Page 15 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2024

WBRHS 2024 Best Kept Allotment Report
July is the time when allotment holders in the West Bridgford and Rushcliffe Horticultural Society, with its five sites and 420 allotments, have the occasion to exhibit the produce that they have been growing for their family, demonstrating their skills in the “Best Kept Allotment” competition.
The Judge, a Senior Representative of the National Vegetable Society, made verdicts according to how the allotments look at
the time of judging and offered to meet exhibitors later in the season to discuss their entries.
This year the weather had provided problems and challenges. Fortunately, the natural fertility in the soil and improving growing conditions was coming to the rescue of good quality vegetables, flowers, fruit and herbs.
During the winter months, many allotments had been flooded. Uncontrollable soil conditions could easily have produced a negative verdict for anyone less steadfast than the growers who entered this year’s competition.
The standard of the entries was amazing, and the best crops looked as if they were growing on seedbeds that had been well prepared in the autumn when worked by in-depth soil preparation and a polythene sheet to shelter the top-soil in the spring.
Established Plants: The Highlight of the Competition
Rhubarb. It was plain that it had produced lots of healthy stalks earlier in the year.
Apple and plum trees. These were full of fruit after an effective pollination by recently attracted nests of Bumble bees.
Currant bushes. Those grown in fruit cages exhibited the potential of a plentiful supply of berries now that they were out of reach of the resident pigeons.
Permanent fruit bushes. Logan berries
Hedge around garden
were currently in plentiful production. Hybrid berries and the regular favorite, the Thornless Blackberry, were hopefully draped with blossom and developing fruit.
Raised beds established success
with both vegetables and flowers Greens, Onions and Bean varieties of various shapes and sizes that had made the all-important decent start to the season, were now growing remarkably well benefitting from the warmer weather. Forming the competition’s top exhibit; a raise bed jam-packed with herbs and salad leaves.
Then remarkably, there were the
big losers!
Gooseberries. This ever-reliable berry and other fruit bushes, not protected by fruit cages, were a disaster.
Raspberries. During in the winter, where they were grown on dry soil, they looked
Good plum pollination
quiet promising. Canes that had been spoiled by the sodden surroundings; at best may be found suitable for initiating a new crop if an existing dry patch or raised bed can be made available.
Strawberries. They looked splendid when planted in containers off the ground and protected from the extremes of weather conditions by polytunnels. Where they
had been left to their own devices, netting was not essential as they had already been turned down by the local blackbirds choosing different food for their nestlings this year.
Final perception
For the “Best Kept Allotment” competition, after the process of planning a full year’s work is thought-out, unseasonal weather does not help.
Considering the range of allotments, extending from large well-maintained ‘plots’ to smaller ‘decorative gardens’ and by well-established and skilled operators to innovative new contestants, full of designs and vigor. The knowledgeable Judge carefully noticed their efforts as he looked for the excellence of production and growing skills in flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs growing to supply the family.
Ron Nutall
Ripening strawberries
Flower bed
Allotment Best plot 2021
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