Allotments 4 All

Hello all, I'm sorry that this update is a bit later than usual but I have only just recovered from staying up to watch Children in Need on Friday night, what a great event for such a good cause, regards Steve.

http://www.myallotments.blogspot.com

I've been experimenting with outdoor toms this year, and I've done really well with Clear Pink Early - extremely early, as the name implies - Taxi, an early, medium sized yellow tom, Stupice, small and red, and Prima, red, meaty, follows on nicely from CPE.

Don't be too strict about chucking non-cultivators off the site; it's a matter of finding the happy medium. There can be all sorts of perfectly valid reasons why a plot goes backwards for a year or two, and what do youy do with the guy who's been there for 40 years, made a real contribution to the site in his day, but who's now too infirm to do anything except sit and listen to the birds?

:) Steve a question, I have had my first growing season and did pretty well considering I have never done any type of gardening before, my fellow lotties praising me must be worth something. Anyway back to the question, its my first year of crop rotation I have read two books and have listened to various people on the subject also I have just read your thread. I am still none the wiser, so I plan to put the potato family together, spuds toms,peppers and aubergines. Brassicas no problem, onions and roots together, then legumes peas, beans etc, then others such as sweetcorn,spinach and beetroot which can fill in the gaps, plus radish as catch crops. Please advise Steve as I could use your experience. Thankyou I hope to hear from you or any other lotties.

                May the corn be with you.

Hello Robert Brenchley and thankyou for your comments, I will take on board what you said about the plotholders who have been there a long time and are unable to manage as well as they may have done in the past, as it is none of the plots that are overgrown as shown in my slideshow are held by these plotholders, they are plots that have been taken on recently the last year or so and by younger plotholders who have not realised what work or time is envolved in taking on an allotment, however I'm sure that as a committee we could do much more to either help them or to have a welcome pack with useful information as to how to get the best from their plots and how and where to start, regards Steve.

Hello cornykev and thankyou for your message, did you look at my part of the website Crop Rotation the link is on the side of the webpage, how you plan to group your certain crops together does pose a problem in that Potatoes require different soil conditions to that of your Aubergines, Peppers and Tomatoes also grouping your Onions with your Root crops pose a similar problem for example Onions like to have the ground manured when dug in the Autumn wheras your Root crops definitely do not as it will result in them forking, the link to my Crop Rotation page is here if you need it:
http://www.myallotments-croprotation.blogspot.com

I hope this helps but if not then please feel free to email me with any further questions, regards Steve.

Had you thought of writing up a sheet of advice for new plotholders? If you have a site shop, perhaps you could stock black plastic, as it makes so much difference, and it's the sort of thing a novice is unlikely to know about.

Yes that is the type of thing we should introduce and yes I agree with what you say about stocking things in the site shop to help the new plotholders rather than just fertilisers and chemicals, our stock range does need reviewing, thanks Steve.