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The Purple Plot
13th November 2005And so the seasons change.
They may be changing at different pace as each year goes by, but they are definitely changing. No more leaves on the trees, everything is brown and grey and the pub gardens are no longer full. Having said that, I was having an Autumnal pint in the beer garden of my local only a few weeks ago. But still, we are in November and the allotment and surrounding allotments are looking very Novemberish. They all look a little sorry for themselves, as if to say "I should be full fresh greenness not empty browness".
The redundant sunflowers seem to be looking mournfully down at the memory of a warm summer that is now a distant memory. There are lots of empty spaces in different plots and it's hard to believe how full it all was only a few months ago.
But fear not. Don't be too sad at the picture I paint, for, to every Yin there is a Yang. Every Bing there is a Bang and every Gin there’s a Tonic. We need the seasons to keep everything going. And this season is very big on plant, sowing and throwing out old wood. Literally.
Every now and then at the allotments, there is a skip arrives for getting rid of whatever you have.
When we first started the allotment we just wanted to get stuff planted as soon as possible so we only dug a third of the plot, leaving a strawberry patch and what I can only describe as a dumping area.
Dad and I started to clear the area so we could start digging and give ourselves even more space to sow seeds. The first thing we removed was a composter. A composter is a plastic barrel that has a lid on the top and no bottom that allows the worms and other creapy crawlies to get in and have a good meal for as long as they want. Then, when it’s rotted down you spread it on the allotment and it helps the soil and the plants to grow. Plus it allows all those creatures to get into your soil and that’s a good thing.
The composter we removed was stood on concrete slabs! Which defeats the point really. We kept it, though. Recycle what you can, when you can.
We did throw the various metal poles and concrete slabs, the odd brick and bits of rubbish in the skip. And then we started digging and turning the soil for that extra space. It looks completely different now but it wasn't easy. The various wild weeds and grasses have very strong and long roots, which need to be taken out and raked over. It's impossible to get them out completely but as long as you hoe your plot regularly it'll keep them away.
Still waiting to be picked, once they are ready, are the leaks. The ETA is Christmas so plenty of soup and I like leaks with a good roast so I'll let you know how they go down.
The Purple Sprouting Broccoli will not be ready until the spring but I’ll take photos of them. I think they might make a future front page photo for The Purple Plot. We've sown some Japanese Onions which will be ready for June so we may have some to bring to next year's Festival.
We've also planted some broadbeans and they will sit happily through the winter until the spring, when we will also be sowing some parsnips.
So that's about it. We don’t have much more to do apart from keeping the weeds at bay but sometimes it’s good to get away from it all and enjoy being out in the fresh air surrounded by nature in all it’s wonderous forms. It will be nice to get a view of it covered in snow.
Another Q and A with Dad is in the pipeline and I’m thinking of having a look at the wild life that surrounds the plot accompanied by my nephews, George and Joe.
So until then remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.
25th September 2005
It’s been a long time. I shouldn’t have left you without a strong update to step to. But I did.
I apologise but I’ve had a busy summer. And there really hasn’t been much to update. You will see this update not being that long because the interesting bit is the sowing, planting and growing bit. I can tell you a few things that are of interest.
The food was fantastic. The purple runner beans were a favourite and the beetroot was so popular in my household it was gone before it hit the plate.
The spinach was in abundance and we still have loads of it. If anyone wants some, let me know. It should last us into early next year.
The onions were incredibly strong and tasty. As soon as I started to peel them I was crying like a baby. Angie’s mixed leaves were great. As soon as you pick the leaves more sprout so it’s an ongoing veg that works well in salads.
We have the sweetcorn that has just been picked look very handsome.
We’ve started planting for next year. Japanese onions have been sown and we should get them in early summer next year.
We will be working hard on it now to prepare for the winter and so will have more regular updates. Honest!
And we’ll be muckspreading during the next update. Literally.
