Kent Group Website

Auricula ‘fanciers’ were competing with their plants at Florists’ Feasts in Kent as long ago as 1736, when the first such event was held at the Three Kings in Deal.

In 2005, a few growers decided to revive the old custom locally, and formed the Kent Group of the National Auricula and Primula Society (Southern). Each year they put on a display which, as well as auriculas, also includes other primula types.

In 2008 we held our first show at one of our monthly meetings. This was so successful that from 2009 our Annual show is now an all day event.

The Group’s regular meetings are held at Sutton Valence Village Hall on Saturday mornings from 11am until 1pm. We attract speakers from all over the UK and further afield. We were proud to welcome Barnhaven Primroses from Brittany France for an all day event in October.

For more information about the Group – which particularly welcomes newcomers - please call 01797 344179 or email Suzanne@colinsuetrinity.plus.com

In 2012 the 5th Kent Group Auricula Show will be on Sunday, 29th April at the Village Hall, Sutton Valence, ME17 3HT.

NEWS UPDATE - LATE WINTER 2011

After the long cold periods in December and early January the first signs of Spring have arrived. I took a gamble and gave the auriculas their first feed of high nitrogen during the last weekend in January.

Primula allionii are looking good this year and are budding up really nicely.

Talking to a very good friend and exhibitor of European Primulas for over 50 years, he related his problems with botrytis this Winter. A high proportion of his plants have suffered from this debilitating complaint - healthy plants one day, next day large pieces showing tell-tale signs of botrytis.

In worst cases, once the rot has entered the crown, the plant has to be split, healthy sections cleaned and treated, and then inserted into trays of silver sand to root. But what to do to prevent this horrible affliction?? Caused by damp, still air.

Good ventilation is necessary, keeping the air moving with electric fans, daily inspection of your plants and spraying with a fungicide.Westland have entered the fungicide market with a product called Plant Rescue.
This solution is fine if you are at home all day, but if you have to go out to work your plants are in the lap of the gods. Perhaps the solution is to move to the top of a mountain. Suggestions on a postcard please. Still, it is all part of the joy and challenge of growing our favourite plants, if it was easy, it wouldn’t be worth doing.
Days are lengthening now, so it won’t be too long before we can spend a little time in the greenhouse after work, a wonderful way of winding down and taking your mind off the stresses and anxieties of your job.
If you don’t know the Standards and rules you are handicapped from the very start.
April of course is our annual show, so start selecting your best plants. It is great fun, lots of help is available on the day from the more experienced growers, and the thrill of winning your first prize card is indescribable. We want a bumper entry this year, so bring along at least one plant.

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NAPS Southern Section

A reminder to all Kent group members who are not yet members of the Southern Section. The £7 subscription represents superb value for money, and the benefits include a comprehensive yearbook to broaden your knowledge, access to some of the best growers in the country for help and advice, free entrance to all the shows at Great Bookham, and the opportunity to exhibit at all the Bookham shows. There’s also the AGM where you can hear from to two top speakers from the world of auriculas and primulas.

Please consider joining TODAY. Further details on the NAPS Southern website.

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SPRING FLOWER SHOW
The National Auricula & Primula Society
KENT GROUP 4th ANNUAL SHOW
SUNDAY 29TH APRIL, 2012
SUTTON VALENCE VILLAGE HALL
Sutton Valence,
Nr Maidstone ME17 3HT
Plant Sales and Refreshments
Public Admitted 2.30 p.m

ANDY KEMP

I started growing auriculas in 2003, hooked at first sight after seeing a picture in a book about small gardens. I first exhibited the following year at Saltford, which is only about four miles from my home. Since then I have won cards and trophies in the Shows, Alpines, Stripes and Doubles. So far I have four Premiers (one of which was given Premier of Premiers), and in 2009 I had the most points in show at Knowle.

I breed edges and selfs, but have had the most success with striped seedlings. At present I. would like to get some more vigour into the edges and tidy up the stripes. Although I enjoy exhibiting, I am Show Superintendent at Saltford, and my priority is to promote the Saltford Show.

Remember to bring along some extra pennies to the meeting as Andy will be bringing along plants for sale.

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WEBSITE

We require articles, questions regarding cultivation, your wants lists, your experiences since you became a Kent Group member, in fact anything regarding auriculas and primulas that would interest members and those browsing the world wide web.

Please contact Colin if you require any help preparing your article or question.

SHOW DATES

Make this the year that you travel a little further afield, broaden your horizons and meet some very friendly and knowledgeable primula and auricula growers at the other Sections’ shows. The NAPS shows are a wonderful spectacle, with breath-taking plants and super plant sales.

You may very well strike up lifelong friendships. If you require transport, please speak to Colin or Dave regarding car sharing. To see plants being prepared and benched on the day it is worthwhile volunteering to steward or be a runner or recorder. You will learn an awful lot. The Show Secretary will be pleased to hear from you. More details from Colin.

NATIONAL SHOWS

Saturday 10th. March- Early Primula Show - Great Bookham

Saturday 7th. April - 43rd. Primula Show- Great Bookham

Saturday 21st. April_ 127th Auricula Show- Great Bookham

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Silver Laced Polyanthus

By Derek Parsons

Over the past two years I have taken some Silver-Laced polyanthus to the Primula & Auricula shows of all three Sections. I am surprised at the number of cards they have won and the generally positive comments they have attracted. Often silver-laces are considered poor relations of the gold-laces. I like both, but have a sneaking preference for the underdog. I came by two plants of silver-laced polyanthus about 15 years ago in Monmouth market. This is the usual market town collection of small tables and stalls held most Saturdays. A local chap who had a scrumptious alpine cottage garden outside town used to sell offsets of his mainly alpine plants and I was a regular customer.

One Saturday he had two silver-laced polyanthus - £1 each. They were the most expensive plants on his stall and I remember him telling me, as he prised the money from my grasp, what a bargain I was getting I was regaled with tales of how historic and rare were the laced polyanthus. Apparently he had had silver-laced polyanthus in his garden for many years and kept them going by sub-division.

They were duly planted in the garden and over the years I have kept them going partly by sub-division but also by using the best seedlings for deliberate crosses every few years. I cannot honestly say I have improved their quality since buying them, but I have kept them going as healthy plants. They seem more perennial than many of the current gold-laced strains.

They are without doubt good show plants in that four plants in 5 inch pots lasted from the Southern Primula Show at Datchet to the Northern Auricula Show at Cheadle, making an appearance at Saltford and Knowle as well. It was no trouble to remove “over the top” flowers and spikes, since there was a continuous renewal of flowers over the show period. At most shows they were greeted with smiles (I don’t think it was smirks!) and the comment “How nice to see a silver-lace again”.

Long ago I worked out that the way to collect red cards was to show plants in classes where no-one else had plants. This has worked well for the past few years in the Striped Auricula class! Now that striped auriculas are in more of the experts’ hands, it is comforting to know that I have another ‘niche’ class in which to show plants, and perhaps pillage a few more red cards before the mob overtakes me again. I must be off now; got to water those “Painted Lady” seedlings.

This article first appeared in “ARGUS” No.48 2001 and is reproduced here by kind permission of the Editor

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	David and Lynne Lawson at the Kent Group Barnhaven Day
	Colin's secret equipment for perfect air circulation in his greehouse
	Auricula Theatre almost finished
	You told me that you could grow Auriculas.
	Prague
	Lawrence Wigley judging the well supported Alpine Classes.

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