Author: oldlanelottswp

SEED POTATOES

WHAT TO GROW

There are dozens of different seed potato varieties you can buy, usually described as early, second early,  & maincrop potatoes. These names indicate when they crop and also give you an idea of the space you will need to plant them. You should concentrate on the earlier types if your short of  space, its worth mentioning that earlies are less likely to encounter pest problems as you can lift them much earlier in the year.

First earlies should be ready 10 weeks after planting, second earlies take 16 to 17 weeks to mature after planting, so you should be able to harvest them from very late June through to the start of August. Maincrop seed potatoes will be ready 18 to 20 weeks after planting, so they can be lifted from late August through to October. These varieties tend to be the best for storage.

CHITTING

Chitting simply means encouraging the seed potatoes to sprout before planting, you should start chitting in late February, about 6 weeks before you intend planting your potatoes. Each seed potato  has a number of eyes, stand the tubers (seed potatoes) in trays or old egg boxes, with plenty of natural light. The seed potatoes are ready to be planted out when the eye shoots are 1.5 – 2.5 centimetres long.

Find out in my next blog – How to plant your seed potatoes

and how to harvest them

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Start with the soil, healthy soil leads to healthy growing plants with fewer problems. Follow a crop rotation (Even a simple one) to prevent a build up of pests & problems. Be vigilant most problems can be dealt with early. Keep plants healthy water when required , don’t overcrowd plants. Grow a wide variety of plants , big areas where you have one specific vegetable growing allows pests & diseases to find their host plants with ease.

Diseased plants should be thrown away not composted. When choosing plants & seeds look for disease resistant varieties. Pest & disease problems with plants vary from year to year so always try again sometimes the result’s can be different.  Attacks from pests & diseases can be demoralising for any gardener. You can however minimise the problems by looking after your soil & plants.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Seed potatoes have arrived and we are in the process of weighing them out in to 4 KG bags. These will be ready for collection from Wednesday the 22nd of February. Can I advise our members to pick them up on the said stores days and times please, which were outlined in yesterdays blog – regarding new opening hours for our stores shop.

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

These will be the new stores opening days and times from 20th February 2023. Mondays 9am – 11.30am Tuesdays closed. Wednesday 9am – 11.30am Thursdays closed Friday 9am – 11.30am Saturday 9am -11.30am Sunday closed.

Can members please arrive at the stores on these set days and times please. All of the committee undertake duties on a voluntary basis aswel as cultivating our own plots.

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Dear Plot Members,

This is to make plot holders aware the allotment committee meet the first Sunday in every month to discuss allotment issues. If there is anything you want to be raised in our monthly meeting, please put it in writing & place it in our site letterbox in the toilet area.

Thank you

Old Lane Allotments Committee

 

 

 

When I approached the entrance gate on Monday 13th February the gate had been locked like this (see picture above). It was impossible to enter the site through that entrance gate so I walked down to the other gate to obtain entry. I cant understand why someone would exit the allotments and lock the gate in this way, which is the reason for this blog post. Surely the person who did this must realise that any member wanting to enter site would not be able to gain access. There has also been a number of instances where the lock has been the wrong way round, making it difficult for members coming in to see the combination codes. Someone repeatedly is changing just one number as they lock the gate. Scramble all the numbers, it doesnt take long for the next member coming in to change the code back to gain access. Security is everyones responsibility as members of Old Lane Allotments.

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary) For and on behalf of Old Lane Allotments

All the site wheelbarrow handles have been painted orange for identification.

Please can we make sure the barrows are put back in the holding area

Thank you

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Dear Plot Members,

This is to make plot holders aware the allotment committee meet the first Sunday in every month to discuss allotment issues. If there is anything you want to be raised in our monthly meeting, please put it in writing & place it in our site letterbox in the toilet area.

Thank you

Old Lane Allotments Committee

Pigeons & Birds

Although birds are responsible for some damage to your crops by far the worst culprit is the wood pigeon.  They do maximum damage to your brassica plants in Spring & Winter when food is scarce. They can reduce a cabbage to a few stalks overnight. It’s not just the cabbage family (brassicas) which they attack, they enjoy beans, peas, turnips & even Swedes, they will also eat your fruit & berries when in season. Pigeons are said to be clever birds, scarecrow & rattling bottles on canes don’t seem to disturb them.

The only answer is to put netting over your crops, you need to make sure the netting is supported otherwise birds will press down on the netting to gain access. Make  sure to fasten the netting down at ground level or they will find their way under your netting. Pigeons can destroy your hole crop in a day. Always remember to net your crops, don’t think or I will do it tomorrow, there is nothing more demoralizing than going to your plot & half of your crops have been eaten. However the Robin for example helps us on the allotment when you are winter digging it will feast on the pests on the top of your soil

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)