Page 26 - ALG Issue 3 2019

just got a plot?
tips for new plotholders – autumn
Unless you are lucky enough to have inherited a well-worked plot from a gardener who has moved house or given up for other reasons, at this time of year you may well be faced with an overgrown plot full of weeds. However, it does mean that you have the autumn and winter to prepare for next year’s growing season and, if you clear part of the plot, there are winter crops
that you can get in now. In August and September, you can sow spring greens, carrots, Claytonia, Beet Perpetual Spinach, Spinach Medina, Radish Tarzan, Onion White Lisbon winter hardy and the Oriental greens such as Pak Choi Green and Mizuna.
Once you have cleared the top growth and dug out roots of perennial weeds such as dandelions, creeping buttercup and bindweed, you could also sow a winter green manure on the plot that will help to conserve nutrients from the winter rains and can be dug in in February to April.
Buy an inexpensive soil test kit from
the garden centre and test the soil pH.ApHof6.0to6.5isfineformost food crops. Potatoes and berries prefer acidic soil, and asparagus and brassicas near-neutral conditions. If you plan to grow Brassicas on acid soil, this would be a good time to apply
lime to increase the pH.
If you discover
that you have a very
clay soil, dig a portion
over roughly and leave
for the winter frosts to break up the clods. You
can tell if your soil
has a high clay
content if, when
rolled it into a
sausage, it keeps its shape. Cover parts
of the plot that you
cannot attend to –
the weeds will start
to die down underneath the black plastic, cardboard or membrane.
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Spend the winter reading your preferred “how to grow vegetables” book, perusing the seed catalogues, working out your rotation plan for the next few years and doing any
maintenance jobs on the plot, such as building a compost heap or repairing that tumbledown shed you inherited.
The next issue will look at starting a plot in winter/spring. Let us know if you have any useful tips that worked for you when you started your plot.
Email diane@nsalg.org.uk
Grow More with A
Plastic Greenhouse
Perfect for the garden or allotment
Benefit from longer growing seasons and grow fresh greens, vegetables and fruits in a greenhouse.
Greenhouses allow you to continue gardening and growing despite the weather conditions outside, they give you the ability to grow a wider range of plants and veggies including exotic plants.
Whether you are new to gardening
or quite the experienced gardener, a plastic greenhouse is the perfect choice to helping you achieve your growing goals.
USE A GREENHOUSE TO EXTEND YOUR GROWING SEASON!
Take advantage of the extra space and protection a greenhouse will provide to supply you and your family with all- year-round home-grown veg.
PROTECT YOUR CROPS WITH A GREENHOUSE
The weather can be challenging for crops, especially in the winter months. Greenhouses help to keep growing conditions ideal whilst also protect your crops from animals and larger insects.
SMALL SPACE? NO PROBLEM!
Make the most of your growing
space by using our 2x6ft Spacesaver Greenhouse. With space to hold up to 18 trays, this compact design is perfect for small gardens or limited growing spaces.
Find out how we can help you achieve your growing goals: www.norfolk-greenhouses.co.uk
this compact design is perfect for small gardens
26 Allotment and Leisure Gardener