Allotment Vegetable Growing in May 2010

Boy do the weeds grow!

31/05/2010

The patch by the big greenhouse on plot 29 was hoed off and rotovated, leaving the soil clean ready for the beans.

Here we are, just 2 weeks later and it's covered in a carpet of weeds! All the annual seeds brought to the surface at just the right time.. D'OH!

In the small greenhouse on plot 29

31/05/2010

I'd got various brassicas and some lettuce started off in modules ready to pot on or plant out in the small greenhouse. The door has been left fully open, I'm not so much after the warmth of the greenhouse as protection from the pigeons.

Most moved on into 3" square pots and out of the greenhouse into the coldframe.

Comfrey on Plot 29

31/05/2010

More than ready for a cut! This small patch of comfrey gets more sun than the large patch on the other plot, which is why it's nearly twice as large. Although comfrey will thrive in pretty poor conditions, it really loves a sunny spot.

Cut comfrey on plot 5

31/05/2010

This is the patch on plot 5 after being cut and the cuttings layered into the compost heap in the background.

Comfrey is such a versatile herb; acting as compost activator, basis for tomato feed and even a chicken feed. More on comfrey here.

Wild potatoes!

31/05/2010

I think I may have discovered the next restaurant sensation - after wild rice, wild garlic comes wild potatoes! These potatoes on plot 5 have all sprouted from missed tubers harvested last year and they're actually doing pretty well.

I don't know how I missed so many, but there you go - it's an ill wind that blows no good.

Oh no - Flowers on my plot!!

31/05/2010

Now you might know that I think the best use for most flowery things is to turn them into compost. OK, I know you can eat nasturtiums - in fact you can eat all sorts of revolting things if you're starving, but marigolds actually have a use here.

The smell of marigolds is supposed to deter whitefly so I always plant a few in the greenhouse. They're not 100% effective, but they do help and I suppose, if pushed, I'd admit they're pretty.

Globe Artichokes and Rhubarb

31/05/2010

Over on plot 29, the rhubarb is doing really well as are the globe artichokes. I must admit that, if I was planting the artichokes out again, I would have moved them 2 feet further down the plot from the rhubarb. Bit late now!

Jim's Allotment Plot

31/05/2010

I'm always a bit jealous of Jim's plot - he keeps it so tidy and it's a really good example of a traditional allotment layout. The paths divide it into 4 main sections which works well for rotation.

There's more here on Crop Rotation

Raised Beds Plot

31/05/2010

Moving on from Jim's traditional plot, we've got the modern raised bed system. I'm still not 100% convinced on raised beds - look how much of the plot is taken up with paths. But they do have their plus points.

There's information here on How to Build Raised Beds

Ponds and towers

31/05/2010

Next to Jim's plot we have another raised bed allotment but with a difference - this has a pond. It's a good example of the trend to move from the traditional food growing allotment to the decorative garden and the pond, which has tadpoles already, will enourage slug and pest eating frogs and other wildlife.

Their strawberry tower is actually a converted water butt that was sold off by B&Q. I reckon they should pop a statue on top of it!

Construction site

31/05/2010

Last on my whizz around some of the other plots is this one. The talk is that it's to be a poultry cage although some reckon fruit. Since the base is filled with hardcore, I think the former.

Of course, if the owner gives up this plot whoever takes it on next has a bit of a problem.