Blog

This is just a reminder to members that we have a communal garden area at the back of the hut building. Where members can sit or relax. We had the Macmillan day on there last year. St Annes also use it and have an annual barbeque for there volunteer gardeners.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Radish is derived from the Latin word ‘Radix’ which translates to the word ‘root’ very apt for this little root vegetable that stems further back than the Ancient Chinese writings from 2700 BC. The radish came to our shores in the 1500’s where it was used on many illnesses such as kidney stones to acne. The labourers who built the pyramids of Ancient Egypt were paid in onions, garlic, & radish. The radish is part of the brassica family & is related to broccoli & kale despite the ascetic & taste differences

Radishes are powerful detoxifiers that are also rich in vitamins & phytochemicals. This allows your body to purify your blood stream & maintain a higher oxygen supply to all of your cells. They thrive in well-drained soil free from stones, that has had well rotted compost dug into it. A sunny spot with a little shade are ideal growing conditions, the radish make perfect fillers in between other crops

Always read the seed packet for sowing instructions

Blog & research by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

June is a very busy time on the allotment the nights should now be frost free, and daylight hours are longer which should give you plenty of time to get on with jobs that need doing. Now is the time to protect your strawberries by mulching around them with straw to keep mud splashes off, & keep birds of your precious ripening strawberries by cover your plants with netting.

Keeping on top of the weeds is still very important hoe between rows & let them dry out on top of the soil. Continue sowing beetroot, This is the last chance to sow main crop variety carrots that will be ready to harvest in September/October. Courgettes, Summer squash, & marrows if you don’t already have young plants you have raised in pots, you can sow the seed direct outside now the soil has warmed up. The beginning of June will be the last chance to grow maincrop peas, towards the end of the month switch to early fast maturing peas which should be ready to harvest in September. Outdoor cucumbers are usually started off earlier in pots, but if you sow them direct this month they should give you a crop in August/September.

Sow Outdoors now – beetroot, broccoli, Carrots, French beans, kale, pumpkins & Winter squash, runner beans, swede, Swiss chard, turnips, radish, Spring onions, continue succession of salad leaves, cucumbers, herbs.

                                          Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

 

The funeral for our dear friend Tony Booth will take place on Tuesday 20th June at 10.45 at Cottingley Crematorium, Ring Road, Leeds, LS11 OEU. Jane who is Tonys niece says everyone is welcome to pay their respects.

There will be NO wake after the funeral service.

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Tony Booth who was our longest serving plot member sadly passed away yesterday. He had to relinquish his two allotments last October through really poor health.

Tony was an integeral part of Old Lane Allotments for over 35 years and saw the transition of the site becoming a self managed site as it is today. He was site treasurer for a number of years .He was a book of knowledge regarding allotments and gardening. Tony received many awards at garden shows for his outstanding vegatables and he loved to grow and show Chrysanthemum flowers. He was always willing to help people and he formed many special friendships over the years. Tony will be sadly missed by us all. At this time our thoughts go out to his family. I will publish details of the funeral when i get to know the date and time.

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Thiis is an addition to my first blog I published a couple of days ago. Sunjeeda has asked me if any members have any extra fruit and vegatables at the time of harvesting she will gladly distribute them to the womens whispers project.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

LETTUCE

Lettuce’s botanical name Lactuca sativa is from the Latin word lac meaning (milk) which refers to its milky sap. There are now over 100 species of lettuce probably originating from countries bordering the Mediterranean sea . It was originally a medicinal plant but records show that it was being eaten as early as 4500BC. The Greeks believed that lettuce induced sleep, the Romans began to eat it before a main meal to wet their appetite. Lettuce was known to the Anglo Saxons as sleepwort.

Christopher Columbus took lettuce’s to America, they were originally loose leaf plants  It wasn’t until the 16th century when head type lettuce appeared. Lettuce provides us with vitamin A & C, and is packed with antioxidants & is low in calories. They need an open site with light fertile soil, they do not do well in poor soil which dries out during the summer period.

Always read the seed packet before planting

Blog & research by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Notice

It is a general site rule to fill up water butts that are next to site taps around the site when  members are watering up.  This is just a polite notice to fill the water butt back up  when you’ve watered your plot.

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

For & on behalf of  (Old Lane Allotments Association)

Sunjeeda is carrying out some great work in the community, and she has asked me to put this poster on our website to get the information out there. Providing food and clothing to women in crisis hardship.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Cucumbers were originally found in India 4000 years ago, & they have since now become the 4th most widely cultivated vegetable in the world. They were introduced to Great Britain in the 14th century, but were not popular at all until the 17th century. The species grown for food are Cucumis satvus (cucumber) & Cucumis anguria West Indian gherkin.

Cucumbers are 95 percent water the skin is the moist nutritious  part. Its said that sliced cucumber placed in a aluminium tin react with the metal giving of a scent undetectable by humans but said to repel slugs & other garden pests. They are low in calories but contain many important vitamins & minerals. Eating cucumbers may lead to many potential health benefits including weight loss, balanced hydration, digestive regularity & lower blood sugar levels.

Always read the seed packet for growing instructions

Blog & research by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)