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Cast your minds back to July 2021 everyone received confirmation that annual allotment charges would increase over the next three financial years by 3%. Leeds City Council gave us 1 years notice of the changes that would apply. This increase started for the 2022/23 growing season which members paid in October 2022. The same 3% increase will apply for the 2023/2024 & 2024/2025 growing seasons, concessions still apply. Increase for water rates will depend on any Yorkshire Water price changes .Our water charges are only £7 per member annually. However this could increase with any long periods of drought over the growing season

Old Lane Allotments Committee ( Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

GOOD –  HOUSE/KEEPING – MAKING TIME

Allotment holders as a top tip should consider the equivalent of half an hours work each day on their plot as a minimum time to achieve reasonable results. People often have to multitask juggling work, family time & allotment gardening. This makes plotting how much time you will have to dedicate to your allotment difficult to gauge.

A couple of hours a week may see you through the quiet season in the winter months, but by early Spring you will need to think about setting aside much more time for sowing seeds & planting. You need to put in an appearance at least once a week just to keep on top of the weeds & pests. The more complex the plot, the more time you will probably have to spend keeping it in line. Following a regular routine with your visits, set days & evenings every week – should make it easier to allocate ongoing tasks on the plot to plan start & finish dates. Taking a more scatter gun approach of squeezing in visits when you can, or not at all when time is tight, can see you falling behind on sowing planting & tidying up jobs. Growing seasons are tight & a measure of good housekeeping on the plot is really important to hit all those deadlines. So basically its  all a balancing act. Nothing beats the excitement & anticipation of the simple act of pulling up a carrot or digging up your “spuds” that have been hidden for months underground, like buried treasure. The truth is once  people have started with the joy of allotment gardening, they find it hard to make time for anything else.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Brussels sprouts are part of the brassica family,  and as we know they date back to the 13th century & were grown in the region of Belgium that gave them their name. Recent hybrid varieties are a revelation for reliability of cropping &  the holding power of the sprout on the stem. Sprouts are really low in calories & high in protein fibre, they are low in glycaemic making them ideal for weight loss dieting. They are very nutritious vegetable’s containing high levels of flavonoid anti oxidants. Sprouts are packed with vitamins A, K, C and complex B vitamins as well as potassium, manganese & iron.

Brussels sprouts grow best in firm, fertile soil, rich in organic matter. They benefit from a sunny & sheltered position away from high winds. The soil must be dug over in Autumn & not prior for planting out. Use cabbage collars round the base of the plant to prevent  root fly & protect from birds.

Always read the seed packet for growing instructions

Blog & research by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

WHAT TO GROW

One of the srangest things I have come across is a grower that has a crop that he or she doesn’t like. So the first rule is to grow what you like to eat. Although this may seem obvious , often it can be strangely ignored. Write down what you or your family like to eat. Think seasonally Summer most people like salads & in Winter most families like root hardy vegetables. When you go shopping see which fruit & vegetables are the most expensive (so you can save money). Having eventually made a list of what you want to eat. You can then choose the varieties you want to grow. It’s easy to get carried away when your planning, be realistic about the time you have available ; think about how much time you will have in a good week, and in a bad week. Pick plants & seeds that are happy with that & grow them in the right place. On the other hand do try crops that you haven’t eaten before. The worst case is you waste a packet of seeds & a small patch of land.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

KEEP BRITAIN TIDY

Please Help with the Great British Spring clean running from 22nd March – 23rd April 2019. Anyone who gets involved is making a real difference.  If everybody picked up 5 pieces of litter imagine what an impact that would have on our Country. It would really help turn the tide on litter pollution. Lets improve the environment on our doorstep.

PICKING UP LITTER ON OUR ALLOTMENTS OR ON THE STREET

  HELPS TOWARDS THE NATIONAL CLEAN UP OF LITTER

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

We want to give members an oppurtunity to be involved with the running of the site. We have 5 committee officers at present who all work hard on a voluntary basis. We keep the site managed, & maintained to what we think is a very good standard. All are members work hard on their plots & the passion for allotment gardening is there for all to see. Our site is full going into the new growing season, with just over eighty members who occupy plots. We would welcome fresh input & ideas to continue improving the site. Anyone who has any questions about helping on the committee or wants a chat with one of the committee officers feel free to approach them when they are on site. Or E mail : oldlanelotts@gmail.com with any questions or queries.

Old Lane Allotments Association

Give your onions a boost with our onion fertilizers to grow the best onions. Onions are heavy feeders so giving them a boost of fertiliser will keep them healthy. All dry fertilisers should be worked or watered into the top 3 to 5 inches of soil. Using a hoe gently work the fertilizer into the soil so it can leach down towards the plant root zones. You have to be careful and not damage the onions when working fertilizers into the soil.

We sell onion fertilizer at a stores shop at £1.75 per KG. All money taken goes back into the running of the site

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

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 are being used on walkways between plots & these become really icy & hazardous to walk on 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 tenants that are no longer members. Bringing them to site now is breaching our site rules

Thank You

Old Lane Allotments Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beetroot contains betaine , a substance which relaxes the mind & is used in other forms to treat depression. It also contains trytophan which is also found in chocolate believed to promote a self of well being. Recent claims suggest that it helps to lower blood pressure,beetroot is a good source of iron & folate – natural occurring folic – acid. It’s belived that beets originated somewhere in ancient Eygypt during the reign of the 3rd dynasty.

The Victorians used the juice of beetroot to dye there hair & as a form of make-up to put on there cheeks to make them rosy. Beetroot is one of the sweetest vegetables often with a ten percent level of sugar, which gradually releases into the body. Did you know that eating 200g of cooked beeroot has the same health benefits as drinking 500ml of fresh juice. Beetroot grows best in well drained, fertile soil thats had well rotted garden compost or manure. Before sowing add a handful of general purpose fertilizer per square meter.

Always remember to read the sowing instructions on seed packets

Blog & Research  by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Etiquette the customary code of polite behaviour amongst members in a profession or group . Each allotment has an unspoken law that develops over years, the kind of etiquette that should be followed.

• Keep Your Plot Tidy – Keeping your plot tidy has a real significance on the allotment but you wont make any friends if your plot is untidy & unruly. A messy plot is a magnet for pests & diseases that spread & cause problems for other plot holders. Be as tidy as possible.
• Deal With Weeds – Weedy plots are a pain for neighbouring plot members, weeds spread via both underground roots & seeds. These seeds spread via the wind, so by not weeding you will be causing work for your neighbours.
• Tackle Diseases – Always deal with any disease attacks as soon as possible, as you know disease will spread quickly to other plots. Dispose of any infected plant material off the site to limit the spread of disease. Also tell your neighbours so they can set up defences on their plot & be on the guard.
• Keep Paths Clear – Always make sure that other plot members can get past your plot, and the access is clear especially if they are pushing a wheelbarrow.
• Respect Other Peoples Space – Firstly not everyone wants to chat, some people come to there allotment for peace & tranquillity. Never take short cuts over someone’s plot , it can be annoying if someone walks over your seedlings which become damaged. If people want to chat they will.
• Help Your Neighbours – The big rule helping your neighbours, as allotments are all about community & helping each other. If your neighbour is going on holiday offer to water there plants, and they sure will do the same for you. Sharing tips & ideas can be useful for us all.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)