Blog

We “Old Lane Allotments” are hosting our own Macmillan coffee morning to raise money for people living with cancer. This is a yearly event and we have decided to be involved. We are holding this event Saturday 8th October between 10.30 – 12.30. We are looking for volunteers to do some baking for our event or even helping as a volunteer on the day. Lucy Moore plot plot 37N and Kathryn Thornton plot 12/13W are organising the event & feel free to speak to them on site. We have put posters up on the front window of the hut building with all the details for our plot holders. Let us all help to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. So put this date and time in your diary either to be a volunteer on the day or, to do some baking for the event. Or come along to buy a cake and a coffee to raise funds & bring your family and friends with you

Blog created by Mark Burton Allotment Secretary) Event organisers Lucy Moore & Kathryn Thornton

Plot 4 Marie, Jim, and Michelle came up with this idea of putting socks over the sweetcorn once it becomes established. I believe the rats and magpies can’t get at the corn to strip it all. So many sweetcorn plants have been eaten this year. So, give it a try.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary) Photograph Marie Darlow

Photos from the Middleton Park Show Lynn Bailey said “We got first for wonky vegetables. Second for three root vegetables, and third for biggest pumpkin. We were all so surprised as the produce entered this year was exceptional”. Well done to plot 5 on Old Lane Allotments for taking part

Blog By Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary) Photos by Lynn Bailey plot 5

Just to let all members know we have had intruders on site last night. Sheds were open, and a couple of shed doors damaged. So come to site as soon as you can to check see if anything has been stolen or damaged. We have closed shed doors that were open.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

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)

We “Old Lane Allotments” are hosting our own Macmillan coffee morning to raise money for people living with cancer. This is a yearly event and we have decided to be involved. We are holding this event Saturday 8th October between 10.30 – 12.30. We are looking for volunteers to do some baking for our event or even helping as a volunteer on the day. Lucy Moore plot plot 37N and Kathryn Thornton plot 12/13W are organising the event & feel free to speak to them on site. We have put posters up on the front window of the hut building with all the details for our plot holders. Let us all help to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. So put this date and time in your diary either to be a volunteer on the day or, to do some baking for the event. Or come along to buy a cake and a coffee to raise funds & bring your family and friends with you

Blog created by Mark Burton Allotment Secretary) Event organisers Lucy Moore & Kathryn Thornton

Somebody has dumped all this produce that has gone to seed, or plants that don’t contain anything edible, at the back of plot 12w & 13w Nick Thyer and Kathryn Thornton’s plot at the parameter fence. The plot belongs to them up to the back of the fence and SHOULD NOT be used to dispose of items that should be composted by whoever has put them there. It looks to be about three wheelbarrow loads. If anyone has seen somebody do this can you let Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary) know please. This goes against allotment Etiquette.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Harvesting produce

Sunjeeda, Dani, and Abdul have been busy harvesting there produce on plot 46SB they have been working really hard since April on there plot. The pictures make everything worth while, fresh produce and the joy of allotment gardening.

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary) Pictures by Sunjeeda

There will be NO Annual General Meeting again this year due to ongoing high Covid infection rates. To pay your plot fees etc will be outlined in your rent statement for the 2022/2023 growing season which starts on the 1st October. We will be distributing statements to members at the end of August early September.

There will be an option to pay on line , we will also be setting up some dates to pay on site in our hut office. Instructions and dates will be included in your rent statements.

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

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)