Page 42 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2025

Soil
regeneration
Alternating deep and shallow rooted
crops has improved the soil structure
in my allotment. Developing growth in
this natural and friendly way has its own
simple Buzz word, “Regeneration”.
Tighter budgets and the service offered
by well-stocked supermarket shelves have
made it necessary for me to make changes,
producing disease resistant heritage crops,
alongside traditional cultivars with a quality
taste, in a way that leaves space for nature.
Choosing which cultivars to grow allows
me to select flavorsome good tasting
plants.
REGENERATION TO CONSERVE SOIL
FERTILITY FOR THE FUTURE AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
Regeneration of the soil involves minimal
cultivations so when sowing and planting
the soil is not forked over but a tilth is
created using a rake sufficient for the seed
sowing. Mulch the soil before planting
and plant through the mulch, this helps
to reduce weed growth and conserve
moisture as well as feed the numerous soil
creatures.
Thankfully making space for nature and
allowing my hedges to grow has led to
a covering of berries that has attracted
a singing blackbird and a migrating
redwing to visit for the first time. The
wildflowers established in their own bed
and clover growing in the grass paths have
encouraged insects to pollinate the fruit
blossom and strawberry flowers.
Regenerating the Social area has made
the allotment more accessible to my family
Progrow
42 Simply Vegetables
Green manure
for Sunday morning BBQ-breakfasts!
Choosing more appropriate cultivars
with awareness of future hotter and dryer
summers should help to avoid some of the
problems likely to be caused by climate
change.
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Vines grown along-side the old-style
crops are already producing strong red
wine without the need of protective
chemicals.
Gooseberries, currants and
blackberries are handpicked fruit
suitable for jam and freezing that
are not always available in the
supermarket and are perennial so
avoid any regular soil disturbance.
“Spuds are the goods”, where savings
are made to the inputs, yields can be
maintained by keeping the land clean
and regularly reinvigorating the soil by
hoeing. Also maintaining soil fertility by
additions of organic matter.
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Fruit trees, early or late, dessert or
cooker. Modern cultivars planted in a
frost-free position open to the sun, are
more resistant to disease. The height
and growth are restricted by choice of
rootstock.
PRACTICAL REGENERATION
EFFORTS DURING THE SUMMER
MONTHS
Planting in June/July is the last opportunity
to grow the “Three sisters” as Companions.
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Runner Beans. Strong young plants
set on tripods will continue producing
until the early frosts.
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Courgettes, pumpkins and squashes
will cover the soil and suppress weeds
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Sweetcorn. An early maturing cultivar
will give some support to the Climbing
Beans and when planted in blocks 18
inches apart they can be successfully
wind pollinated.
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When the soil is dry avoid any
cultivations which just brings moist
soil to the surface which evaporates
and is lost to plants; it also results in
the quicker breaking down of organic
matter and loss of carbon to the
atmosphere.
REGENERATIVE WORK IN AUGUST
AFTER HARVEST
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Spring sown plants will have grown to
maturity output is dependent on past
management, the suitability of growing
weather during the previous few
weeks, watering and keeping on top of
the weeds.
Harvest Courgettes and Beans
regularly. They are notorious for the
speed at which they grow. Pick them
before they become too large or
stringy.
Plums will be at their ripest and
sweetest this month.