Author: oldlanelottswp

Brussels sprouts are part of the brassica family,  and as we know they date back to the 13th century & were grown in the region of Belgium that gave them their name. Recent hybrid varieties are a revelation for reliability of cropping &  the holding power of the sprout on the stem. Sprouts are really low in calories & high in protein fibre, they are low in glycaemic making them ideal for weight loss dieting. They are very nutritious vegetable’s containing high levels of flavonoid anti oxidants. Sprouts are packed with vitamins A, K, C and complex B vitamins as well as potassium, manganese & iron.

Brussels sprouts grow best in firm, fertile soil, rich in organic matter. They benefit from a sunny & sheltered position away from high winds. The soil must be dug over in Autumn & not prior for planting out. Use cabbage collars round the base of the plant to prevent  root fly & protect from birds.

Always read the seed packet for growing instructions

Blog & research by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

WHAT TO GROW

One of the srangest things I have come across is a grower that has a crop that he or she doesn’t like. So the first rule is to grow what you like to eat. Although this may seem obvious , often it can be strangely ignored. Write down what you or your family like to eat. Think seasonally Summer most people like salads & in Winter most families like root hardy vegetables. When you go shopping see which fruit & vegetables are the most expensive (so you can save money). Having eventually made a list of what you want to eat. You can then choose the varieties you want to grow. It’s easy to get carried away when your planning, be realistic about the time you have available ; think about how much time you will have in a good week, and in a bad week. Pick plants & seeds that are happy with that & grow them in the right place. On the other hand do try crops that you haven’t eaten before. The worst case is you waste a packet of seeds & a small patch of land.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

KEEP BRITAIN TIDY

Please Help with the Great British Spring clean running from 22nd March – 23rd April 2019. Anyone who gets involved is making a real difference.  If everybody picked up 5 pieces of litter imagine what an impact that would have on our Country. It would really help turn the tide on litter pollution. Lets improve the environment on our doorstep.

PICKING UP LITTER ON OUR ALLOTMENTS OR ON THE STREET

  HELPS TOWARDS THE NATIONAL CLEAN UP OF LITTER

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

We want to give members an oppurtunity to be involved with the running of the site. We have 5 committee officers at present who all work hard on a voluntary basis. We keep the site managed, & maintained to what we think is a very good standard. All are members work hard on their plots & the passion for allotment gardening is there for all to see. Our site is full going into the new growing season, with just over eighty members who occupy plots. We would welcome fresh input & ideas to continue improving the site. Anyone who has any questions about helping on the committee or wants a chat with one of the committee officers feel free to approach them when they are on site. Or E mail : oldlanelotts@gmail.com with any questions or queries.

Old Lane Allotments Association

Give your onions a boost with our onion fertilizers to grow the best onions. Onions are heavy feeders so giving them a boost of fertiliser will keep them healthy. All dry fertilisers should be worked or watered into the top 3 to 5 inches of soil. Using a hoe gently work the fertilizer into the soil so it can leach down towards the plant root zones. You have to be careful and not damage the onions when working fertilizers into the soil.

We sell onion fertilizer at a stores shop at £1.75 per KG. All money taken goes back into the running of the site

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Carpets & Rugs

Dear plot members,

Please can you not bring carpets/rugs on the allotments. It states in the Leeds City Council rules & regulations that they shouldn’t be brought on site for health & safety reasons.

. They are being used on walkways between plots & these become really icy & hazardous to walk on in the bad weather. Health & safety  is everyone’s responsibility. I know some carpets have been on site a long time & have been left by tenants that are no longer members. Bringing them to site now is breaching our site rules

Thank You

Old Lane Allotments Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beetroot contains betaine , a substance which relaxes the mind & is used in other forms to treat depression. It also contains trytophan which is also found in chocolate believed to promote a self of well being. Recent claims suggest that it helps to lower blood pressure,beetroot is a good source of iron & folate – natural occurring folic – acid. It’s belived that beets originated somewhere in ancient Eygypt during the reign of the 3rd dynasty.

The Victorians used the juice of beetroot to dye there hair & as a form of make-up to put on there cheeks to make them rosy. Beetroot is one of the sweetest vegetables often with a ten percent level of sugar, which gradually releases into the body. Did you know that eating 200g of cooked beeroot has the same health benefits as drinking 500ml of fresh juice. Beetroot grows best in well drained, fertile soil thats had well rotted garden compost or manure. Before sowing add a handful of general purpose fertilizer per square meter.

Always remember to read the sowing instructions on seed packets

Blog & Research  by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Etiquette the customary code of polite behaviour amongst members in a profession or group . Each allotment has an unspoken law that develops over years, the kind of etiquette that should be followed.

• Keep Your Plot Tidy – Keeping your plot tidy has a real significance on the allotment but you wont make any friends if your plot is untidy & unruly. A messy plot is a magnet for pests & diseases that spread & cause problems for other plot holders. Be as tidy as possible.
• Deal With Weeds – Weedy plots are a pain for neighbouring plot members, weeds spread via both underground roots & seeds. These seeds spread via the wind, so by not weeding you will be causing work for your neighbours.
• Tackle Diseases – Always deal with any disease attacks as soon as possible, as you know disease will spread quickly to other plots. Dispose of any infected plant material off the site to limit the spread of disease. Also tell your neighbours so they can set up defences on their plot & be on the guard.
• Keep Paths Clear – Always make sure that other plot members can get past your plot, and the access is clear especially if they are pushing a wheelbarrow.
• Respect Other Peoples Space – Firstly not everyone wants to chat, some people come to there allotment for peace & tranquillity. Never take short cuts over someone’s plot , it can be annoying if someone walks over your seedlings which become damaged. If people want to chat they will.
• Help Your Neighbours – The big rule helping your neighbours, as allotments are all about community & helping each other. If your neighbour is going on holiday offer to water there plants, and they sure will do the same for you. Sharing tips & ideas can be useful for us all.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Path ways between plots must be maintained

To All Plot Members

Just a reminder that pathways have to be clear for access. It is the responsibility of plot holders to keep the grass cut on adjacent paths between plots to keep the site well maintained.

Thank you

Old Lane Allotments Committee

Calabrese which crops in Summer & Autumn is called broccoli, in supermarkets it is known as ‘super foods’. They are part of the brassica family originally cultivated in Italy, where the name broccoli is from the Latin word brachium which means branch or arm. It was named Calabrese after the Italian province of Calabria where it was first grown. It is a great source of vitamins K & C, good source of folate (folic acid) it also provides potassium, fibre. Vitamin C –  builds collagen, which forms body tissue & bone,  helps cuts & wounds heal. It is also very low on the calorie intake, it also can prevent constipation & for you to maintain a healthy digestive tract. Now we all know why are parents wanted us to eat broccoli.

These plants require moisture retentive soil & a reasonably sunny position when transplanted as young plants. They are best started of in pots undercover, use brassica collars at the bottom of the plants base to eradicate cabbage root fly.

When planting seeds always read the growing instructions

Blog & Research Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)