I got a lot more than I bargained for here, loads of information allotment related including cheap books on looking after hens. Well worth a visit and bookmark.
http://www.allotment.org.uk/
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Here's something really interesting produced by one of our gardeners, Mr Paul Gosling.
It's quite an extensive site so have a good rummage and find the history of our village since the begining of time.
You might also be able to ad to Paul's list of birds spotted in the area.
Might be worth pointing out that we have had a pair of English partridge on the Daniels Road Field for years altough I've never seen the chicks
and there is no mention of the black swan that was on the river for months in the late ninties.
https://sites.google.com/site/goslingswildlife/
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“What’s this” I’ve been asked when someone is pointing at an elegant looking spiky plant with a delicate white vain running down the centre of a mid green leaf?
The older hands would recognise it as a “Mole Plant”, often encouraged on the ground in order to persuade that little black nuisance to go and wreak its havoc on a neighbours plot.
Unlike most of the wildlife that plagues us on the allotments the mole isn’t a competitor for our food, (unless you include worms in your diet of course), but its activities do nothing at all for a seed bed or strawberry patch and will occasionally topple mature plants with its tunnels and heaps of spoil.
Another approach when trying to convince the little pest that it is unwelcome is to grow the occasional castor bean plant, or so I am told, these are quite decorative but can grow to some size and are supposed to be obnoxious to moles too.
Do remember not to experiment with either the latter or the aforementioned mole plant in the salad bowl as they are both poisonous.
Other defences to try are mixing castor oil washing up liquid and water and spreading that about.
Burying small plastic bottles three quarters way into the earth so that the wind makes them hum.
All sizes of kiddies plastic windmills to vibrate the ground .
All things to discourage Mr Mole. ( Allegedly ) .
................................................................................................................................
Wet weather tips, including the egg shell trick.
http://themicrogardener.com/top-tips-for-wet-weather-gardening/
.................................................................................................................................
A couple of decades ago, maybe even more, it was impossible to drive very far before seeing a little brown mat in the road that was the sad remains of a hedgehog squashed flat by motors.
I can't remember the last time I saw a hedgehog mat and I wondered if they were all gone or had they evolved to the point where they had got crossing the road sorted.
This was Pat Ayres take on the situation at the time.
Beneath is a link to "The Gardian" and their report on how this little animal is faring today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzJgKaiFtfY
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/jan/17/g2.ruralaffairs
........................................................................................................................
ARDENWORKSTM ARDENWORKS 3-15-8 Bulb Food in thepachysandra. Another
NOVEMBER
Frames. Make deep hotbeds for winter lettuce and radishes.
Construct frames for use next spring. See that vegetables in basement,
bins, and sheds are safe from freezing. Trench or store celery for
spring use. Take in balance of all root crops if any remain in the
ground, except, of course, parsnip and salsify for spring use. Put
rough manure on asparagus and rhubarb beds. Get mulch ready for
spinach, etc., to be wintered over, if they occupy exposed locations.
Fruit. Obtain marsh or salt hay for mulching strawberries. Cut
out old wood of cane-fruits--blackberries, etc., if not done after
gathering fruit. Look over fruit trees for borers.
DECEMBER
Cover celery stored last month, if trenched out-of-doors. Use only
light, loose material at first, gradually covering for winter. Put
mulch on spinach, etc.
Fruit. Mulch strawberries. Prune grape-vines; make first
application of winter sprays for fruit trees.
AND THEN
Set about procuring manures of all kinds from every available source.
Remember that anything which will rot will add to the value of
your manure pile. Muck, lime, old plastering, sods, weeds (earth and
all), street, stable and yard sweepings--all these and numerous others
will increase your garden successes of next year.
....................................................................................................................
Some thoughts on Winter Digging.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,64615.0.html
....................................................................................................................
Storing spuds and root crops.
http://www.allotment.org.uk/allotment_foods/Storing_the_Surplus_Potatoes_and_Root_Vegetables.php
...................................................................................................................
Everything you always wanted to know about composting.
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicgardening/compost_pf.php
....................................................................................................................
“What’s this” I’ve been asked when someone is pointing at an elegant looking spiky plant with a delicate white vain running down the centre of a mid green leaf?
The older hands would recognise it as a “Mole Plant”, often encouraged on the ground in order to persuade that little black nuisance to go and wreak its havoc on a neighbours plot.
Unlike most of the wildlife that plagues us on the allotments the mole isn’t a competitor for our food, (unless you include worms in your diet of course), but its activities do nothing at all for a seed bed or strawberry patch and will occasionally topple mature plants with its tunnels and heaps of spoil.
Another approach when trying to convince the little pest that it is unwelcome is to grow the occasional castor bean plant, or so I am told, these are quite decorative but can grow to some size and are supposed to be obnoxious to moles too.
Do remember not to experiment with either the latter or the aforementioned mole plant in the salad bowl as they are both poisonous.
Other defences to try are mixing castor oil washing up liquid and water and spreading that about.
