Allotment Vegetable Growing in April 2008

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Decorated Shed

Decorated Shed
04/04/2008

Now to me, a shed is place where you keep your tools and stuff. Eventually it gets full to the gunnels and you empty it out, fill a skip with the rubbish and try to stuff the really useful things back in there.

However, this new breed of allotment holders have different ideas. Not just sheets of plywood with odd bits of scrap wood nailed on seemingly at random. Now we have nicely painted sheds, decorative counter painted edgings and a motif of flowers..

Nobody will mistake this shed on plot one for a proper bloke's shed, but well done anyway!

Horticultural Fleece On Plot 3

Horticultural Fleece On Plot 3
05/04/2008

The chaps on plot 3 have obviously found a source for cheap horticultural fleece. I reckon they've covered two thirds of their plot with it.

Mind you, with the snow being forecast for Sunday, not a bad move.

Onion Sets on Plot 29

Onion Sets on Plot 29
05/04/2008

I much prefer growing my onions on from seed rather than sets. I think they tend to do better, bolting less and keeping longer.

This year I'm behind (what's new?) and in a moment of panic about whether the onions from seed would be OK, grabbed a 500gr bag of Stuttgarter onion sets and popped them into the deep bed on plot 29.

Since those dratted pigeons would have them I covered with this netting.

New Propagator In Home Greenhouse

New Propagator In Home Greenhouse
05/04/2008

I've got a couple of cheap electric heated propagators but they are fixed temperature and it doesn't take long for some sunshine to cook the plants inside with the heater going.

So I bit the bullet and got this thermostatically controlled propagator from TwoWests. It's loaded with tomatoes and you can see the control box hanging above next to the dried chilli peppers.

Full Info (in the allotment shop) Thermostatically Controlled Propagator

Annoying Plot

Annoying Plot
17/04/2008

You can't run an allotment properly popping down once every three months. I must say this plot annoys me. He got started.. and stopped and started and stopped.

After 2 years we have a nice picket fence, a few deep beds and a mess. It's hardly making best use of the land.

Lee and Karen's Plot

Lee and Karen's Plot
17/04/2008

In less than a year this plot has been transformed. OK, there's a bit too much wood chipped paths for my taste but it's neat, well organised and a credit to the site.

Down at the far end you can make out their greenhouse and shed and on the left the brassica protecting netting. It's not traditional, but it's efficient and productive.

Plot 5, Ready to Rotovate

Plot 5, Ready to Rotovate
18/04/2008

This is the top end of plot 5. The blue half barrels will be getting carrots sown into them and the coldframe is sitting on a raised bed (hidden) into which some first early potatoes have been planted.

Behind you can see the two green water butts donated by my brother in law.

Clipstone Allotments Visit

Clipstone Allotments Visit
18/04/2008

I went over to Mansfield for the Clipstone Allotments open day - full story in my allotment diary.

This is the flag from the colliery on a huge flagpole towering over the site. Not quite sure why it's a pirate flag but impressive.

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Display Stands

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Display Stands
18/04/2008

In the marquee they've put up display boards explaining what they do and so forth. It was really busy and I was lucky to get this shot.

The transformation of the site is remarkable.

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Hog Roast

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Hog Roast
18/04/2008

One of the attractions, and a very popular one on a freezing cold day, was the hog roast and burger / sausages. By the time the queue reached the end you really appreciated the warmth! The food was great as well.

In the large tent to the right were the displays, seating areas and a cold buffet. I really enjoyed the egg sandwiches made from eggs from the allotment hens.

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Training Area

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Training Area
18/04/2008

In partnership with local schools, colleges and a training organisation they're offering NVQ and City & Guilds in Horticulture.

All this work has been done (mainly) by the students and you can't fault it. The site puts a lot of effort into involving local children. Engaging the children in the site has got to be a long term answer to problems of kids vandalising allotment sites. Plus it grounds them in skills that are becoming harder to get informally and shows them where their food really comes from.

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Shelter

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Shelter
18/04/2008

This little shelter was designed and built by the students, many with learning difficulties, on the site from an old shed and scrap wood.

What a good idea for any site - a place to shelter in the showers.

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Horses on the Plot!

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Horses on the Plot!
18/04/2008

Here's something I've never seen before, horses kept on an allotment. They're large plots and I assume they take them for a ride in the area.

I'm normally a bit nervous with animals bigger than me but this little chap looked cute. I was going to pat him when a plot holder warned me "That one nips!"

Still, he's cute, isn't he?

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Free Range Chickens

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Free Range Chickens
18/04/2008

Many of the plots had some chickens on, some were just poultry. This one had some chickens free ranging around. I suspect the plot is under development as apart from grass, nothing much was growing.

I know it looks a little ramshackle, but that's the charm of allotments. There is no waste, just things awaiting their chance to be re-used.

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Geese

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Geese
18/04/2008

This plotholder was keeping a flock of geese. I did notice a few geese on other plots but this is the only one with a whole flock of them.

They're very observant birds, only took them a minute to notice me and my camera whereupon they started honking at me.

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Ducks and Hens

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Ducks and Hens
18/04/2008

As well as geese and hens, many of the plot holders are keeping ducks. I've heard ducks are actually better than hens for converting lower quality feed to eggs. No fools these chaps.

This plot was mainly ducks wandering around with the hens in the enclosed cage area on the right.

On the left is, I think, a rabbit hutch but I couldn't see inside.

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Pygmy Goats

Clipstone Allotments Visit - Pygmy Goats
18/04/2008

Now the real treat for me and quite a few children was these pygmy goats. In the plot is a trailor and various platforms that the goats really seem to enjoy climbing around on.

I suppose, like hens, they need some interest in their life and environment and the platforms provide it. I can't emphasise enough that, makeshift as the various plots look, all the livestock I saw were healthy and well looked after.

Comfrey and Garlic

Comfrey and Garlic
19/04/2008

Down at the bottom of plot 5 the comfrey has come back to life (on the left) and is growing well. On the right you can see the garlic is doing well.

Last year the water level was so high even the runner beans were drowing. Hopefully the raised beds will stop this, although, knowing my luck, this year we'll have a drought.

Rhubarb Growing

Rhubarb Growing
19/04/2008

I was a bit worried about the rhubarb I planted. The crowns were kindly donated by Jim and left on the top to frost over winter.

When they started to show the leaves looked a bit frosted but they seem to have established well and I'll let them get properly set before forcing one next year.

See: How to Grow Rhubarb

Potato Bed on Plot 5, Nearly Done

Potato Bed on Plot 5, Nearly Done
29/04/2008

I don't really know why I took this photo - you can't really see the potatoes and they won't be ridged up until the shoots are through.

Still, it is looking neat and tidy. Just four rows of Sarpo left to plant.

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