Page 23 - ALG Issue 3 2023

May and watered in and since then they have had regular showers, which has helped establish them well. If you are wondering why I am growing my leeks and onions under a net structure, this is because I am trying to deter an attack of leek moth or Allium Leaf minor, which can be devastating if it occurs.
The summer cabbage, cauliflower, calabrese and Brussels sprouts
that were sown in early March, and were planted out in early May, are establishing well. These have been planted under a newly erected net tunnel to keep any feathered friends or butterflies out of reach.
I like to sow lettuce seeds every 2-3 weeks and the first plants have already been planted out with another batch in the cold frame almost ready for planting out. Regular sowings little and often
will keep the salad bowl topped up all season. Another salad I sow regularly in modules and plant out is spring onions.
Two sowings have already been planted and another just germinating in the greenhouse to follow on. Three or four seeds sown per module and planted out as a clump works well and can be harvested as a cluster of spring onions as required.
I like to grow a few flowers on the allotment and the Statice plants have been sown, hardened off and planted already. Chrysanthemums and Dahlia cuttings are growing on in the cold frame for planting out later in May. Plus, this year I have sown a few cut flower sunflowers into modules for planting out once any risk of frost has passed.
The polytunnel has been planted with my tomatoes and peppers and soon my first batch of cucumbers will be ready for planting. I never like sowing cucumbers too early as they are very cold sensitive and if they get a sudden chill, they will soon collapse and die.
One crop that has excelled itself already this year is the rhubarb; these plants are producing masses of tender stems, delicious made into a crumble.
The glasshouse and cold frames are still busy with sowings of runner and French beans, sweetcorn, courgettes and squashes plus autumn brassicas. All will be planted out in late May to early June once all risk of frost has passed.
Allotment life, as I am sure you agree, is very satisfying and a good site often depends on those that look after it. On ours this year a new 2-metre-high deer fence with rabbit netting below has been erected that should help keep any predators at bay. We all just hope not
Allotment life, as I am sure you agree, is very satisfying
too many got in and hid up whilst one fence was taken out, whilst the new one was being erected. Our site manager and committee have done a good job organising this and it should hopefully be beneficial to all us plotholders for many years to come.
Wishing you all a successful season and don’t forget if any NAS member has
a seed problem and needs some free advice, the team at Kings Seeds are always at the end of a phone to help.
Happy Gardening!
Andrew Tokely, Horticultural Director for Kings Seeds
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 23