , I would if …” From this, we then think and talk about improvements we can easily make . For example having the plants ( where possible ) in the same sized and matching containers , topping up the level of compost if it is low in the pots , removing annual weeds from around the plant so that they look highly saleable.

Whilst checking through the plants, we often prune them back , which enables us to make more cuttings. With all the plants being grown in polytunnels on site , we need to think of various ways to minimise stress on the cuttings, as the polytunnels can get very hot. For example willow cuttings are just put into jars full of water , which is a really efficient to propagate. When taking cuttings such as salvias , we do this , it works really well. We fill the well with water, and just keep on topping it up to keep the soil damp, and within 3-4 weeks we have a rooted cutting ready for potting up. I propagate this way at home , and I also put a glass jar over the top, which keeps the humidity high , and reduces plant stress .

As the images below show, it was quite a warm day ( for once ). Sun hats and sun screen were applied and we set about preparing plants for resale.

Topping up with compost
What a team !

At lunch time , there was plenty of discussion about the Penn and District Horticultural Society Annual Show on the 27th July , and which categories people might enter. If my sister lived closer I know she would have entered several. You can see her perusing the show guide in the image below. I think I might enter the flower arrangement section .

I am planning to go and assist the Crafty Gardeners with plant sales on the day . With working as a member of the nursery propagation team at Wildegoose in Shropshire , it is always good to be able to talk to customers about how we propagate the plants, conditions they like and flowering time . With this in mind I am going to help the crafty gardeners gen up on all of these matters on the day . We are hoping for great sales !

This is my sister Louise and I , at the end of day with The Crafty Gardeners . It really was a great and very happy volunteering day , and I believe this image , expresses that really well. If you have enjoyed this blog , and like me you are a volunteer , why not contact me , I can then start to write about other horticultural community projects too .

And finally , maybe one of us ( i.e me ) might ask at the show, if one or two of the Crafty Gardeners could become guest judges for the next annual show, they really are such knowledgable gardeners .