Sorry this is a bit short but I’m in the middle of packing up my flat to move.
Until next, very very soon.
---
A little while back, bigchill.net's resident Allotmenteer Marts talked his father and Gardening Guru Mick into popping onto the Forum to answer questions relating to growing things - a Forum Gardeners Time.
The results have been preserved here. If you have a question for the Mick, ask it in the comments section below!
Marts- I’ve been talking to my Dad tonight about the allotment and he’s read the update and looked to see for any comments or questions. I’ve been asked a number of questions but me being me either forget them or lose them. Dad seems quite keen to spread his vast knowledge on all things that grow from the Earth.
I’m thinking of using this post as a way for anyone who has a question to put to the man. I know him as Dad, you’ll know him as Mick.
Anyone can ask a question, even if they don’t post on here, you can do it for them.
So anything you need to know about growing plants or veg or cacti, whatever, put it on this post.
Here’s the response:
Rui- Sounds like a great idea, marts. I’ll kick off with a question. What’s the tastiest thing you’ve ever grown?
Dad- Black tomatoes. A variety called ‘Black Krim’.
Miss V - Cool! Gardeners Forum Time!
Buzz Rozwell - Big up to having horticulturist fathers, marts.
Dad- Big up to you too, Buzz.
Joe Rose- Sounds like a top banana idea marts! My question is: Why is it so hard to grow big carrots?
Dad- Probably because carrott fly ruins them. Ideally you should have fine soil and Thin them when they come up- but that’s when carrot fly get at them. Make sure you grow a large variety!
Tiger Perry- Exactly how do you intend to overcome the general lack of stalk strength that I have heard regularly occurs in the "Henry’s Ladyflower" species I hear you are attempting?
Dad- No comment.
Tiger Perry- On a more sensible tip, I want to know how to grow big, fat Rosemary?
Dad- Just plant it and leave it to it’s own devices. Plant it somewhere sunny. Water occasionally.
Marts- I did locate Henry’s Ladyflower! It’s a wild flower that only grows in Dublin, so if anyone’s going, ask about and get some seeds. Could be a problem tho’.
Rollergirl- I love strawberries but my Dad (with his fantastic organic garden) won’t grow them as he has tried before and it was "too hard". How can I persuade him it’s a good idea to grow them again so I can enjoy. Organic strawberry summer goodness?!
Dad- Strawberries are easy to grow. Persuading him is up to you!
Nellie- Is there a variety of Kiwi fruit that has a reasonable chance of producing sweet soft fruit in our warming climate( I’m in Kent). We managed to grow some but they had a texture like golfballs. Also - pruning wisteria. I’ve never got this right. Can you make this simple for me?
Dad- Actinidia deliciosa. After harvesting leave for a month to ripen. Wysteria-cut back long shoots not needed in mid summer to about 5 buds. Cut sideshoots to 2 or 3 buds in late winter.
Think amelie:) Hi marts. Good to see allotment talk going on:) I’ve had my allotment for just over a year now, it’s my little haven outta trouble and always playing in the dirt with the worms-so it’s a hard life! I was wondering. I’ve recently planted a blueberry bush and it only has a few berries on, will this improve over the years dya reckon? And any fool proof tips for keeping the slugs away? My notices asking them to leave nicely don’t seem to be working. Either they can’t read or they’re too drunk from the beer traps to care:) Thanks.
Dad- Blueberry bushes, all fruit bushes take a while. Give it a shear (haircut) to keep tidy in April. Pick the fruits in August. Slugs - sorry, slug pellets (not very organic)
Denis- Does he do houseplants? I’ve got a ‘Flaming Katy’ last year which flowered all throughout the summer and autumn- once it had stopped flowering I removed all the deadheads - this year it has grown to an amazing size but has not flowered- and they were such pretty flowers.
Henry- fnar.
