Topsham Allotments and Gardens Society
Topsham Allotments and Gardens Society
Welcome to the website of Topsham Allotments and Gardens Society (TAGS).
We celebrated our 50th anniversary as society in 2017 and today we are a thriving group of more than 150 members who live mostly in Topsham or the surrounding area.
Our common interest is in gardens and gardening. While most members have gardens of all sizes or allotments or, indeed, both, membership is open to all with this interest. So, if you share this love of growing things, have a look at the benefits of TAGS Membership by clicking on the button below.
What's On
Sunday 4th May
SEED AND PLANT SWAP at the Trading Hut at Butts Park 10.30am-12noon. Bring any spare seeds, seedlings and plants to swap. Bring tea/coffee and enjoy a chat with other members.
Wednesday 11th June - OUTING BY COACH TO RHS ROSEMOOR
Leave Holman Way car park at 9.30am, The Nelson at 9.35am. Return Topsham at about 5.30pm. Tickets for coach and garden to cost £13 for TAGS members, £15 for non members.
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Gardens will be well on their way by April, so here are some of the things you could be doing, but do look out for late frosts:-
1. Sow
a new lawns and or repair bare patches
b Sweet Peas at the base of supports and transplant those sown last autumn into their final position.
c hardy annuals such as Love in the Mist, Marigolds and Wild flowers into gaps in borders
d outdoor varieties of Tomatoes, Chillies and Courgettes in pots undercover and plant out in May or June
e small batches of rocket and other salad leaves.
2.
a Enjoy instant colour by planting Primulas and Polyanthus at front of borders or on patio
b Plant second early and maincrop Potatoes
c Continue planting bare-root Asparagus crowns, Jerusalem Artichoke tubers, garlic, shallots and onions every few weeks to extend the cropping period
d When planting brassicas place cardboard collars around their stems to deter cabbage root fly from laying their eggs. Make sure they are firmly planted and consider staking brussels sprouts and broccoli so they don’t rock.
3. Divide clumps of hardy perennials such as hostas, rudbeckias and asters and replant. Divide clumps of herbs and replant in pots, borders or a herb bed.
4. Other care
a Protect new shoots of Hostas, Delphiniums, Lupins and other vulnerable plants from late frosts.
b Prune Hydrangeas (if not already done) by cutting back to healthy new shoots
c Pinch out tops of Broad Beans if they are covered in aphids or spray shoots with soap based solution
d Check tree stakes and make sure they are not cutting into the trunk. Loosen any tight ones.
A busy but exciting time ahead. ENJOY.
Pam Bush and Sue Parr, Garden Reps.
The Show Goes On!
We are delighted that Rosie Hanvey and Richard Carson have got together to be our Show Secretaries and they have already got things under way. Put Sunday August 17th in your diaries now!
The Photo and Poetry Competitions are going ahead and also the Children’s Classes in the main Show, all of which generated a lot of impressive entries.
However children, parents and grandparents may want to spend any wet half term days thinking about what they might make for the Children’s Classes and of course children can enter the Poetry Competition too. Full rules will be printed in next month’s Estuary.
And warm sunny days can be spend sowing, planting and weeding for entries for the main Show, as well as your own pleasure.
The classes are going to be:-
Children’s
• Jungle Fun.
• Rainbow Bunches
• Under the Sea
Photo Competition
- Garden View
- Plant Portrait
- Bugs and Blooms.
Poetry Competition
- The Secret Life of a Garden
The council has told us that the allotment fees from September 2023 to September 2024 are £8.35 per rod. Please mention it to your allotment neighbours just in case they don't see our various communications.
Ralph Hare, on behalf of the Site Managers
Details of what is involved are available and getting more involved with TAGS is a great way to widen your circle of friends and get involved in the community.
HELP WITH OUR MEMBERS OPEN GARDEN SCHEME
Also, as our activities continue to grow and improve, we are looking for a 3rd Garden Rep whose sole Job would be to organise 3-4 open gardens for each Spring and Summer for TAGS members only. You would liaise with our Social Sec's Stella and David and garden owners to help organise visits to their gardens, help provide and drink tea on the day and ensure things go smoothly!! For more info give Stella and David a call on 01392 877318. This may also involve biscuits!!
