Bethersden Gardeners’ Society challenge members to grow chrysanthemums!

At the Ploughmans lunch on 8 February 2025 The Schedule editor, Victor Medlock, talked about changes in the Schedule for the coming year and emphasised the importance of keeping the rich history of the J.T. Adams Chrysanthemum Cup alive. There have been no entries for the Chrysanthemum Cup since 2021. This is a shame when considering the popularity of Chrysanthemum growing in the Society’s past, with strong links with the Mid-Kent Chrysanthemum Society. J. T. Adams and other members of his family have been involved with the Society since its inception in 1886. The cup dates from 1905 and was given to J.T. Adams for three years consecutive wins. His son, Peter Adams (the last of the Adams line) donated it back to the Society in the 1980’s. The Peter Adams trust continues to help the Society to this day, by sponsoring our speakers programme. 

Growing Chrysanthemums for the Show Bench:

Choosing and buying your plants:

• Choose early-blooming varieties that will flower in time for our Autumn show (13th Sep); early varieties take around 6 months from planting to flowering so order now!

• Order them from a specialist nursery (see below);

• Irregular incurved varieties (petals curve upwards) produce the largest blooms;

• Reflex and regular incurved varieties produce blooms measuring 4-6” across;

• Decorative varieties, which are easier to gow are 1-4” across;

• Sunlight can bleach dark-coloured blooms so choose resistant white or yellow blooms.

Planting and potting on:

• Immediately on receipt, start them off in individual 3.5” pots in J.I. No. 2 compost.

• Keep moist but don’t overwater.

• Protect from frost!

• Repot in late April/early May in 5” pots in J.I. No. 3 compost to allow good root growth.

Planting out and subsequent care:

• Plant outside in a well-prepared bed of well-drained, fertile soil, 12-18” apart in full sun;

• Stake well as they grow to around 1.2 metres high;

• Whilst in active growth, feed with a high nitrogen fertilizer;

• Change to a high potash fertilizer when flower buds start to appear;

• Remove (pinch out) growing tips to encourage side shoots;

• Allow no more than 4 side shoots to develop for larger blooms;

• Continue to remove side buds to encourage large single blooms (as you would with Dahlias);

• Protect from insect pests (e.g. aphids and earwigs which like to nibble the flowers);

• Support large blooms to stop drooping;

• Prior to the show protect the blooms from rain and wind damage.

There is lots of advice on growing Chrysanthemums on the internet. Two useful websites are:

www.thegardenersalmanac co.uk (for advice)

www.chrysanthemumsdirect.co.uk (good selection of show-standard plug plants).

I wish you lots of luck with your chrysanthemum growing. I will be trying my hand at growing some for the first time and look forward to seeing lots of lovely blooms in our autumn show.

Victor Medlock