Allotments 4 All

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Despite the recent closure of the Eco House the annual plant sale goes ahead tomorrow Sunday 19 th from 12 noon until 4 pm.
Grown by the organic garden volunteers and members of the Organic Garden Forum under the watchful eye and guidance of our reluctant guru Rob Carter we have hundreds of plants to suit any garden and allotments.

The sale is being held in the ecology garden / grounds of the Eco house on the corner of Western park, Hinckley Road.
An excellent opportunity to stock your plots or fill in empty areas of your borders.

All proceeds to a local charity Mencap.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Wizpod.

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  Hands up who's overdone the sowing!

My selection of courgettes sown, they are still small and in pots growing on in the poly-tunnel (except for green bush) and I’m hoping the weather is going to settle and warm up a bit so I can get planting!

Zephyr F1, grew these last year quite a nice taste and very pretty.
Trieste White, love these.
Rugosa Friulana, take a bit longer to crop but worth it.
White Courgette X (open pollinated Trieste White and White Volunteer - hopefully!)
All Green Bush, for an earlier crop in the poly-tunnel.
And Kamo Kamo, although not a courgette I think it’s used more like one or a marrow?

White Volunteer didn’t germinate, hoping to re-sow but have enough plants already!

Looks like I've sown too many again   

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What are you going to be growing?

This year I’ve gone for….

Inside – Firestorm, first year growing these, no idea to taste but hoping they will be good. I think they were on offer with Thompsons earlier on. I usually grow Red Rum in the poly and they do really well, great tasting too, just fancied a change this year.

For outside I’m going for Blackpod, seeds originally from HSL. I grew these last year and liked them although I only sampled a few as saving them for seed.  I think Digeroo found them a bit stringy once they got a bit older.

Ceredigion another traditional type. Great to be growing a Welsh variety and a lovely tasting and productive bean to boot.

Stenner, I think this is mostly used as an exhibition bean, it’s a resection of Enorma which is a super been but I’m also interested as it’s a Welsh selection.

Being that Runner beans are one of my all-time favourite veggies  and the first pickings a highlight of the year I can’t wait to get growing and picking, just so cold at the moment. I’m hoping to sow my main lot of runners this weekend. Also, although later than usual I’ve some Firestorm plants I started earlier which I'm growing in the poly tunnel. Hopefully in the rare event we do have hot temps these should still be able to set?

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My herb bed is looking really poor at the moment, I think last years wet spring, summer and then winter did for quite a few things. Still doing well are Chives, Lemon Balm and surprisingly Sage.  I’m seeing some sprouts of French Tarragon which is good but I thought now would be a good time to overhaul my bed?  I’m just thinking on enlarging it a bit as I’ve been managing on a 4x4’ raised bed (though I grow some herbs in a poly-tunnel too and coriander gets grown elsewhere).  I’ve got quite a few things I’ve been bringing on ready to plant out (Parsley, Thyme, Vietnamese Coriander, Rosemary, Lavender) and a few more types just sown.
 
Just wondering how much space others give to herbs and what are your must grows?