Pretoria Road Allotments Newsletter January 2015 - amemded · Web viewIt is not often a word which...
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When you mention the word drought it often conjures up images of distant countries suffering from months of baking sun and no rainfall. It is not often a word which you’d instantly link with Britain, but unfortunately times seem to be changing and hosepipe bans and drought conditions are becoming more frequent. Where possible every gardener should have water butts to harvest any rain that does fall. If you do decide to water your allotment, the best time of day is during the cool of the morning or evening. Water the roots of the plant and concentrate the watering to once or twice a week, as opposed to giving your plants frequent light showers, otherwise you’ll encourage the roots of the plant to seek water near the surface, as opposed to deep down on the earth. Manure and Mulches There is something that all gardeners can do to help prepare themselves for drought conditions and hosepipe bans and that is to ensure that your soil is fertile and contains plenty of organic material, which will help it to retain moisture. The condition of the soil is of paramount importance to your crops, and the easiest way of ensuring your plants have a good start in life is by ensuring that the four main growing chemicals needed – calcium, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous, are present in your soil. You can check this by buying a good quality soil testing kit from the garden centre but as a rule of thumb, add back into the soil whatever was taken out by the last crop grown. One of the quickest ways of adding these nutrients is through the addition of farmyard manure (well-rotted over a twelve-month period), green manure (crops high in nitrogen, grown specifically to be dug into the soil e.g. clover) and good quality homemade compost (garden and food waste, not cooked meat, well-rotted and turned over a twelve month – two-year period). Not only will these products improve the quality of the soil, but also the soil’s ability to retain moisture, meaning you won’t need to water your plants so frequently (and in some cases not at all). Dig the manure into the soil during a dormant period, end of the summer or early spring are ideal times. Gardening in our present Climate Conditions
Transcript of Pretoria Road Allotments Newsletter January 2015 - amemded · Web viewIt is not often a word which...
When you mention the word drought it often conjures up images of distant countries suffering from months of baking sun and no rainfall. It is not often a word which you’d instantly link with Britain, but unfortunately times seem to be changing and hosepipe bans and drought conditions are becoming more frequent. Where possible every gardener should have water butts to harvest any rain that does fall. If you do decide to water your allotment, the best time of day is during the cool of the morning or evening. Water the roots of the plant and concentrate the watering to once or twice a week, as opposed to giving your plants frequent light showers, otherwise you’ll encourage the roots of the plant to seek water near the surface, as opposed to deep down on the earth.
Manure and Mulches
There is something that all gardeners can do to help prepare themselves for drought conditions and hosepipe bans and that is to ensure that your soil is fertile and contains plenty of organic material, which will help it to retain moisture. The condition of the soil is of paramount importance to your crops, and the easiest way of ensuring your plants have a good start in life is by ensuring that the four main growing chemicals needed – calcium, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous, are present in your soil.
You can check this by buying a good quality soil testing kit from the garden centre but as a rule of thumb, add back into the soil whatever was taken out by the last crop grown. One of the quickest ways of adding these nutrients is through the addition of farmyard manure (well-rotted over a twelve-month period), green manure (crops high in nitrogen, grown specifically to be dug into the soil e.g. clover) and good quality homemade compost (garden and food waste, not cooked meat, well-rotted and turned over a twelve month – two-year period).
Not only will these products improve the quality of the soil, but also the soil’s ability to retain moisture, meaning you won’t need to water your plants so frequently (and in some cases not at all). Dig the manure into the soil during a dormant period, end of the summer or early spring are ideal times.
Good Plants to choose for dry conditions
When choosing plants for your allotment it is a good idea to go for those that originate in a hot climate and so evolved not needing very much water, or ones where the edible part of the plant grows below the soil – meaning its roots (and the crops) all benefit from deep water.For ExampleCarrots – never water, it will lower the yield
Gardening in our present Climate Conditions
Calendar of events 2020
January 2021
February 2021 Seed Exchange Cancelled
March 2021 Easter Fun Day Cancelled
April 2021
May 2021
June 2021
July 2021 August 2021
Cancelled
September 2021 Patchway Festival - Lottie open to public – BBQ, table top activities and scare-crow competition
October 2021
November 2021 Bonfire night to be discussed in Summer Committee meeting
December 2021
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Good plants to choose for dry conditions Cont’d Potatoes – Water only when the flowers have just opened, but otherwise there should be enough moisture in the soil to sustain the plants.Parsnips – watering doesn’t benefit the cropJerusalem artichoke – never water, otherwise you encourage the formation of leaves and not tubers.Rosemary & Thyme – woody herbs which can withstand dry seasons.Beetroot – don’t over water as this will increase leaf size not root size, but don’t allow the soil to dry out completely.Brussel Sprouts – established plants will only require watering during exceptionally dry weather.Kohlrabi – the root system of this is plant is well developed for sourcing water and so can withstand very dry seasons.Onions – after the plant has established, they require little watering and never after mid-July as this will delay ripening.
There are some plants which survive very well during wet weather and as such require a lot of watering during a drought. Therefore, it is best to avoid the following – celery, courgettes, marrows, pumpkins, squash, rhubarb and spinach.
Fund Raising Events during 2020
The Committee maybe able to organise the Patchway Festival Allotment open day planned at present in September this year. The other event possible is the annual bonfire for around 5 th November. This will be discussed at the Committee meeting in the summer
Current & Future Allotment News
There has been a very challenging time since February last year with the many rules for social distance and hygiene that had such an impact on the community meeting of plot holders that we value so much. The Committee have spent many hours and effort making sure we comply with the ever-changing rules so the Allotment Society is able to stay functioning in the best way possible.
The Committee are now delighted to say the Allotment Shop, toilets and hire of equipment are now open for use to any plot holders. The kitchen is at present unable to open. The sensible rules of social distancing remaining for the foreseeable future.
Thefts on the Allotment Site
There has been reporting to the Committee over the last month a number of thefts of wheel barrows and other gardening items in particular from plot holders. Can all plot holders please ensure the allotment gates are secure after entering and leaving the site. If you are near the end of the day, it is vital you lock the gate, as plot holders have left gates open before overnight.
Contact the committee: [email protected] website:
growpretoria-patchwayallotment.com
patchwayallotment.com-growpretoria
Contact the committee: [email protected]
