Tips To Keep Your Allotment Plot Healthy

 

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)

 

Plot 63 – Our harvest so far this year

Kristine Ratniece who are on plot 63 wanted to share some photos of some of her harvest so far this year. Kristine said ” strawberries & garden peas for the freezer . Also  lettuce, rhubarb. dill, garlic & mint which some went to our neighbours- sharing is caring”

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary) Picture sent in by Kristine Ratniece

Hosepipes

This is a gentle reminder to all plot holders that hose pipes are only to be used to fill water butts and not to be used direct for watering of plots.

This is to ensure we don’t receive huge water bills.

Old Lane Allotments

Committee

 

Lucy Moore – Plot 46SB Highlights after one year on Old Lane Allotments.

Lucy Moore has been a plot member on our site since 29/6/19 on plot 46SB she wanted to show some before & after pictures of her plot below. Lucy said ” I really enjoy having a plot & highlights from the year include growing my first ever broccoli . Growing a giant pumpkin, taking on another 1/2plot & seeing lots of lovely sunsets . Thanks to the committee for running such a lovely site”

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary) Photographs sent in by Lucy Moore

Vegetable Growing – July

July is one of the driest months so a lot of time may be spent watering your plot. Although the hectic sowing of the first part of the year is past, there are still things to sow, plant, and happily harvest. Those early potatoes should be coming out of the ground by the end of this month, and although they do not store as long as main crop varieties they will store before you finish eating them.

Leeks – Finish transplanting or “dibbing in” leeks raised in pots, modules, or temporary seed beds. They should be in their final position this month. If you have too many to transplant cut them up & put them in a stir fry instead of spring onions.

Peas & French Beans – This is your last chance for sowing or planting out peas & beans. any later the pods are unlikely to develop in time.

Root Vegetables – Sow your last batch of beetroot now. Late carrot & turnip varieties can still go in at the end of this month.

Other crops you can still sow – Radish, spring onion, Kale, Chinese cabbage, Lettuce, Spring cabbage, last chance to plant out any Brussels sprouts, winter cabbage, autumn cauliflowers you have been growing from seed.

Don’t forget to keep your onions weed free, summer thinning can be now done on apple, pear, plum trees etc. Keep the hoe in your hand & keep on top of those weeds.

Blog By Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

 

Allotment Committee Monthly Meetings

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

 

 

 

Carpets /Rugs

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 seem to be appearing & they are being used as weed control on plots,which is not allowed. They are also being used on walkways between plots & these become really slippy & hazardous 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 tennants that are no longer members. Bringing them to site is breaching our site rules

Thank You

Old Lane Allotments Association