Allotments 4 All

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Hi All,

We are back online, computers 

Hope lockdown phase 2 is treating people well.

Dan

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The plot holder a couple of plots away from me has just had a delivery of eucalyptus chippings, what a wonderful aroma drifting over the site this morning. I had to google it when I got home thinking the oils might leech from her paths. But it is down a being beneficial for keeping down bugs an nasties and acts just like a normal mulch. Also supposed in some countries to give off an antiseptic to  covid 19.

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On our allotment site we suffer from Allium Leaf Miner and Downy Mildew on all alliums. It has got to the point where onions have to be grown under netting to prevent the Allium Leaf Miner and to grow Downy Mildew resistant varieties to try to mitigate the effects of problem. Growing Hylander and Santero seems to certainly help with the Downy Mildew on onions. Leeks however is a different ball game . As far as I am aware after much research there are no Downy Mildew resistant varieties . If anyone knows of any please let me know. The only way again is to grow under netting which me and my neighbour have successfully done this year. 
2 weeks ago another neighbour had 2 perfect rows of Spring Onions and 4 rows of excellent leeks. Within 48 hours they were all decimated because of the Downy Mildew. Fortunately the whole site had harvested all their main onion crop otherwise that would have gone the same way. This year it was late coming other years it can come anytime between May and September depending on the weather. It has got to the point that all brassicas because of cabbage whites and the pigeons and all alliums have to be covered. I have 6 nets in total.

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She came back from the charity shop with a vonchef soupmaker.  Gave it a steam clean and tried it out. Just bung all the veggies in the thing, drop of water and switch on.  Great soup enough for four. Lacking in salt for me but a secret sprinkle when nobody was looking . Get one if you see one,  A quick phone call and Alexa can switch it on if you are out digging and tilling. Nice meal when you get home.