Author: oldlanelottswp

Allotment Committee Monthly Meetings

Posted on by oldlanelottswp

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

Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

 

 

 

Club – Root Disease

Posted on by oldlanelottswp

 

Club – root is an infection of the roots of, a soil dwelling micro-organism related to slime moulds, leading to massive swelling, distortion & severely retarded growth. It affects Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers, turnips & radishes. Club-root can infect whenever the soil is moist & warm, so most new infections occur from mid-Summer until late Autumn. You may see the following symptoms stunted growth, purplish foliage & wilting in hot weather. Below ground the root system becomes massively swollen & distorted, with a loss of finer roots badly infected plants might die.

Once you have club-root on your plot i am afraid you are stuck with it, Start your brassicas off in modules using bought in composts to which a small amount of lime is added & pot up to 3 inches & then at least 5 inch pots before planting out. This allows the plant to develop a good root system prior to infection. Club-root thrives best in acid wet soils so ensure your brassica bed is well dug, adding grit if needed to keep the soil free draining. Before planting in the ground dig a hole 1 foot deep & in diameter then dust with lime to whiten the soil in the hole. Fill the hole with bought in compost and then plant in this. This method has been proven to work & enable good quality crops to be taken. Obviously this is very time consuming & you may feel that growing in containers is your only option. There are now club-root resistant seed variety’s available but remember this is a resistance not immunity.

Blog & Research  –  Mark Burton

The Big Thaw

Posted on by oldlanelottswp

 

 

Fieldfare on branch

I’ve seen the weather forecast for the next couple of days and It looks like the temperature’s are going to steadily rise. That sort of news we like to hear, hopefully Spring will start & we can all start planning, planting & growing, looking forward to the growing year ahead. My friend Mick Cooper was following a Fieldfare bird (member of the thrush family ) it was taking berries from bushes on the parameter fencing. Picture on the right Fieldfares are large colourful thrushes, much like a mistle  thrush in general size, shape & behaviour. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are very social birds, spending the winter in flocks anything from a dozen or two to several hundred strong. These straggling, chuckling flocks are a delightful & attractive part of the winter scene. This great picture on the left was taken by Mick Cooper on the first day of spring, the flowing water had turned to ice.

Research & Blog                                      Mark Burton

Spring day on Allotments Picture   Mick Cooper

Fieldfare Picture                                   PhotoLibrary.com

 

 

The Arctic Blast Continues Around The Country

Posted on by oldlanelottswp

As mentioned in my last blog the weather continues to snow across the U.K.  I decided to walk through the allotments again today to take some more photographs. I saw Tim up there in his 4×4 truck, he is our man that delivers horse manure free of charge to our site,( bless him) for coming up in these rough weather conditions. I then got talking to my friend Mick Cooper who was also taking pictures in the snow (Great minds think a like) below is a selection of my photos and Micks pictures.

Blog        Mark Burton

Pictures   Mark Burton/Mick Cooper

Arctic Blast Hits United Kingdom !!!!! It’s Snow Joke

Posted on by oldlanelottswp

I was on the Allotments this morning snow had fallen over night, and it was continuing to snow while I was up there, & it felt bitterly cold. When I left to come home the sun was shining & most of the snow had cleared up. I don’t think its the end of the cold spell & also more snow is forecast to come. Just when we thought Spring was nearly upon us. Please see the picture’s below thought I would take my camera with me & take some scenic photographs of our site.

Wrap up warm & stay safe while this arctic blast passes.

Blog & Photos – Mark Burton