Growing
Our growing is mainly focussed around edible crops – vegetables, fruit and herbs. We also grow flowers in herbaceous borders, raised beds, pots and hanging baskets at both the allotment and at home.
Supporting structures in the vegetable garden
Many vegetable and fruit plants are climbers. Other can grow quickly and are quite large. If you are growing on an allotment plot the open land can leave your vegetable patch exposed. Plants do not like rocking in the wind! Here are a few pictures of how we support plants – some simple ideas!
Angled chicken wire frame for climbing squash underplanted with dwarf beans. Dig for Victory growing vs the modern day allotment!
In an earlier post I discussed the history of allotments which really got me thinking about the difference in the way allotments are utilised now since their popularity in ‘war time’ Britain.
The Dig for Victory campaign encouraged everyone to grow their own veg to support the war effort and the expansion of allotments increased the opportunity for all. A ‘full’ plot was set at 10 poles which is around 250 square metres. This is a similar size to a doubles tennis court.Weeds: Marestail
The weed referred to as ‘Marestail’ is also called common horsetail (Equisetum arvense). It is an invasive and deep rooted plant that grows via fast-growing rhizomes (underground stems). Marestail is a very primitive plant that was around before the dinosaurs. It reproduces by producing spores that are airborne and travel on the wind as well as by underground stems (modified roots called rhizosomes). This means it can be a tricky ‘weed’ to control.
Nearly planted out!
We take a tour around our 2.5 plots and discuss what has been planted.
Plot 5b: what does it take to transform a ‘half plot’?
Plot 5b – Before and After What does it take to clear 125 sqm of growing space (a half plot)?
- 4 days of hacking out brambles/raspberries, rough clearing and covering.
- 25 hours of digging out perennial weeds = 2x 1 ton builders bags full of couch/bindweed roots, creeping buttercup and strawberry runners to rot down. Spread over 3 weeks.
- 3 days laying a base and putting up a greenhouse
- Another 3-4 days building coldframes, laying flags and raised beds.
In Dec 2019 we took on Plot 5b. This is our 4th plot (2.5 plots in total). The plan is that we may give up one of the other half plots once we have 5b established. It is so much more convenient to have plots right next to each other so when this half plot came up with snapped up the opportunity.
Over half way there on clearing plot 5b
An update on our progress on clearing plot 5b
Vegetable and flower seedlings April 23rd 2020
We take a look at the seedlings growing in the cold greenhouse at home.
Growing perennial vegetables
We are all familiar with growing fruit as perennials and most plots have rhubarb, fruit bushes and fruit trees. However, how many of us grow perennial vegetables? One common perennial vegetable grown on allotments is asparagus. This week my first asparagus spear poked through! (I planted an asparagus bed last spring).
Here are some examples of other vegetables that you can plant once and can supply your kitchen for years: Food for thought!
Planting beans, peas & sweetcorn
This afternoon we have been sowing peas, beans and sweetcorn. Earlier in the year we were discussing how we were looking forward to increasing range of ‘beans for drying‘.
Here we have sown a mixture of french (dwarf & climbing) and runner beans. A few interesting varieties here so fingers crossed the yields will do well!
Weeds: Couch Grass
Couch grass Couch grass (also known as quick, quitch, cooch and witchgrass) is a very common perennial weed. This grass forms large seed heads which are a good source of food for many native birds, but within a flower garden or vegetable patch it can be very invasive.