Archive for June, 2005

The hot dry spell

June 19th, 2005

With the hot dry spell, the need to water has become imperative. Remember, all hoses must be fitted with a trigger release attachment. Most of the hoses on site have one. Please do not remove any; just use the connection even when filling water butts. When everyone has to water, the deficiencies of the water supply become obvious. All water on site comes in through a pipe below the main entrance. When anyone on the lower path turns on a tap all other users have a much reduced supply as the lower path is on a down pipe. Most plotholders on the lower path are aware of this and try not to ‘hog’ the water. However there is only the one tap on the lower path to serve 23 allotments.

Originally, a second water supply came in from the Woodside Road entrance and served the top of the site. The last tap on this line was on plot 86. When the pipe rusted away a decision was made, (without consulting plotholders), not to renew it. This is why the top of the site became derelict.

There is still one tap left on this line near the top gate but it is now marked with red paint – never a good sign on our site!

Congratulations to Jane & Andrew (Plot 63.) on the birth of their second daughter Isabelle Catherine last month

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Jobs for the month (June 2005)

June 1st, 2005

  1. This is the hungry time, just before the first of this year’s crops are ready.  Brassicas that have come through the winter look tough and inedible but it’s worth checking how they cook up.  It’s normally heat, not cold, that makes vegetables tough.
  2. If you have a row of chard which overwintered, you will have plenty of fresh greens.  This is a good source of vitamins and has a milder flavour than spinach.  It will cook in the water it’s washed in.  You need to start with a potful as it cooks down to very little.
  3. Speaking of spinach  -  the ladies on plot 6 have been eating spinach for weeks and they only started on their plot in January.
  4. Broad beans are going to be ready soon.  Don’t wait till they are large and tough like those on sale in the shops.  Start on them early when they are not much bigger than a pea.  This may seem profligate but that is why we have our plots  -  maximum flavour and freshness!
  5. Many seeds are programmed to start growth when they get a good soaking. We haven’t had enough rain in the last month to help small seeds germinate.  Hot dry days take a toll of those seedlings that do come up.  Watering helps but some good rain would be a real boost!
  6. Carrots, beetroot, parsnips and spring onions will need to be kept clear of weeds.  Within the row, between the plants, this is best done with a pointed knife while they’re small.  Between the rows the flat hoes that cut roots are best.   If you want to keep carrots free of carrot fly maggots, you’ll need to cover them with fleece.  Parsnips should be thinned out to at least four inches apart.
  7. It’s June and we must stop cutting asparagus now.  As soon as the shoots lengthen you will find they are attacked by a small black grub.  This is the larvae of the asparagus beetle and though they are small, they are voracious.  They even eat the bark off the stems!  You’ll have to squash them or spray!  No plant will survive being ring barked.
  8. There are good crops of potatoes all over the site.  They soon recovered from the frost damage and some of them are nearly ready to lift.  Yes, the tubers will be small, but delicious!  After a spell of hot humid days, look out for potato blight.  You may need to spray with Dithane.  For those who haven’t managed to plant their spuds yet, it’s not too late!  Your seed potatoes may have long straggly shoots and the tuber may look shrivelled and spent but it’s still viable and will produce a good crop.  At this time of year, shops almost give away these left over bags of sorry looking seed potatoes.  They’re worth buying!
  9. The sweet corn is doing well in the warmer weather and dry spells don’t bother it either.  It rarely needs watering.  The pollination is done by wind, not insects, so plant fairly close in rows or blocks.  The male flower appears first from the centre top of the plant and is followed by the female flower which appears as a silky tassel from the central stem below.  The pollen grains have to fall and stick to the tassel to produce a well filled cob of corn.  This is an American plant but our birds have learnt to strip the outer wrappings to get to the kernels, so be aware!
  10. Runner beans can be unreliable croppers, so why not have some climbing French beans as well?  These never fail to produce heavy crops and are less susceptible to black fly.  Cobra (pencil shaped pods) and Hunter (flat pods) are good and there are purple and gold varieties as well.  Of course they taste different to runners, but are still delicious.  Those who like bending or can’t spare the time to erect supports can grow a dwarf variety.
  11. When beans are carrying a heavy crop, they need plenty of water.  A sprinkling will not do.  You need to soak the roots.  You also need to keep the pods picked young as the plant will use a lot of energy producing large tough beans that no one wants to chew.
  12. Those who planted overwintering onions last Autumn are happy now to see the bulbs swelling at the base.  These are particularly sweet and succulent onions.  They have a tendency to ‘bolt’.  A large stalk with pointed seed pod appears through the centre of the foliage.  Pick these bolted ones now while this central stem is tender and can be eaten.  If left to maturity this stem becomes tough and inedible but it is easily discarded when the onion is prepared for eating so don’t chuck these bolted ones on the compost heap!  These overwintering onions are not good for long storage.

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