Any allotmenteers around and want a chat?

Ron

Ye I have 1½ plots and went up this morning intending to plant some onion seedlings (I prefer seeds to sets) it started raining as soon as I arived and I thought it would do the soil no good to walk on it and we are not allowed sheds so I was getting very wet
my G/H at home is getting very full so as you say marlee systems go when it warms up
marg

havn,t started sprouts yet. done 4 diff onions and cabbage !!! just love growing seedslol going to pot on the strongest of things like lettuce and brassicas and use the rest as micro salad,abit like growing cress but different flavors anything that has edible leaves can be used . going to chat to check out that thread now
marg

I'm here, Lotus, although perhaps not all there.

My plot's also been sufferring from a surfeit of rain. At this rate all the brambles that I'd started to cut down and left to dry out will be sprouting roots.

I had to cut back some currant bushes encroaching over my path and from Compo's plot nect door, but rather than waste these, decided to poke the bits removed into the soil. I detest waste, and have found these sell well for charity come the autumn, and it's amazing how quickly they take root and thrive. (That as long as left alone by you-know-who.)

My bed of hardy geraniums are also coming to life in the area worst affected by the wretched knotweed. Those make tremendous weed suppressants, and the whole bed of some nineteen plants were all achieved last spring from splitting one large root that was spreading into the gateway, and that I decided to move. Of course, they haven't a hope of erradicating the dreaded K-weed, but perhaps by daily removal of any fresh shoots popping up between the geraniums, it will be possible to keep in in check to some degree in that area? I can really recommend those geraniums for bringing a dense covering and some colour to troublesome areas. They appear to grow anywhere and spread well, providing plenty of spare plants for potting up either for charity or to take along in bloom to any plant-swapping events. At the same time, they don't take over in the way things like mint does.

I really must remember to move my rhubarb from its current location and find it a better spot once it dies back again. At present it is sprouting up well, but with very slender, delicate shoots. It's an early variety and the name escapes me. Although delicious raw and dipped in sugar, it tends not to stand up to as much cooking as a crumble requires. Stewed and turned into a light syrup, it's a real treat poured over vanilla icecream, though.

After the recent rain, wind and blackbird's bud-pecking activity, the daffodils bordering the path are a sorry sight. Those I was able to rescue, and as unpecked buds, have been a cheerful addition to the kitchen window sill though. There are a few later flowering ones coming along well now and further down the path. Most growing in dense clumps this spring, and looking as if they will need lifting and replanting later. I'll probably move some over to the south facing boundary fence. It will be interesting to see how much difference that makes to their flowing time. Since Compo erected a zinc sheet fence behind the daffs, leaving them it its north side and where frost now lingers on long into a chilly winter's morning, those daffs get no sunshine at all.

Really need a spell of good, dry weather now so that I can get busy with the bonfires.

I have an allotment four miles from home which is 25 yards by 10 (We do not believe in metric in Devon) I have just finished wheeling back four tons of rotted sheeps manure.
bowlingman

We are lucky where I am, and on the bonfire front, but can only light those after 6 pm. I think there might be a local bi-law about not having them on a Sunday as well, though. That might be because there used to be five chapels interspersed between the houses that back onto the allotments. Only two now hold services; two have been turned into private houses and the fifth into two small flats with a warehouse above.

The allotments used to belong to the Crawshay estate - major mine owners in the area and prior to nationalisation of the collieries. When they were sold off, several small allotment societies and groups sprang up in the village, and with each of their members chipping in to buy their plots, although, should they wish to give them up, then the plots have to be sold back to the society for the original amount paid, and are then offfered to new members.

There is no mains water supply to any of the plots, but most of those with sheds and poultry roosts use corrugated zinc or fibreglass sheets for the roofs and a variety of large water butts or old oil drums to catch rain water. In very dry spells it can help to have made friends with house-owners close to one's plot, as they will often run a hose down their gardens to refil the butts with. That especially if one has poultry and keep them supplied with eggs and whatever veg is in season. The alternate answer is to invest in plastic water-carriers and haul water down the lane by car or van.

What I find handy if one does a lot of fund-raisers and plant swaps etc., is to ask around the local market tea stalls or burger van owners for the used plastic or polystyrene cups. They are easy enough to rinse out, make drainage holes in the bottom and use for cuttings and small plants. Larger ones can be bought in the catering sized packs if the allotment group have a cash and carry card. You could also try a local Chinese take-away too, if a regular customer, as they might sell a new pack of the ones used for tubs of sweet and sour sauce.

Another thing for stalls, and that I find handy, is to make pots from old plastc feed sacks. Just a case of cutting, folding and popping a few staples in to hold them together. Saves losing all your pots and a good way to recycle plastic. The same for the bottoms of plastic milk, pop and other bottles. When one is doing a stall for a charity or the allotment society, people never seem to mind the makeshift pots.

On our allotments, three plots were taken over by a lady who kept two horses. These animals were then removed after vandalism and the allotments were allowed to fall derelict and after a couple of years are now heavily overgrown.
The local school opposite are been encouraged to become interested in gardening and growing their own food by the school gradener. Various organisations assist by providing sponsorship in the way of seeds and finances and the parents have provided second hand tools to encourage the project.

The local council have been approached to release the unused plots so the Children can expand their project but are unwilling to turn the land back to arable use and want to retain the plots for grazing.

I am waiting for Ed Balls to hold his next Surgery in the Community to see if he is willing to aply pressure as he is the Education Minister or if he lets the council continue in this negative approach. My Attitude is simply that allotments were designed to be used to feed the family of the plot holders Not for keeping Horses for pleasure! I would be interested to hear other members views on this matter

Tony - I agree wholeheartedly about letting the children use the plots. Instead of, or as well as, contacting Ed Balls, have you thought of writing to your local paper? It's surprising what a bit of lobbying in them can do. In my experience, local councillors don't like to be 'named and shamed'.

Chris

OB, I also have Jerusalem artichokes, and wondered if you have any good recipes for them, please? If I don't use some of mine soon, they will take over, and few pals locally seem to want them or, perhaps, know what to do with them. They seem to steam much faster than other veg, and quickly turn soft and mushy. (Alas, I'm n cook! Lol)

Thanks, OB, I shall try baking some for a start. Have my eye on some of Compo's early rhubarb, which is really shooting up quickly now, and I've not even looked under the bin he has covering one clump of it, so thinking 'crumble', in which case a few baked artichokes popped in at the same time, and perhaps some of Compo's container grown carrots from last year... Have a couple of little lamb chops in the freezer and there's a string of onions in the potting shed. (I'm not supposed to eat onions, but a little onion sauce over that... )