Allotment Open Day
Monday, November 28th, 2011Brushes Allotment site in Firth Park had an open day and it was enjoyed by all!
The Parents and Carers Allotment is a new partnership between First Start Children’s Centre and Heeley City Farm.
Archive for November, 2011
Blane Valley Allotment group plans
Monday, November 28th, 2011Blane Valley Allotment group plans some great things!
THE Blane Valley Allotment group presented full details of its community allotment project at a public meeting in Strathblane Village Club last Saturday.
Duntreath Estate has offered a site for the project, behind the railway track on the outskirts of the village.
All allotments will be within walking distance of the village and there will also be a community garden.
A spokesperson for the group, said: “We think this shows real community spirit, generosity and forward thinking in today’s climate. The supporters of the allotment are very grateful and look forward to developing this relationship with Duntreath Estate.
“We believe that the project will have many benefits for the community.
“It will allow people to grow food locally, enable more social interaction, encourage intergenerational relationships, increase biodiversity, lower the carbon footprint for the village and help with skills development and educational projects for the local school and nursery.
Allotments to reopen
Saturday, November 26th, 2011Long shut allotments are to finally reopenClaypitts Allotments, off London Road, Bicester, was shut after soil was blighted by waste from a former dump at the allotment site.
Raspberry plants at T&M
Friday, November 25th, 2011They have many more types than this small selection
Thompson & Morgan have an excellent range of raspberries.
Raspberry ‘Valentina’ (Summer fruiting) – 3 canes £11.99
Summer Fruiting.This very pretty and unusual apricot pink-coloured raspberry has a fantastic flavour. Fruit is produced from June to July on strong, upright canes with only a few spines, making harvesting easy. With good resistance to disease and aphids Raspberry ‘Valentina’ is ideal for gardeners not wishing to use pesticides or fungicides.All of our raspberries have been inspected by the Ministry of Agriculture for pests and diseases and certified. The bare root plants are hand graded and carefully selected before packing. Height: 150cm (59″). Spread: 50cm (20″).Useful links:How to grow raspberries
Great things to plant in your garden
Friday, November 25th, 2011All of these would be great in your garden. Herbs offer scent, practical plants you can use to make teas and add to food, and flowers for bees.
Thompson & Morgan have some amazing seeds on offer
Mint Plant Collection – 5 jumbo plugs – 1 of each variety £9.99
Enjoy the fresh flavour of home grown mint picked straight from your herb garden. This aromatic collection comprises seven different varieties for a taste sensation! Dot them throughout sunny borders or plant them in large patio containers. Plant different varieties of mint separately around the garden, to prevent them cross pollinating and retain their individual and distinctive flavours. Mint Plant Collection comprises 1 plant each: ApplemintChocolateGingerSpearmintMorrocanPineappleUseful links:How to grow herbs Culinary note: Some parts of these flowers are edible. For more details about edible flowers click here.
Basil seeds
Friday, November 25th, 2011If you’re growing tomatoes you have to grow basil. Grow it in pots and bring some in to the kitchen. It’s such a nice smelly plant to have you’ll pick bits off it and nibble them!
Thompson & Morgan have a great selection.
Basil is easy to grow in a pot. Put compost in, firm, add seeds, cover lightly, water little and often. You’ll get basil appearing.
Harvest it with scissors or by picking it by hand. Grow lots! If you cook pasta several times a week then grow a pot per use and keep planting more seeds each week! A long steady show of basil is a good idea!
Grow enough and your friends can be treated to homemade pesto!
Probably the easiest herb to grow apart from mint.
Basil ‘The Spice Boys Collection’ – 1 packet (1500 seeds) £4.29
Introducing Basil Cinnamon, Basil Lettuce Leaf, Basil Greek, Basil Purple Delight, Basil Lemon and Basil Ararat better known as The Spice Boys! Individually attractive and unique in appearance – from frilly spice to plain leaved spice. Together they offer a symphony of flavours to tantalise your taste buds in salads, cooking and garnishes. Height: Up to 60cm (24”). Spread: Up to 45cm (18”).Basil ‘Spice Boys’ Collection contains 1 packet each of:Basil lettuce Leaf – Similar in appearance to a frilly- leaf lettuce. Short, robust plants with large leaves and a sweet taste. Basil Cinnamon – Bushy, with a tall habit and a sweet, cinnamon taste with a hint of cloves. Basil Greek – Compact dwarf plants with rounded foliage and a fairly strong flavour with hints of anise and cloves. Basil Purple Delight – Uniform compact plants with dark purple leaves that make a good container plant. Full bodied and sweet yet very spicy in flavour. Basil Lemon – The typical Basil flavour is overshadowed by a wonderful aroma of sweet lemon. Delicious used with fish, peas and selected sweets. Basil Ararat – An old heirloom variety with dark green mottled foliage, seldom offered until recently. A fantastic aromatic, sweet and spicy taste. Useful links:How to grow herbs Culinary note: Some parts of these flowers are edible. For more details about edible flowers click here.
plum tomato seeds
Friday, November 25th, 2011I really enjoyed the plum tomatoes I’ve grown in the past and find them probably the tastiest ones in the shops at the moment. I love the tiny baby ones!
Thompson & Morgan has these new products today
Tomato ‘Falcorosso’ F1 Hybrid – Duchy Originals Organic Seeds – 1 packet (6 seeds) £2.99
Bush.Early to ripen, Tomato ‘Falcorosso’ produces supermarket quality, large cherry-sized, plum shaped fruits with up to 20 cherry tomatoes produced per truss. This excellent bush variety is ideal for growing in the greenhouse and shows great resistance to Fusarium, Verticillium Wilt, Cladosporium and Mosaic Virus. Due to their wide ranging pest and disease resistance, there will be no need for the use of chemicals, making them perfect for organic gardeners. Height: 100cm (39″). Spread: 50cm (20″).Useful links:How to grow tomatoes How to stop blight
Tomato seeds at T&M
Friday, November 25th, 2011Thompson & Morgan have lots of great tomato seeds.
Tomato ‘Orkado’ F1 Hybrid – 1 packet (8 seeds) £0.99
Cordon.This superb outdoor cordon variety is perfect for growing in unpredictable British summers. The trusses of Tomato ‘Orkado’ are early to ripen, bearing an average of 8 round, deep red fruits per truss. The firm, well-flavoured, medium sized fruits, each weighing up to 140g (5oz), resist splitting and are ideal for slicing. Height: 200cm (79”). Spread: 50cm (20”).Useful links:How to grow tomatoes How to stop blight
Rehome some hens
Thursday, November 24th, 2011Coventry allotment shed torched
Thursday, November 24th, 2011Sheds torched at Hawkesbury’s Shilton Lane allotments
Devastating! I can only imagine how devastating this is to happen to your allotment shed! All those lost tools. 🙁