Allotment Vegetable Growing in July 2005

Wood Chippings Delivered

13/07/2005

July starts with changeable weather - from cold and wet to heatwaves. Typical Britain - one day it hits 30 degrees the next 14.

The council kindly arranged a delivery of wood chippings that we use on paths etc.

Usually gone in a jiffy but the hot weather is giving them a longer lifespan this time as nobody feels like doing much when it's hot

Plot 5 Sweetcorn leaping ahead

13/07/2005

The sweetcorn is doing brilliantly and generally the plot looks good. I think the addition of pelleted chicken manure has helped bring the sweetcorn on. It is a 'greedy'  crop.

There's more information here: How to Grow Sweetcorn

Onions and garlic drying

13/07/2005

Onions and garlic drying on the table with the tomatoes behind. Strange how everything is doing well this year except the tomatoes in protection and houses.

Luckily my plum Roma outdoors are doing really well - touch wood! 

It's probably too hot for them in the greenhouses - see Ideal Temperatures for Tomatoes

Daikon (Japanese Radish)

13/07/2005

The daikon (Japanese radish ) sent to me by my friend in Japan, sown in April have all gone to seed with little root growth.

My instructions were to plant in March which was correct for Japan and here but I think the temperatures may have gone too high causing them to bolt.

Not much to lose by trying new crops and perhaps I'll have another go if I can get him to send more seed.

Plot 29 Potatoes and some squash and marrows

13/07/2005

The maincrop potatoes are looking incredible - swamping the squash and marrows that were planted in a space at the end of a row.

If they are as productive underground as over, we'll not be buying potatoes again

Grand Allotment Tour - Brookfield Park, Nantwich

22/07/2005

Along with our site rep, Larry Hassall, I went to visit some of the other sites in the area to see what they were up to and if we could glean any ideas for our site.

This site has 78 plots, which are split into two areas. The first area is very secluded and has houses around, the second area is basically a row of plots facing onto playing fields.

Despite the ease of access we were told there is very little vandalism. The entrance to the site is very attractive with masses of flowers - an idea for us?

Grand Allotment Tour - Welshmans Lane

22/07/2005

This is a new site set up when the Nixons Row site was closed with 85 plots and 5 accessibility plots. It has good facilities including large deep beds designed for wheelchair access. Unfortunately it is very windswept and suffers with rabbits, which may be the reason for quite a few abandoned plots.

We did come across one great plot with a very friendly chap in his summerhouse (equipped with kettle!)

Grand Allotment Tour - Willaston

22/07/2005

Our site rep has a plot here (traitor!) and when I looked at the soil I could see why. Unlike our heavy clay, this is almost pure sand.

A totally different set of problems to cope with - but easy to grow fantastic potatoes and root crops.

Show Growing - Onions

22/07/2005

On the Willaston site, Larry introduced me to Mr John Bebbington who grows for shows -

He's very knowledgeable and friendly too - explaining his growing methods, although not giving away all his 'trade secrets'

The picture was taken in his polytunnel where he has onions with a girth of 23". The normal onions look like spring onions in comparison.

Show Growing Carrots, Parsnips and Leeks

22/07/2005

Outside on his allotment he has parsnips and carrots in deep containers, leeks under cover and even his potatoes are grown in special compost in bags

He has won prizes in major shows and looking at his exhibits, I'm not surprised.

There's a series of articles if you're interested in showing vegetables: Vegetable Show Growing