Burying small plastic bottles three quarters way into the earth so that the wind makes them hum.
All sizes of kiddies plastic windmills to vibrate the ground .
All things to discourage Mr Mole. ( Allegedly ) .
................................................................................................................................
Wet weather tips, including the egg shell trick.
http://themicrogardener.com/top-tips-for-wet-weather-gardening/
.................................................................................................................................
A couple of decades ago, maybe even more, it was impossible to drive very far before seeing a little brown mat in the road that was the sad remains of a hedgehog squashed flat by motors.
I can't remember the last time I saw a hedgehog mat and I wondered if they were all gone or had they evolved to the point where they had got crossing the road sorted.
This was Pat Ayres take on the situation at the time.
Beneath is a link to "The Gardian" and their report on how this little animal is faring today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzJgKaiFtfY
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/jan/17/g2.ruralaffairs
........................................................................................................................
ARDENWORKSTM ARDENWORKS 3-15-8 Bulb Food in thepachysandra. Another
Do not be concerned if the bulb foliage appears
above the ground rather early. It has built-in insulation
and can withstand quite a lot of cold. In the case
of very hard, long frosts, mulch the area around the
bulbs with soil, leaves, peat or well-rotted manure.
After-flowering care
. After the blooms have finished, do not permit seed
pods to form at the end of stems. The formation of
seeds takes much of the energy of the bulb away
from flower production for next year. Cut off the
faded flower heads only and leave the stem and
foliage to die down naturally. Feed with G
ARDENWORKS
3-15-8 Bulb Food after flowering.
. Bulbs are best left in the ground until they become
overcrowded. When transplanting is necessary, wait
until the foliage has dried out and can be easily
separated from the bulb. Remove as much soil as
possible and store the bulb in a dry, well-ventilated
place. Discard any diseased or old bulbs and replant
the healthy-looking bulbs in the
garden the following fall.
See over for our useful guide to selecting
and planting spring-flowering bulbs
Spring Flowering Bulb Guide
Large Bulbs
The following, larger sized bulbs should be
planted approximately 6. (15cm) apart or 9
bulbs per square foot:
Daffodils
official announcement of the warmer days to come.
Available in two-tone or traditional clear-yellow as
well as doubles, daffodils can be easily incorporated
into any landscape. Dwarf varieties like .Jack Snipe.
are great in containers, and are strong enough to be
naturalized in the lawn.
Narcissus spp. . Daffodils are spring.s
German Iris
many shades of blue, purple and yellow. Dutch irises
make excellent cut flowers, and bloom in May and
June.
Iris germanica . Available in white and
Hyacinth
are pink, white or blue and can be seen in March and
April. They are wonderful in window boxes, where
the fragrance cant waft indoors, as well as in any
formal planting.
Hyacinthus orientalis . Hyacinth blooms
Small Bulbs
The following smaller-sized bulbs should be
planted 3 to 6 inches (7.5 - 15cm) apart, or 9 to
16 bulbs per square ft.
Glory of the Snow
pink or blue flowers with white centres appear in
March. Plant this in drifts or clusters for the best
effect.
Chionodoxa lucilia . Cheery
Grape Hyacinths
quaint, clustered blooms are a spring delight. If left
undisturbed, grape hyacinths will multiply over the
years to form a glorious thick mat of foliage and
flower. Flowers from March and into April.
Muscari armeniacum . These
Siberian Squill
blue blooms from February to March.
Scilla siberica . Squills bear longlasting
Snowdrop
blossom in December and into January. In mass
plantings, they bring delicate beauty and fragrance
to the winter landscape.
Galanthus nivalis. Snowdrops begin to
Spring Crocus
A multitude of colours can be found in the spring
crocus group, from deep purples to yellows and
white. Plant in drifts anywhere in the garden including
the lawn.
Crocus ancyrensis, Crocus vernus.
Wind Flower
daisy-like flowers appear during February and March.
Wind flowers will eventually colonize an area.
Anemone blanda . Pink or white
Winter Aconite
bulb with buttercup-like blooms in February. Wonderful
bulb to naturalize in wooded areas.
Eranthis hyemalis.A low growing
Winter Crocus
bear pink flowers in October and November.
May be naturalized anywhere in the
garden.
Crocus speciosus. These bulbs
Don.t forget to treat your bulbs to
G
time and again just after floweringARDENWORKS 3-15-8 Bulb Food at planting......................................................................................................................NOVEMBER
Frames. Make deep hotbeds for winter lettuce and radishes.
Construct frames for use next spring. See that vegetables in basement,
bins, and sheds are safe from freezing. Trench or store celery for
spring use. Take in balance of all root crops if any remain in the
ground, except, of course, parsnip and salsify for spring use. Put
rough manure on asparagus and rhubarb beds. Get mulch ready for
spinach, etc., to be wintered over, if they occupy exposed locations.
