Author: oldlanelottswp

Today the runner bean is one of our best loved & widely grown vegetables. It is known as an oriental climber in most countries. Its other popular names are scarlet bean, & Dutch case knife bean. It has been grown for over 2,000 years originating in the tropical uplands of Central America. Runner beans grow best in a warm spot which also encourages pollinating insects. Do not grow them in the same position every year , as this is likely to build up of root rotting diseases.

They enjoy a rich drained soil, & a sheltered sunny position. Beans will wrap round your canes anticlockwise & when they reach the top of your cane supports, its a good idea to cut the plant off at the top to encourage the plant to bush out then you will get more beans. Water plants liberally & frequently especially during dry spells. Tie young plants loosely to the canes & protect them from slugs, they will quickly climb naturally & will need no other support.

Blog & Research By Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

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Photo by Adrianna Calvo on Pexels.com

Whatever the weather brings in September the season definitely begins to wind down. The bulk of the harvest starts to come home now & gaps start to appear on your allotment plot.  You can still sow winter hardy spring onions, & also plant Japanese winter onion sets for harvesting from June next year. This is the last chance to sow spinach & winter lettuce, a few last minute radishes may give you a final crop until the end of the year. Now is the time to plant new strawberry plants, either those you have bought or propagated from runners. You can also transplant Spring cabbages for harvesting next year. You still need to keep those weeds down with the hoe before they get established. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, will need continuous feeding, & should be ready for picking.

The second early potatoes should have been lifted by now, if all the stalks have died off then there is no food been supplied to the tubers, so they wont grow anymore. Your main crop carrots should be ready for pulling some time this month. Sweet corn should also be ready to make sure it is remove some outer leaves & put your finger nail into the kernel if its milky they are ready. Pumpkins should also be ready cut the stalks a few centimeters from the fruit & leave in the sun to continuing hardening off.

Blog By Mark Burton (Site Secretary)

An Introduction to N:P:K

During the growing season plants absorb important nutrients & minerals from the soil, these need to be replaced if your plot is to maintain a high level of productivity. Most general purpose fertilisers have an N:P:K rating which relates to the three main elements needed for healthy plant growth. The higher the rating the more of that element exists within the fertiliser.

Nitrogen ( N )

Supports the growth of vegetable parts of plants, leaves & stems. Leafy vegetable’s  such as spinach, cabbage, lettuce, have a high nitrogen requirement. Lack of nitrogen causes poor, stunted growth with spindly stems with yellow & discoloured leaves. Nitrogen washes out of the soil so feeds need to be applied over the growing season.

Phosphorus ( P )

Stimulates seed germination & root development, increases stem strength & improves flower formation. Root vegetable’s need plenty of phosphorus to aid development. Lack of phosphorus causes poor, stunted growth, plants produce little or no flowers with a weak root system.

Potassium ( K )

Essential for flower & fruit development, also improves drought pest & disease resistance. Often referred to a “quality element” because of the importance to many of the features associated with quality, such as shape, size colour, & taste. Potatoes, fruit, & tomatoes need a high yield of potassium to crop well. Plants low in potassium are stunted in growth & provide lower yields. Excessive levels of potassium can lead to magnesium & calcium deficiencies. Minerals & also trace elements are important for good plant health, over time with each & every harvest, the soil is depleted of these vital ingredients & they also need replacing.

Blog & Research By Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

newsletter 26

Please click/double click/ on the link above to read our (PDF version) Newsletter for September 2019. Enjoy reading.

Newsletter editor/content Steve Johnston – Content Mark Burton

The Development Of The Allotment – Part 2

• 1975 An interest in self-sufficiency & the popular television show “The good life” caused a rise in interest in allotments in the 1970s.
• 2002 Organic growing got a big boost as Monty Don took over presenting “gardeners world”
•  Many people nowadays are determined to” grow their own”. The new allotmenteer is younger, and is usually female, than in times gone by.
• Modern allotment & kitchen gardeners have found support from celebrity chefs , many who are happy to get their hands dirty in search of fresh organic edibles.
• Even children are starting to “grow their own” with a number of local & national campaigns supporting in the development of school vegetable gardening clubs.

Blog & Research by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

The Development Of The Allotment

• AD410 in the Saxon times, communities cleared land together, sharing out ‘allotted land’ areas between themselves.
• 1066 Following the Norman conquest , land ownership was confined to lords of the manor & the church.
• 1600 During the reign of Elizabeth the first the first evidence of allotments is made, as land is given to the poor to compensate them for the enclosure of common land.
• 1845 The general enclosure act included a requirement to provide land for allotments where common ground was enclosed.
• 1887 The allotments & cottage gardens for compensation for crops act obliged local authorities to provide allotments, if there was a required demand.
• 1907 the small holdings & allotment act clarified the responsibilities of local authorities to provide allotments.
• 1914 Germanys blockade during the first world war led to an increased demand for allotments , although after the war it fell again.
• 1939 The second world war , and its ‘DIG FOR VICTORY’ campaign brought allotments & gardening to the forefront of British life. The amount of allotments in the British Isles peaked at 1.5 million.
• 1960 Disuse & development led to a decrease in allotments that were available.

                                             Blog & Research by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

                                        To be Continued   ……

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National Allotments week    12th  –  18th August 2019

Allotments have many benefits, they bring people together & unite everyone through shared love of low cost, healthy fresh fruit & vegetable’s, physical exercise & social interaction. National allotments week started in 2002 to raise awareness of allotments & the pivotal role in helping people to live healthier lifestyles

Blog & research Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

The Kings Seeds catalogues for Spring 2020  have arrived & Old Lane Allotments Association will be taking part in the allotment seed scheme.  I will be distributing them to plot members along with an order form & will be taking orders/ payment at our annual Annual General Meeting on the 7th October.

Plot members pay the prices set out in the catalogue & all seeds will be delivered to Old Lane Allotments where i will distribute them accordingly. Kings are a reputable seed supplier & there prices are really competitive. They will include club root resistant varieties and the catalogue is full of useful information & growing tips.

Many Thanks

(Mark Burton – Allotment Secretary) For & on behalf of Old Lane Allotments Association

Dear Members

Just to let you know our seed potatoes will remain the same price for 2019/20  season. Priced at £4.50 per 5KG.

There will be an order form with your rent statements which will be issued to members  in late August early September giving details of varieties available & when to pay for them.

All monies taken go towards the buffet at our Annual General meeting. Details will be included with your rent statements of the date & time to attend the AGM

Old Lane Allotments Association – Committee

August with a bit of luck, brings us the best of the summer weather but being the traditional holiday month,  it can be hard keeping on top of your allotment with a fortnights holiday. Early potatoes should be dug up now, its best to harvest potatoes early in the day rinse them & leave them to dry,  in the sunlight for a day to harden the skins before storage.

Vegetables you can still sow in August

Spring cabbage, Spring onions, radish, beetroot, turnips, Spinach, Swiss chard, carrots, Kale for Winter & Spring cropping, parsley, coriander & chervil can be sown in the greenhouse for growing throughout winter. Plant out summer  Cauliflowers early this month for an Autumn harvest

Stop tomato plants growing now to encourage fruit to swell, keep side shoots in check, you want tomato’s & don’t want a mass of green foliage.   Keep an eye on your brassicas for butterfly eggs & caterpillars. Most of these will be under the leaves in clusters of little yellow/white balls. Pick or wash them off before they develop & dine on your dinner. Turn your compost the warm weather will help break it down, water it if it’s really dry.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)