May Meeting 2014 - What will grow in my garden?

Our meeting on May 14th 2014 was addressed by Mrs Alison Marsden, who spoke on the topic "What will grow in my garden?".   She gave an concise run-down on the factors that affect plants, and which determine the species that will and will not thrive in different situations.  The key factors include oxygen and carbon dioxide from the air, the type of soil, how damp it is, its acidity, and the climate of the area.

Although most of us grow on good old Hurst Green clay, we did discover that this type of soil has its advantages, as it will retain nutrients and moisture well.  We also found out that, while some plants prefer acid or alkaline soil, this factor actually makes it easier for the plant to absorb certain minerals that it needs, and that it is sometimes possible to grow plants suitable for one type of soil in another, if the minerals that it requires are instead artificially kept available for the plant.  As an example, rhododendrons prefer acid soil as it enables them to process iron, which they need to thrive - but you can grow rhododendrons and azaleas in less acid soil if sequestered iron is added religiously, to make up for the "wrong" type of soil.