Plot Post
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE LICHFIELD AND DISTRICT
ALLOTMENTS AND HOME GARDENS SOCIETY
PLOT POST SUMMER/AUTUMN 2008
Chairman: Alan Rock (Beacon Street)
Treasurer: Mark Harrison (Moggs)
Secretary: Josie Allen (Home Garden)
Editor: Pat Barden (Moggs)
SITE REPRESENTATIVES
Each of our sites has one or more reps, their details are given below. Please make sure that you know your rep, we are there to help resolve any problems or queries that you may come across, if a query cannot be answered then you can be sure it will be taken to the monthly committee meeting for further consideration. However, please remember that your site rep is just a volunteer trying to give a little back to the society so that we can all get the most out of our precious plots.
| Site | Representative | | Tel |
| The Moggs | Pat Barden | 255306 |
| Beacon Street | Bob Bishton | 418127 |
| Netherstowe | Alan James | 432575 |
| | John Smart | 300370 |
| | Ian Hickinbotham | 268941 |
| Cherry Orchard | Derek Oakes | 253852 |
| | Martyn Bennett | 433709 |
| | Susan Terry | 258647 |
| Christchurch | Tony Priddle | 684210 |
| | Sarah Tighe | 480180 |
| | Heather Rourke | 255991 |
| Dovehouse Fields | Vacancy | |
PLOT POST
I hope you enjoy reading this issue and find something of interest, as usual please bear in mind that I am no expert, I'm just trying to provide information for the experienced allotment holder and to give encouragement and tips to the many new and less experienced growers.
2008 SEASON TO DATE
The Spring weather was probably best described as being changeable, March was cold and wet, we then enjoyed a warm sunny spell during April (I thought Summer had arrived) and then May was again wet and cold with even a late frost over the 19th & 20th. All this resulted in mixed fortunes for most growers, germination especially with parsnips & carrots at best was erratic and for an unlucky few non existent. However, it does appear that the weather suited potatoes with the very first new ones coming out of the ground in late May, brassicas are also growing away strongly this year.
NEW LETS
It is pleasing to note that a good proportion of our new allotment holders have worked very hard and are setting high standards, many of the older hands (including myself) appear to have responded and this has resulted in the sites generally looking better and hopefully being more productive than in the past.
SHOW & SOCIAL EVENING
The Summer Show will take place on Saturday 16th August at the Curborough Community Centre, Reynolds Close, off Western Road. Schedules and entry forms are enclosed with this issue of PP, staging takes place between 09.30 and 11.00 and the show opens to the public at 2.00pm.
Talking about the show, it's only fair to tell you that we desperately need you to come along and support your society otherwise the future of the show could be in doubt, the simple truth is that not enough people attend, we need more exhibitors to show their flowers and vegetables or enter the domestic classes. Even if you do not wish to show, just come along for half an hour in the afternoon and support your society, there will be refreshments & cakes at a small charge and for those feeling lucky a raffle draw.
Our social evening is provisionally booked for Saturday 15th November, keep an eye on the sheds for more details nearer the time, prizes won at the show are presented and a supper is provided in the cost of the ticket, there will be a quiz, a raffle draw and a licensed bar.
PLANNING AHEAD
Lets face it, most of us are only fine weather gardeners, we sow and plant like fury in the Spring and spend Summer & Autumn eating it, we then hibernate. But it need not be like that, with planning there are plenty of crops to grow and keep us busy throughout the Autumn into Winter and even well into the next Spring.
Finding spare ground is not a problem for most, but for some the opportunity comes after lifting potatoes, so the following list although not exhaustive should keep us busy and our precious plots productive right up to next spring. As usual some homework is necessary so read the seed packets carefully and select suitable varieties for late sowing and above all provide protection.
| JULY |
AUGUST |
| |
| Fast Carrots | Spring Onions |
| Beetroot | Lettuce |
| Main Crop Turnips | Chicory |
| French Beans | Japanese Onions |
| Late Leeks | Welsh Onions |
| Spring Cabbage | Savoy Cabbage |
| Sprouting Broccoli | |
| Late Peas | |
| |
| SEPTEMBER |
OCTOBER |
| |
| Onion Sets | Broad Beans |
| Garlic | Winter Peas |
| Spring Greens | Rhubarb Crowns |
| Winter Spinach | |
MANURES
As you pick your vegetables from the ground this Summer, you're not duty bound to replace them with later crops, but leaving your allotment vacant is a no-no if you want to ensure it remains weed free and in good nick. Sowing and growing green manure has many benefits, reduces the loss of nitrogen, protects and improves soil structure, protects the plant foods against being washed out by Winter rains, provides habitat for predatory insects and it just simply looks good as opposed to bare earth.
All over-wintering green manures need to be dug in by late Winter; the general rule is you must dig them in before they flower. Although there are many types available, you cannot go too far wrong picking crimson clover, field beans, grazing rye, phacelia or winter tares, for further advice online try gardenorganic.org.uk or ring 08451 301304 for a catalogue.
PLOT MAINTENANCE
As you will be aware the allium leaf miner has now become a very serious problem and whilst there is little effective advice apart from delaying planting until after April, however it is clear that the pupae over Winter in the soil or in the remnants of the host plants, i.e. onions, leeks & garlic. With this in mind could I ask everyone to clear away and destroy all unwanted alliums at the end of the season.
I also take this opportunity to remind a few tenants of their responsibility to cultivate their plots and keep the paths trimmed and reasonably free from perennial weeds. The fact is that we have in excess of 100 on the waiting list and it simply is not fair to them if we do not use the ground and let it become overgrown. Please also remember that your site reps are always the first to hear if your weed and grass seeds annoy your neighbours.
STORING SURPLUS
I'm sure there will be many people out there that successfully freeze all sorts of surplus crops for the Winter, but I'm not one of them! It's true that we can manage to freeze simple things like peas & cauliflower and also soft fruit for those delicious crumbles and sponge puddings, but when it comes to other crops then freezing becomes a mystery.
However, we do have great success storing root crops right through to the following Spring, if you haven't tried yet then I would recommend the following method. Buy cheap plastic containers with lids and a couple of sacks of kiln dried sand, layer your trimmed but unwashed carrots, parsnips & beetroot in the sand so that none are touching then fit the lid and store on the cold garage floor, the lids retain moisture and stop the crop drying out.
GENERAL
So that's about it until next spring, sorry about the moans above, the vast majority do keep our precious plots in good condition, it's just a very small minority that let the side down.
Enjoy the rest of the summer down on the plot and good luck with the autumn crops, the committee and your reps wish you every growing success and look forward to seeing you all at the show, don't forget we need your support!
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Pat Barden
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