Dad- I do. Make sure you keep it in the sun at all times. Feed it occasionally with tomato feed. Should flower again. Only water once it has dried out. Repot each year. Try keeping it in the dark for a few mores hours in the summer-say 12 hours dark, 12 hours light. That should fool it!
June 14th 2005
Yes. It has been a while. Yes, I do have a good excuse. It’s called English weather. We never really know what our weather will be like tomorrow. Lately, though, it’s been dry and cold. And that’s not good.
To bring you up to speed, we’ve been able to sow the whole plot. We have, potatoes, spinach, spring onions, purple onions, purple sprouting broccoli, tomatoes, beetroot, leeks, gourds and herbs. We’re growing sweetcorn and courgettes indoors to transplant to the plot..
I’ve been clearing and turning the soil and Dads been showing me how it’s done.
Then the weather turned against us. Windy, dry and cold is not conducive to growing veg. Even I know what photosynthesis means. You mean you don’t? Well simply it’s the life cycle of plants. You need to plant the seeds. It rains and it receives it’s nutrients from the earth. The sun comes out and makes the plant grow until it’s ready to be picked or it dies. Seeds and roots can stay when picked and the cycle starts again. Without rain this doesn’t happen easily. So the process is slower but they are growing.
I can actually see and touch them. The potatoes and onions are definately being social.
But what really makes me feel good is just being there and having birds watch me digging so they can feed the chicks. In the sunshine, not a lot beats that.
I can’t explain it fully but if you have a go you understand what I’m trying to say.
This might seem short but there is an interview with my Dad, so check that out.
Interview with Martin's Dad
Here’s the interview they all wanted. G.Q. Rolling Stone, Heat, even The Hertfordshire Mercury! But we have it for your pleasure because we can (and because he’s my Dad!).
He is responsible for everything growing in The Purple Plot and deserves a few words about himself and the gap in the updates in May.
We start at the beginning.
Marts- Hello Dad. We’re here to talk about you and growing things, mainly vegetables. How long have you been growing plants and why?
Dad-Blimey! I had my first plot when I was five. I lived in Palmers Green in London and my Dad always had a plot so it was a natural thing for me to do. I liked to spend time with my Dad and be outside doing things. He had started an allotment after the war, when he moved to Norwood in South London. My parents then moved to Palmers Green and had a garden which was quarter of an acre so there was plenty of space to grow veg. So like a lot of things our parents do, I did too.
M-If people are wanting to start growing things in a garden or allotment but didn’t know where to start, what advice would you give?
D-Read books! One that I always go back to and I’ve had for yours is something called The Vegatable Expert by D.G. Hessayon. It’s very simple but everything You need to know is in there. That will help get you started.
Also, as mentioned before, it helps if your parents are into it because we mostly are influenced by what our parents do. A bit of success will give you a bit of a bit of inspiration, too. Once you see things growing that you have planted, you can’t help but be inspired. Nothing beats the feeling of knowing you have provided for your family through something you have grown.
M-Why do you think there is a new surge in people of my age (30s) to grow their own veg.
D- It’s because of the quality of todays foods. Things like chemicals and pestisides have made people want to grow their own. It makes such a difference to have it straight out the earth instead of straight of a shelf that has been waiting for God knows how long. TV shows and people like Jamie Oliver have brought it to our attention.
M-That’s exactly how I feel. Can you give a rough guide to when to plant veg through the year?
D-Well March is the earliest you can plant things. Mainly parsnips and broadbeans. April and May are the main months to plant. The end of May is ideal for beans, courgettes, sweetcorn, tomatoes, etc. Basically, anytime after the frosts.
M-what do you enjoy growing the most and why?
D-Cacti has always been my passion. It’s to do with growing it successfully from seed. They are not natural inhabitants so they require that little bit extra care which gives me so much satisfaction. It’s watching something grow due to what you have done to bring it to life.
M-I’ve been asked by members of the forum why has there been such a gap between updates in May?
