Kingsthorpe Grove Allotment Association
Top Tips
Water Harvesting
The cost of the water rates on the allotment site is rising every year.
It seems crazy that we pay so much for something that falls freely from the sky. The long summer months are great for sun bathing and ripening your tomatoes but we do use lots of water which is fast becoming a valuable commodity, even in this country!
It would be great to see water butts being fed from rain water running off the many sheds and green houses at the site. Just by doing this we could greatly reduce the water bill.
The cost of the water rates on the allotment site is rising every year.
It seems crazy that we pay so much for something that falls freely from the sky. The long summer months are great for sun bathing and ripening your tomatoes but we do use lots of water which is fast becoming a valuable commodity, even in this country!
It would be great to see water butts being fed from rain water running off the many sheds and green houses at the site. Just by doing this we could greatly reduce the water bill.
Towards the beginning of the month you need to be thinking about ordering your supply of onions, garlic, shallots and seed potatoes.
Start saving your egg boxes as they are great for putting your seed potatoes in for chitting.
From early February place your seed potatoes in the egg boxes with the 'eyes' facing upwards. Keep them in a light position but out of direct sunlight. The potatoes will soon start to shoot and when these reach around 2.5cms (1inch) in length, (it usually takes around six weeks), they can then be planted out. The first early potatoes can be planted out from mid March, we always say after St.Patricks day but it does depend on the weather! The potatoes should be ready within around 12-14 weeks.
The second earlies are planted out in early April to be ready after 15-18 weeks.
The main crop potatoes are planted towards the end of April and are ready for lifting after around 18-22 weeks.
To store your potatoes put them in sacks or well ventilated containers in a dark place. We're still eating last years crop so we haven't bought any potatoes for months.
*Top Tip For Storing Potatoes*
Place an apple in the sack with your potatoes when you store them and it will stop them from shooting. It works, I've tried it and the apple doesn't go off!
Start saving your egg boxes as they are great for putting your seed potatoes in for chitting.
From early February place your seed potatoes in the egg boxes with the 'eyes' facing upwards. Keep them in a light position but out of direct sunlight. The potatoes will soon start to shoot and when these reach around 2.5cms (1inch) in length, (it usually takes around six weeks), they can then be planted out. The first early potatoes can be planted out from mid March, we always say after St.Patricks day but it does depend on the weather! The potatoes should be ready within around 12-14 weeks.
The second earlies are planted out in early April to be ready after 15-18 weeks.
The main crop potatoes are planted towards the end of April and are ready for lifting after around 18-22 weeks.
To store your potatoes put them in sacks or well ventilated containers in a dark place. We're still eating last years crop so we haven't bought any potatoes for months.
*Top Tip For Storing Potatoes*
Place an apple in the sack with your potatoes when you store them and it will stop them from shooting. It works, I've tried it and the apple doesn't go off!
Rosa the scarecrow looks after the rows of vegetables during last years summer months
Beginners Blunders
We were so excited when we first got our allotment. Three women with not a lot of gardening experience between us, taking on what looked like a plot of well established twitch, weeds and grass!!
There was no way the men in our lives were going to join us so we went for it anyway, knowing full well that they would soon enjoy the benefits of our labours. It wasn't long after that my brother-in-law decided he didn't want to miss out on the fun we were having so he offered to hire a rotavator to help get us going. He certainly didn't anticipate the speed the thing would travel and was soon running speedily after it as it hurtled off down the plot churning up everything in its path!! We looked on helplessly- due to the fact we were laughing so much as he ran after the errant machine. He managed to gain control and eventually we did too and the plot soon looked as though it could be planted with quick growing crops.
We had lots of plants given to us by other plot holders which was great as we were too late to start off the early crops however we did manage to get some dwarf french beans started and they were soon big enough to plant out. We excitedly took them to the plot and started planting them with our neighbouring plot holder looking on. It was only later that he asked what we were planting and when we told him he nearly fell over laughing which we couldn't quite understand. When he finally regained his composure he smiled sweetly and told us we really didn't need 6ft cane wigwams for dwarf french beans!!
Lynne, Karen & Ian
We were so excited when we first got our allotment. Three women with not a lot of gardening experience between us, taking on what looked like a plot of well established twitch, weeds and grass!!
There was no way the men in our lives were going to join us so we went for it anyway, knowing full well that they would soon enjoy the benefits of our labours. It wasn't long after that my brother-in-law decided he didn't want to miss out on the fun we were having so he offered to hire a rotavator to help get us going. He certainly didn't anticipate the speed the thing would travel and was soon running speedily after it as it hurtled off down the plot churning up everything in its path!! We looked on helplessly- due to the fact we were laughing so much as he ran after the errant machine. He managed to gain control and eventually we did too and the plot soon looked as though it could be planted with quick growing crops.
We had lots of plants given to us by other plot holders which was great as we were too late to start off the early crops however we did manage to get some dwarf french beans started and they were soon big enough to plant out. We excitedly took them to the plot and started planting them with our neighbouring plot holder looking on. It was only later that he asked what we were planting and when we told him he nearly fell over laughing which we couldn't quite understand. When he finally regained his composure he smiled sweetly and told us we really didn't need 6ft cane wigwams for dwarf french beans!!
Lynne, Karen & Ian
If you have a 'beginners blunder' to share with everyone email: kg.allotments@virginmedia.com