Alers Road Allotments

02/09/2026

Autumn Planting Bulbs

Onions, 🧅 Garlic 🧄 , Daffodils 🌼 Hyacinths 🪻

I’m pleased to say that the above are now in and orders are ready for collection.

However the Fondant Hyacinths have not yet arrived, and I hope to receive them next week.

Even though the Fondant aren’t here it would help me greatly if everyone who has placed an order could collect them from the respective stores as soon as possible, as you can imagine that they are taking up so much space in the shops. Both shops are open on Sunday.

Church Road Open 10.00 to 12.00

Alers Road Open 10.30 to 12.00

If you haven’t placed an order there are spares of most items but it would be a help if you delayed coming for a week to allow us to process the orders.

Regards

John

John Hollands – Chairman Bexleyheath and District Horticultural Society

15/08/2026

Just a reminder that the Bexleyheath and District Horticultural Society show is on:

Saturday 5th September 2026

Take a look at the Full Schedule:https://bexleyheathhorticulturalsociety.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Show-Schedule-26.pdf



A paper copy is available at both stores. Do make every effort to enter – there are Novice classes for anyone who hasn’t won in a previous show. There are now a number of Craft, Photographic and Flower Arranging classes all with free entry – so have a good look at the schedule and decide which you can enter.

Remember it’s an ‘Open’ show so your friends and neighbours can enter even if they aren’t members.

Memories from 2026 show:

29/07/2026

27/07/2026

Last chance to order your Autumn bulbs!
🧅 🧄 🌼
All orders must be returned by this Thursday the 30th July the latest!

03/07/2026

🪴Message from Bexleyheath and District Horticultural Society:

Autumn Planting Bulbs 🌷

Onions/Garlic/Tulips/Daffodils/Hyacinths
🧅 🧄 🌷 🌼🪻

As in previous years I’m ordering Autumn planting bulbs. See below for the different types.

An Order form can be downloaded here:

https://bexleyheathhorticulturalsociety.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Autumn-Bulb-Order-Order-Form.xlsx

Orders must be received by 31st July.

I always acknowledge orders – so if you don’t receive an acknowledgement please contact me.

I hope to have spares of all varieties – but I can’t guarantee this. To make sure you get your requirements please place an order.

Onion Sets – Two types this year:

Tornado – This has strong flavour and good keeping qualities. It is the first of all the autumn planting onions to mature.

🧅 Blood Red – Autumn Planting red onion

🧄 Garlic - Germidour - A soft-neck variety that’s best planted in the Autumn and allowed to over-winter

🌷Tulips – Three Varieties

Queen of Night – Almost black, ordered again this year due to its popularity

Caractere – Bright Red

Blushing Apeldoorn – Golden with a red vein twinge

🌼Daffodils – Two Varieties

🌼Dutch master – Traditional Yellow style

🌼Sir Winston Churchill – Fancy White/Yellow Narcissi style

🪻Hyacinths – Three Varieties

Fondant – Pink

Blue Delft – Blue

Carnegie – Brilliant White

16/06/2026

Having trouble growing Cobra/French Beans this year?🫘

🪴Sowing indoors usually produces better germination rates, gives the plants a head start, and keeps them out of reach of slugs and snails🐌 until larger and more robust.
Use small pots or trays of deep modules filled with moist peat-free multi-purpose compost .
Sow one bean 🫘 in each, 5cm (in) deep. Place in a propagator or on a warm, sunny ☀️ windowsill to germinate.

Let us know how you get on! 🪴

RHS link below for more information:

Get growing French beans, with expert advice on choosing, sowing, planting, care and harvesting

30/05/2026

Tent Caterpillar 🐛 🐛🐛

There is an infestation of Tent Caterpillars on site. They attack fruit trees – particularly apples. Please see the photo below to help you identify the problem and a link to a site that gives more information.

If you have this on any of your trees – cut off immediately and dispose of offsite. (Brown Bin)

https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/disease-and-pests/tent-caterpillars/


Thank you

12/05/2026

🪴Free private tour of Arthurs Garden at Coolings Rushmore Hill 🪴

Bexleyheath and District Horticultural Society
recently visited Coolings and enjoyed a guided tour of their nursery where they grow about 90% of the plants they sell. I’ve received this invitation from them for another potential tour:

Dear John and Bexleyheath and District Horticultural society

Thank you very much for attending our Nursery Tour. We hoped you enjoyed your trip behind the scenes.

During the tour we mentioned about another tour we have available at Coolings and thought we would share these details with you, as your group mentioned they might be interested.

Arthurs Garden Tours - Just as you did for the nursery tours we can book you in for a free private tour around Arthurs garden with Alice our Head Gardener who is responsible for planning and maintaining the display gardens, beds and borders at Coolings Rushmore Hill, over one and a half acres in total. We have many dates available in July.
Many thanks,

Phoebe Parr

Events Co-Ordinator

I’m happy to organise a visit for this tour if enough members are interested. I’d suggest a Friday morning (as was the nursery tour) but will need to understand their availability.

If you’re interested please let me know and as long as we have sufficient numbers I’ll arrange.



Lady Isabella’s Plantation

I’m very sorry to say that this visit will not now be happening. I visited the plantation last week as a trial run and found that the majority of the Azaleas that it’s famous for were well past their best. My original information was the best time to visit was late May-early June. This was obviously not correct and as such a visit wouldn’t be worthwhile. I’ll sort something out for next year and make sure we visit at the optimum time.

Best Regards

John

John Hollands – Chairman

18/04/2026

🪴Free educational trip to Coolings Nursery 🪴
Friday 24th April, 10:45
Coolings - The Gardener’s Garden Centre
Rushmore Hill, Knockholt, Kent, TN14 7NN

We will be given a guided tour of their nursery where they grow the majority of the plants they sell. We last visited two years ago and it was an informative and entertaining visit.

There are spaces available to join the visit.

I’ll do my best to organise Car-Share.

If you haven’t already booked please let me know if you’d like to join the trip as I need to give Coolings numbers of participants.

Best Regards

John

John Hollands – Chairman Bexleyheath and District Horticultural Society