Green Gardening - water saving

Some top tips to save water use at the allotment (and in the garden) Never water in the heat of the day, most will evaporate. It is better to water in the evening or early morning so that the water soaks into the soil.

Water plants at the base thoroughly and infrequently, so that water reaches the roots, rather than giving them a light sprinkling more often. Roots will then go down to search for water, making plants stronger.

Use a rose on your watering can. Water flooded on to the surface will dry to form a hard crust.

Water only the plants that need it! Some plants, even root vegetables, will survive on very little water. Some, such broad beans, need water when they are filling out and only some, such as lettuces, tomatoes and marrows need water throughout the season.

Cut the base off a plastic bottle and bury it upside down next to the plants - poured in water will then get straight to where it matters, the roots.

Think about planting low water using vegetables, or vegetables that thrive in hotter countries (someone said to me today that they were trying lentils for this reason!).

Mulch plants to keep the water in the soil

Grow plants that can shade the roots of others.

Raised bed gardening

Richard Barrett from Philip Road allotment site has put together a pdf that tackles the subject of gardening using the raised bed system.Download pdf

Ten tips for discouraging rats

Discouraging rats at the allotment site is everybody’s responsibility. Please follow the following advice to help prevent them making your plot their home!

1. Turn the contents of your compost bin regularly (at least twice per year). This not only disturbs any rats that have taken up residence but also aerates your compost heap which speeds up the process of digestion and reduces the amount of methane (a greenhouse gas) your heap emits. Have a shovel ready to hit any escaping rats over the head as you do it!
2. Plastic compost bins should be given a small gauge wire mesh lining at the base or can be placed on paving slabs to prevent rats from burrowing in underneath.
3. Regularly kick your compost bin to ensure it is not a peaceful place for rats to sleep and check they are not taking up residence in your greenhouse!
4. Never put meat, dairy, bones, cooked foods or other inappropriate items in your compost bin. This will attract rats and make your bin smell.
5. Harvest ripe fruit and vegetables promptly and take them home to enjoy (before somebody else eats them!).
6. Do not leave discarded fruit and vegetables on the ground; clear them away to your compost bin, as these are a source of food for rats and other pests.
7. Ensure that allotment gardens do not become overgrown or allow rubbish to build up e.g. timber, old carpet, stockpiled materials etc, as this provides cover for rats to live under (harbourage).
8. Remember to thoroughly wash (and peel if appropriate) any food you harvest. Vegetables with signs of rat damage should be destroyed. Rats carry risk of Weil’s disease, Salmonella and Leptospirosis among other things and they urinate wherever they go!
9. Members of the public are not advised to use rat bait in public places. There is a very real risk of exposing non-target animals to accidental poisoning, which apart from the distress caused, is illegal and could result in prosecution.
10. Please report specific problems with rats to members of the allotment society committee.

Encouraging biodiversity

By encouraging biodiversity you'll have the enjoyment of knowing you are helping to protect wildlife, with the added benefit of attracting pollinators to your plot.

To attract wildlife to your plot, grow wildflowers and nectar rich flowers as insects can feed from them or need them as part of their lifecycle. Grow older varieties of flowers that have more accessible nectar, double flowered plants are often no good for bees.

Have places that ladybirds and other insects can overwinter, for example, bamboo houses.

Organic gardening

One of the wonderful things about allotmenting is that you are in control of what you do or don't put on you vegetables and the soil. There are lots of ways to reduce the risk of damage by pests. Companion planting is very effecting, using plants to mask the smell of others is good - like onions with your carrots. Or grow your carrots up higher so the carrot fly can't reach them. Trap crops can also be used to entice pests away from your much loved vegetables.companion planting links

Gardening with kids

With more and more families getting involved with allotmenting, it is important to keep the little ones occupied so they don't find it a chore to have to go, especially when it is mainly watering or weeding to do. So here are a few suggestions that might be useful....

Get them involved

Sounds simple but it not always is.

Let them sow larger seeds, dig holes and plant seedlings and give them some plants of their own to look after. Then can enjoy nurturing them. If they don't survive it gives something to talk about and then you can unite over tactics for next time. Like protecting them from the birds, slugs, cold. Think of their plants as extras...

Give them an area of their own so they can dig and just have fun in the soil.

Create a wildlife area - most are fascinated by tadpoles if you make a pond, or insects that like woodpiles etc

Grow stuff they can pick and eat straight away - like carrots, strawberries, peas etc. Or flowers they can pick to take home.

Invest in a few tools that are child size. There are some beautiful ones out there like the Joseph Bentley range

Have dedicated paths so they know where to walk.

Keep visits short, with set tasks that need to be done. If there are still enjoying themselves ask them if they would like to stay on so you can do another task. By giving them some control they'll be happier to go to the allotments more regularly.

If they are into earning a bit of money - pay them for a bucket of stones or weeds - just say what is allowed first so they don':t drag huge rocks from other peoples plots or pull up your much loved young seedlings!

Make things for your plot, like a scarecrow, sundial, things to flap or glitter to scare away birds.