As we enter into the autumn period of the growing year, we see many changes. We have harvested our summer crops and now begin planning for the autumn / winter season. It is a time of reflection as we enter the quieter time of the growing season. We can consider the failures but also the success’s that we faced during the summer such as high temperatures not seen before together with water shortages and the solutions to them.
During the summer I had to repeat some sowing of leafy green cruciferous plants due to a disaster that resulted in none of my seeds planted directly into the soil germinating. So, I decided to grow the seeds in pots and plant them out as young seedlings and fingers crossed, they would do the right thing and grow. As the photo suggest they did indeed decide to flourish and are a beautiful sight to see. I have Kale, purple sprouting Broccoli, swedes and cabbage called January King which is beginning to heart up nicely.
I share my plot with some of the allotment’s residents such as badgers, foxes and birds such as naughty magpies and crows. This results in my having to cover all my plants, making sure they are all firmly in the ground, as they are constantly under threat of being eaten or dug up. I don’t mind this though as it’s all part of living together and it’s fun trying to find different ways to confuse and deny them my hard fought veggie growing attempts.
At the back of my plot there is a spoil heap made many years ago from the clearing of the weeds and brambles. I have now discovered that it has become the home to two young foxes. They are probably part of a larger family of adult foxes we see regularly. So, it will be interesting to see what they do to my growing attempts!
This year we saw the building of a community poly tunnel for plot holders. I was one of the lucky ones to obtain a plot. I decided to grow the inevitable tomatoes and so did two other people.
Although we all had varying degrees of success, I thought I should be more adventurous next time and grow something exotic. To this end growing melons, peppers, aubergines or chillies sounds much more like it. I probably won’t get the chance next year as the next person will get the space but next time round that is what I suggest we should try. Be brave and go for the unusual and who knows where it will lead you!
As this is the time of year that we now slow down and put our allotment beds to rest it sets me thinking of the spring. To help prepare the ground for the next growing season I think of green manure. This is where you sow a crop of clover, grazing rye or field beans that occupy the ground whilst suppressing weeds. Grazing Rye (Secale cereale) will fix nitrogen whilst growing during the winter and release it back into the soil in the spring after you dig it in. You need to leave it two weeks after digging it in before putting your seedlings in as decaying plants can delay growth. One problem with this method is that the dense growth can encourage slugs to appear but when digging the green manure back into the soil this should deal with the problem.
Glenys Nicklin