Fruit. Obtain marsh or salt hay for mulching strawberries. Cut
out old wood of cane-fruits--blackberries, etc., if not done after
gathering fruit. Look over fruit trees for borers.
DECEMBER
Cover celery stored last month, if trenched out-of-doors. Use only
light, loose material at first, gradually covering for winter. Put
mulch on spinach, etc.
Fruit. Mulch strawberries. Prune grape-vines; make first
application of winter sprays for fruit trees.
AND THEN
Set about procuring manures of all kinds from every available source.
Remember that anything which will rot will add to the value of
your manure pile. Muck, lime, old plastering, sods, weeds (earth and
all), street, stable and yard sweepings--all these and numerous others
will increase your garden successes of next year.
....................................................................................................................
Some thoughts on Winter Digging.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,64615.0.html
....................................................................................................................
Storing spuds and root crops.
http://www.allotment.org.uk/allotment_foods/Storing_the_Surplus_Potatoes_and_Root_Vegetables.php
...................................................................................................................
Everything you always wanted to know about composting.
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicgardening/compost_pf.php
....................................................................................................................
G
Everything to Make your Garden Work!
Bulbs for Fall Planting
In spring, nature unlocks her treasure chest to reveal the beauty of bulbs. The glorious displays in
gardens and parks are the result of gardeners who plan ahead. Late September is the time to begin,
but spring bulbs can be planted up to December as long as the soil is not frozen solid.
Choosing and Planting Bulbs
. With bulbs, it pays to buy the best. Smaller, lowquality
bulbs may be somewhat cheaper, but the
effort of planning and planting is the same. The
results are much more rewarding if top-quality bulbs
are planted.
. Give bulbs a good start. Place a handful of
bonemeal, or G
planting hole - this will provide long-lasting nutrients
and insure beautiful blooms for many springs to
come. Dust the bulbs with Bulb Dust to protect
against insects and disease. Be sure that the bulbs
are watered thoroughly and regularly to encourage
fast establishment before the onset of winter.
. Bulbs can be planted anywhere in the garden - in
sun or shade, naturalized (planted and left in place
to spread at will) in the lawn or in patio containers.
They make an attractive show when planted under
deciduous trees and shrubs as well as with
groundcovers such as ivy and
idea: plant winter blooming pansies, early flowering
forget-me-nots or fragrant wallflowers with spring
bulbs to provide an impressive show.
. Bulbs are best planted in clusters rather than
singly. Several bulbs planted together tend to give
each other support and provide a more spectacular
show. Small bulbs should be planted in groups of 15
to 25, and large bulbs in fives or tens.
....................................................................................................................................
Early Emergence
http://www.blogger.com/page-edit.g?blogID=2128557620823271075&pageID=401004155281515185
.................................................................................................................................
Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), is a herbaceous perennial climber that will not only take over your plot/garden, but also "strangle" other plants if left to it. Once it's made its way into your garden it can be very difficult to get rid of.
It has shallow, fleshy roots that spreads very quickly through the soil, and can go down up to 5 meters. Any bit of roots left while trying to eradicate the plant can grow into a new plant, and it can end up on your plot hidden in the roots of new plants, manure or soil.
Cultural control
Bindweed is extremely difficult to control organically - but with a couple of years persistent digging and hoeing it is possible to get rid of the plant. In saying that, though, it will readily spread from neighbouring plots if left untreated.
First step in the war on bindweed is to get as much of the rootsystem out as possible while digging you plot in autumn/winter. Next you must consistently hoe out any shoots that try to come out in summer, as this will significantly weaken the roots for the coming season.
Chemical control
Bindweed is effectively and easily trated with a systemic glyphosate based weedkiller, such as roundup. The problem lies in not killing other plants in the proces. To avoid any other plants being affected by the weedkiller, make sure there's no chance of the spray drifting onto them - or apply the weedkiller onto the leaves of the bindweed - using a paintbrush.
Karsten Madsen is the webmaster of http://www.allotmenteer.co.uk - an online community in the making for allotment gardeners and vegetable growers - where you can pick up tips on all things related to having your own vegetable plot.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karsten_F_Madsen
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It's Strawberry season, why not check out the BBC for best advice?
HOW TO, for us not so Know-it-alls.
WHAT IS CROP ROTATION ALL ABOUT?
Warning, it involves “Thinking”
SHOULD YOU PRACTICE “INTERCROPING?”
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE BALANCE WHEN YOU HAVE A GLUT?
WHICH LETTUCE DOES WELL UNDER GLASS, (OR PLASTIC)?
DO YOU THINK SWEDES AND TURNIPS ARE ROOT CROPS? (WRONG)
For shed loads of helpful advice on how to get the best from your gardening why not pay a visit to….
http://www.gardenhealth.com/grow-your-own/hints-and-tips/
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Link to our local Council
http://www.irchesterparishcouncil.gov.uk/
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Pic. Mr D Plummer.
Amazingly it refused to fall over and eventually had to be demolished.
.........................................................................................................
A must see
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