Having a New Plot

Taking Over a New Plot

I have written about this before, when I first started writing my Blog but, at this time of year many allotment associations are carrying out annual plot inspections, in part so that prizes can be awarded to be best gardeners but, also to see who has not cultivated their plots. In our Allotment Association we give most of our prizes to newcomers – to plot holders who have had their plots for just one year. In that way everyone has a chance to win a prize. If we gave the main prize to the best plot, chances are it would always go to the same expert gardener.

In our Association, which has six separate fields, the Field Representatives carry out regular inspections to see who is doing really well and who is not doing the business at all. It is a pity that plot holders who no longer have the time nor the inclination, for whatever reason, don’t tell their Field Rep. or a member of the committee that they don’t or can’t cultivate their plot any longer so that it can be re-let to someone who has been on the waiting list for years and is desperate to have the chance. Under those circumstances the plot is probably totally derelict – covered in brambles, couch grass and other very invasive weeds. My son, who, after waiting for about two years for a plot in Newcastle, was rewarded with a beautifully maintained half plot, with a greenhouse. How lucky was he? His predecessor no longer felt he could work his plot but left it immaculate for the next person – my son.And that is how it should be.

This is not the best time of year to be allocated a plot but, the year is definitely not wasted. It has been very dry this year in many parts of the country, especially in the south and east. This has made tilling the land quite difficult. In Bristol, where I have my plot, we have heavy clay soil. It is very fertile though inclined to being quite acid. The soil and conditions are brilliant for many important crops and I feel very privileged to have my plot. However, when it is dry, the ground splits open and can’t be dug. It is like digging bricks. Just lately we have had a little rain, enough to be able to till the ground, plant out gasping potted seedlings and do other necessary work. The forecast is for more very dry hot weather so, I do think we will have to spend a lot of time ‘moving water’.

I say new but, of course, in most cases, the allotments are not new. They have often been cultivated for a century or more. And, in many cases have been planted and harvested for years without anything going back in. So, lots of manure or other fertiliser is a priority for the coming year. If you find your plants, in spite of liberal additions of manure or other fertiliser, are turning yellow, it is possible your plot is too acid and you will need to add lime. If the ground is too acid the plants can’t access the nutrients. Take care with this, adding lime does not suit all plants and too much lime is just as bad as too little. The optimum pH (the measurement of the acidity/alkalinity of the soil) is around 6 – 6.5 for most vegetables, which is slightly acid. A pH meter from any garden shop may not give you an accurate measurement but, they are cheap and will give you an indication of a problem which needs to be dealt with.

As I said earlier, this may not be the best time to acquire a plot but, there are many crops which can still be successfully planted to gain a harvest this year.

Beans – for Runner beans or French beans – it is probably best to buy plants from the garden centre – too late to sow your own, except for beans that you intend to dry for the winter, eg, Borlotto and Yinyang beans which can be sown up until the end of July. Although Runner Beans and many varieties of French beans are climbers and will need a framework to support them( think about a robust frame 8 – 10 feet, 3 metres, high), many French beans are dwarf – my favourite is Purple Teepee.

Sweetcorn – I would suggest you buy your young plants from a garden centre as it is now too late to sow. They are, like beans, peas, courgettes, pumpkins and squashes gross feeders (ie. They need a lot of fertiliser). Make sure you plant them in blocks and fairly close together 8inches – 20cms max. distance. The plants must pollinate each other. (a couple of years ago I thought I’d be kind to my sweetcorn and gave them lots of space – 1ft(30cm) apart. They grew beautifully but, the cobs were not pollinated so, I got little from them. They are so easy to freeze so, if you like them, grow lots.

Squash, Pumpkin – Like the above vegetables, it is very much too late to sow your own but,  garden-centres should have a huge range of different types. They need lots of space as the plants spread a lot. Think a couple of square metres per plant. My preference is for a crop I can store and use during the autumn and winter. I’m not much interested in the monster pumpkins for Hallowe’en but, whatever rocks your boat! My recommendation is for small pumpkins like Baby Bear, Justynka or Hooligan and Cobnut squash. Be careful with pumpkins, some very fancy varieties may be pretty but, are actually poisonous to eat.

Tomato plants, courgette plants, pepper plants – If your climate is mild enough you might consider growing these plants outdoors. Again, it is probably too late to sow tomatoes. It is definitely too late to sow courgettes and peppers. Give the garden centres a bit of extra trade! Watch out for tomato blight (similar to potato blight).

Salad vegetables – successional sowing of lettuce, cut-and-come-again salad greens, radishes, spring onions are very encouraging, giving crops which you can now sow for yourself and harvest into the autumn.

Brassicas – that wonderful range of super-healthy green plants. I sowed some seed for winter production a week ago – Brussels sprouts and broccoli. If you don’t want to sow your own the garden centres should have a good range (gosh! At this rate they should be giving me a commission! Both of these crops are a mainstay of winter vegetables. Unless we have a winter like last year they should see you through the winter – even if you do get tired of eating purple sprouting broccoli.

Okay! Now think about the end of summer and into autumn. The ground is now tilled and crops harvested. This is an excellent time to order onion sets, garlic and shallots. They will be sent out by the seed companies (my favourite is Dobies) at the right time for planting. While they don’t really taste much different, it is nice to be able to grow and store your own onions. They say that autumn planted onion sets won’t keep, last year, due to the very dry year my onions have kept right through until the new crop is ready. And! Where is any shop you ever seen ‘wet’ garlic for sale. This is a pleasure only growers can enjoy.(young garlic bulbs-before the skins have set around the cloves- roast with roast lamb, pork, chicken – yummy!)

That is also a time to think about what you want to grow next year – what seeds you need, what perennial plants (globe artichokes, asparagus, fruit bushes/trees), potato seed – apart from eating my produce, this is my favourite occupation of autumn.

Enjoy and more later.