What's Happening

We have greatly benefitted from the fantastic autumn weather this year, ensuring the summer salad crops kepy up their growth.

However, the first frost of the year has brought the courgettes and Dahlias to a sudden halt and suddenly the Patch is looking a little bare!

Our new chef’s Lee and Mark have really enjoyed using the produce from the garden and hopefully many of you have noticed the local, homegrown taste on your plates!

The tomatoes are being removed from their tunnel now and we shall be turning the green ones into chutney shortly.

We are now busy bringing in manure and compost which will be spread over the beds once they have been dug over to let the frost in.

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We are very pleased to be in the Visit Britain video.  It is a must see guide for families to enjoy a trip out in to the New Forest.  Click below on Visit Britain to watch the video.

Visit Britain

Volunteering

Why become a volunteer with us?

Working outdoors in Patrick's Patch and seeing just how successful the work put into it, is most rewarding.  Our Head Gardener is always willing to teach you how to sow, plant and grow fruit and vegetables and perhaps you can take these skills back into your garden. 

Maybe you have some tips that you could bring to us?

If you enjoy working with children we have local school visits which we would like assistance with. 

The rewards are plentiful and as visitors to the garden have said “it’s a unique place to visit”.

We are currently seeking volunteers to assist with many duties within the garden.

If you are interested and could spare a few hours a week please contact Lisa on

01590 612113 or

e-mail lisa@fairweathers.co.uk

Courses

FREE Patrick’s Patch Gardening Course

‘Seed Sowing Techniques’

with our expert Martin Perry from 10am to 12pm on Saturday 4th February.  This will be held inside the Garden Centre.

Demonstration of seed sowing, along with the types of compost available, explaining what and what not to use, and why. Also covered will be the differences between seeds and plugs, their advantages and disadvantages.

Other courses for 2012;

Early season plot preparation: - Saturday, March 3rd, 2012

Methods of warming the soil in preparation for early crops. Raking and leveling of plot. A guide to fertilizers, organic and inorganic and the plants reaction to them. Alternative methods of growing vegetables in tubs, raised beds etc.

Under glass and direct: - Saturday, April 14th, 2012

Reinforcement of previous two sessions, outdoor sowing as soil warms, protection from wildlife, preparation and demonstration of crop sowing direct to plot – differences explained between soil preparation for seeds and plugs and how to go about it – aftercare requirements

Watering, mulches, successional sowing and thinning: - Saturday, May 12th, 2012

A look at watering requirements of various crops, conserving water with mulches and weed control methods. A demonstration of successional sowing and thinning with the reasons behind why it is done.

Feed and diseases: - Saturday, June 9th, 2012

A look at the various methods of feeding the growing crops – folia feeds, home-made liquid feeds, chicken pellets etc. – looking for various pests and diseases and how to overcome them (or live with them) – any other transplanting demonstrated – weed control and general crop aftercare

Soft fruit: - Saturday, July 7th, 2012

A look at a range of soft fruit – cane and bush – and their planting, pruning, harvesting, feeding and aftercare requirements.

 Trained Top fruit: - Saturday, August 4th, 2012

An explanation of the rootstock system when purchasing trained top fruit – apples, pears etc. – their soil, feeding requirements, along with aftercare, such as why it is necessary to prune some trees in summer and some in winter.

Review of the vegetable year and winter crops: - Saturday, September 1st, 2012

A look at the successes and failures in Patrick’s Patch during the year and what contributory factors might have played their part in it. Also a look at crops that can still be grown in order to extend the growing season.

Know your soil: - Saturday, November 3rd, 2012

Workshop will run through a brief description of soil composition, soil texture, H20, air, pH, manures and other ameliorates plus micro-organisms, along with a guide to double, single and no-dig techniques.  Winter fruit tree pruning.