D- Because of the weather. It’s been dry and cold and if you sow seeds in conditions like this they won’t germinate.You need moisture and this year we’ve not had much rain. It sometimes goes like that and if it goes the other way, too much rain, it can carry something called Blight Spores. This effects a lot of veg but mainly potatoes. This is what happened in the potatoe famine in Ireland in the 1800s.
M-It’s time to blow your own trumpet about what you’ve achieved as far as plants are concerned. Tell us about your associations with The Chelsea Flower Show and Kew Gardens?
D-I’ve not done anything at The Chelsea Flower Show!
M-You have.
D-No I haven’t.
M-You have. You supplied some plants.
D-Oh yes! I forgot about that. My nephew, Peter Eustance , is a landscape gardener and one year had a plot at The Chelsea Flower Show. He asked me for some interesting plants to display in his patch and I gave him some of my best samples. It was definitely an achievement and to see the show in an early stage was very interesting. Kew Gardens have been more recent. I supply them with plants which are part of their Living Collection. I supply plants called Stapeliads which are very difficult to grow in this country and I’ve been able to grow them. They naturally grow in Africa so to be able to aquire them from Hertfordshire is very handy for Kew. I’ve been dealing with a man called Phil Griffiths and he’s one of the guys you can see in the series A Year at Kew. It’s nice to know I can help but it doesn’t compare to seeing them actually grown from seed.
M-One last thing. Any last pearls of wisdom for would be veg and plant growers out there.
D-If you want to grow plants well treat them like children/babies. They need food, water, daylight and TLC.
M- Thanks Dad. Loved that and I’m sure everyone else did to. He’s available for weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and after dinner speeches.
May 3rd 2005
It’s the start of May and this is when things get interesting. Not that things haven’t been interesting so far but we finally start to see the beginnings of our flourishing allotment.
The Purple Onions, that I lovingly sowed, have started to sprout through the earth and say “Hello”. Dad's Broad Beans have also started poking through, which gives us a certain sense of achievement.
We’ve totally cleared the main plot, including the raspberry bushes at the edge. It was fairly hard work as it’s important to get the roots out and some of them can be fairly deep. Grass had also grown around part of the bushes making it tough but somehow, I finished the job.
Today, we’ve planted leaks, potatoes and spring onions. The potatoes have to be planted fairly deep so in order to do this a ditch is required. This stretches from one side to the other and is maybe half a foot deep. Then you need to lay something at the bottom of the ditch in order to keep things nice and moist. This is done by using your grass cuttings and any other green leftovers you find in your compost heap. What’s that you say? You don’t have a compost heap? Get one now. Recycle stuff and give it back to the earth.
Once you’ve got your compost laid, sow your seeds for your potatoes in the same way as I’ve done with the Purple Onions. Cover over with earth and wait for them to start sprouting. Obviously not immediately!
As well as the leaks, potatoes and spring onions, we got broad beans, beetroot and spinach. These have been planted at different times so we aren’t digging up everything at the same time. We don’t mind a bit of hard work but that wouldn’t be fun. Enjoying the work you’re doing is very important. It has to be fun or there is no point. Plus the veg will pick up on the vibes. I reckon!
Last of all, we’ve had a visitor at the Plot. A fine feathered friend who is a Robin. He/she is very tame and was incredibly interested in our digging. He saw dinner and hopped right in. After lengthy debate on The Forum Miss V came up with a name. Bobbin’ Robin. This was concluded after a panel of judges (my girlfriend Angie) chose the name out of a list including ‘Brave, brave Sir..’
Since our last update, we now have a photogallery of The Purple Plot,
For now, please enjoy the weather and start a compost heap.
April 28th 2005
Much activity has been happening since the last update. We finally got digging to prepare the plot for its first crop. It’s about a fifty foot plot and whoever had it last year planted stuff but didn’t dig them up. We think it may have been owned by an older person and couldn’t carry on with it. We’ve dug up old potatoes, fennel and other veg that would have been better on a plate than ending up in our pile of unwanted bits and pieces.
