Nursery Owner Carol Gubler came to the Elstead Garden Club and gave an informative talk on the growing and care of Fuchsias. With her parents she acquired two acres of derelict ground at Ash Green in 1979 and the premises opened as a Fuchsia nursery in 1986.

Carol, who is also a girl guider and commissioner, delighted the audience with her enthusiasm. The nursery grows approximately 500 different species of the plant, from very small to very large size.

Fuchsias are a very useful plant and can be grown in pots, tubs, and hanging baskets as well as the garden. The more hardy varieties can be grown out of doors as shrubs but even then this will depend upon the  location and position in the garden. They can also be trained as a standard.

CUTTINGS

Pinch out the shoots below a node; take off side leaves but leaving the top bud and first pair of two side leaves; make the cutting to give a plant length of about 1 inch and plant it into damp compost. Roots should start to grow in about two weeks.
Another method is to push the cuttings into small cubes of Oasis (one per cube), keep the Oasis damp and when roots appear, plant the whole cube into compost; do not try to separate the plant from the Oasis as you will damage the roots.

When the plants are approx 1' 5" high you must decide whether to grow the plant on as a bushy plant or a 'standard'.  For a bush, pinch out the growing tip about three times to encourage the plant to bush out. It should flower between eight and ten weeks later.

For a standard plant, take out the growing tip when the height is achieved, then pinch out the side shoots on the stem leaving a number of side shoots at the top of the plant. Protect the woody stem in Autumn and winter with pipe lagging which can be split along its length to enable it to be put on the stem and, to be sure of the plant surviving, over winter it in the green house.

HANGING BASKETS.

Carol suggested planting up several plants of one species only to produce a spectacular display. This will ensure that the plants flower at the same time and will be of uniform height.

COMPOST AND FEEDING

When cuttings have produced roots pot them up in a peat or part peat compost. In the experience of our guest speaker they don't do well in peat free products. Water them well and feed a liquid fertiliser. In the summer use a slow release fertiliser pellet in pots which saves time with the extra watering if you use a liquid fertiliser..

HARDY FUCHSIAS

Plant out the fuchsias at the end of May, beginning of June to avoid any late frosts (they are not that hardy). Plant in a hole bigger and deeper than the plant and water in well, feeding and watering regularly. Do not trim the plant back in Autumn but earth it up to protect the plant. Don't cut the plant back in the first year but spring feed to encourage growth.

The next meeting of The Garden club is on March 13^th at the URC hall at 7.45 pm. when Mr Patton will tell us how to grow for the Kitchen. New members and visitors are welcome. The spring show will be on March 25^th at the Village Hall at 2.0 pm.