Blog

Mains water to be turned off

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Mains water for the site is planned to be turned off Monday 15th November.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

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Just letting members know that the Kings Seeds orders are now being processed, members that have ordered seeds only, they should arrive with us in the next three weeks, onion sets, soft fruit etc. are usually sent before the growing season. Seed potatoes have been ordered and they will arrive from (Codnor) in the middle of February 2022.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

By now the nights are drawing in,so trying to fit in the allotment work becomes more difficult. Its time now to plant hardy Autumn broad beans, hardy peas can also be planted as well. Plant garlic cloves now otherwise you risk the weather becoming too wet or the ground being frozen. November is also the time to plant fruit trees, bare rooted ones which can only be planted when dormant. The same applies to new fruit bushes, rhubarb,blackberry & raspberry canes. As the ground becomes vacant it is now the time to dig in manure or grow – organic , leave the soil roughly dug in large clumps & let the worms do the work.

Digging over the land introduces air to the soil, loosening it also leaves insects & pests to the open air where birds can eat them.  Do not forget to check your vegetables in storage, and removing anything that has started to rot before it spreads. Potatoes really need to be checked at regular intervals.

Remember we sell Grow – Organic to dig into the land – All monies go back into running the site

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Just a quick blog to inform all members that Leeds City Council came to site today & carried out maintenance work on the entrance gate (Old Lane side). The problem has now been rectified & the gate now opens & closes as it should

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Just to let members know we are aware of the problem with the entrance gate at (Old Lane Side). Someone from Leeds City Council called on site today to take a look at the gate. They are going to fix the problem next week hopefully Friday 29th October. If you take the bar out that goes into the sleeve in the ground you can align them correctly to close the bar across to lock the gate, then place that bar back into the sleeve in the ground/ This will stop the gates rattling in the wind causing further damage.

I know this situation is not ideal but if you are experiencing problems with the gate for now it will probably make life easier to use the other entrance gate until the problem is rectified..

Sorry for any short term inconvenience

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

Middleton Show Awards

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Better Action For Families known as B.A.F.F who occupy plot 5 on Old Lane Allotments took some of their produce to the Middleton Show. Lynn Bailey one of the team said ” We were so pleased with the result of the awards especially with not been able to run groups on the allotment due to the pandemic”

They won 1st prize for root vegetable’s (Beetroot). They also won 1st prize for wonky vegetable’s (Carrots) . Finally 3rd prize for there potatoes. Well done to all the team representing Better Action For Families – growing there produce on there plot 5 on Old Lane Allotments;

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary) Pictures Lynn Bailey (B.A.F.F)

Our hut & main building

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We have decided to put paving slabs around the hut building . We started phase 1 of the project. Mick Hogan laid the flags & I was the labourer. I think you will all agree they look really good. Martin Kennard who works the communal garden areas is going to plant flowers in the tubs which will look really decorative after our main hut building was painted.

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

To all members

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Can any members who have not submitted there seed potato forms or kings seeds order forms for processing please give them to me on site as soon as possible. In particular the seed potato forms as we need to reserve stock with our supplier

THANKS

Blog created by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

With the first frosts hitting us this month as the season really starts to slow down we can now prepare for the next growing season. Its not too late to plant out over wintering onion sets. You can plant your garlic now. Towards the end of the month you can sow broad beans for an early crop. Your greenhouse should come to an end this month any green tomatoes can be made into chutney or ripened over the next couple of months producing red tomatoes. Store them in a cool place in the dark not touching each other in case one rots & passes on to other fruits. If they dont look like they are ripening put an over ripened banana in with them this will release ethylene gas that contributes to ripening. Runner beans & French beans will come to an end this month.

When land becomes vacant you can dig it & Spread manure over the surface. Leave the soil in large clumps the worms will break them up to get to the manure. Now is the time to give the greenhouse a good clean out & wash down making more direct light next growing season.

Blog by Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)

An anonymous letter has been left in our post box. Could the person that has wrote it come & see the Secretary (Mark Burton) or another member of the committee to discuss the matter please

Old Lane Allotments Association