On the first dig, it was a case of turning over the soil and pulling various undesirables out so we had a nice bed of fertile soil ready for planting. George and Joe helped us with this part. George enjoyed digging up the old potatoes but I’m not sure if our next door neighbour would appreciate them being thrown on her allotment. Joe meanwhile took the experimental route to find out if a worm would swim in the water tank. He found his answer.
The previous owner had planted raspberry plants on one of the borders and had put a load of stones down around the plants. They’re dead now so we have to dig them out and try and get the stones out. The actual soil itself is very good, now that we’ve dug it over. We know this because we’ve got lots of lovely worms letting us know by having a non stop party on the plot. Worms won’t party just anywhere. They’re a picky bunch but when they start they just don’t stop! As well as that the Ladybirds are hanging out to so we know any black fly or other little pests will be gobbled up by our friends the Ladybirds. This was my Dads knowledge passing down the generations to me, so anything that sounds factual, it’s actually Mick and not Marts!
There we have the first bit of preparation done for planting. Thanks to George and Joe for their help and Sandra for the photos. All Sandra needs to do now is locate the photos after our Mum decided to have a tidy up at her house and now the pictures are hidden somewhere. They will appear at sometime.
Till next time, enjoy the weather.
April 10th 2005
On a warm and sunny Sunday, 10 April 2005, you can’t beat being out amongst nature. And there’s none more natural the digging and sowing in your allotment.
Dad and I had turned up around 10 ish after Angie had made us bacon sarnies and coffee. Thanks Ang!
We discovered that where I had been digging and turning the soil a few dandelions had decided to pop up. Those lions are so dandy! It was because I was not thorough enough with pulling out the weeds and chucking them away. I just wanted to get into the digging bit. I have chosen the fork to do this which makes it easier than using a spade to break up the soil. Unfortunately, we only have one between us so Dad got the short end of the straw. Or should that be spade?
I turned my soil over again pulled out as much weeds and roots as I could. The next step was to rake over what we had dug in order to get a level surface to plant in and remove any more remaining weeds. The roots can grow quite deep considering how small the blighters are so make sure you’ve got them all out.
Once we had done this Dad was the first to sow some seeds. First thing to do after raking the soil was to sprinkle some fertiliser on the area where you are going to grow your veg. This was a product called Grow More, which I thought was fitting. Once you’ve sprinkled rake it again so it’s well in the soil. It looks like little white stones but it will eventually dissolve in the soil and encourage the plants to grow. You’d never guess this from the name of the product but there you go!
The next step is sowing. Dad did his first. He got two small sticks tied together with a piece of string. He stuck one end at one of the borders and the other at the opposite border so you had a line of string in a straight line. Then he made holes about four inches apart and placed the seeds in the holes. These seeds were broad beans and very easy to grow. Choosing what to grow first was determined by what is easiest to grow considering we’ve only just turned the soil.
Then it was my turn. I planted Purple Onions. This was done by the same way as before but the seeds have to go in by the roots and this is recognised by what I call the hairy bits. Then cover them in soil leaving just a little bit exposed to daylight. I did the same for the normal onions. And there we have our first planted veg. We’ve got to be careful the birds don’t pull them out so we’ll probably come up in the week, weather permitting, to check up.
Our next veg to sow will be the humble potatoe. Can’t beat a good spud and we can grow so much of them. As I mentioned earlier, the previous owner grew potatoes too but it’s important to grow them in a different area of the allotment. It’s called crop rotation and the soil won’t be able to deal with the same vegetable grown in the same place. I think. Dad may have a different reason but I imagine he’s having an afternoon nap at this time on a Sunday. Sorry Dad.
Now we do have some photos for this. Some educational, some just for the sake of them. Hope you enjoy them and as ever any questions, stick them in the comments box at the bottom and I’m sure Mick will answer anything that I can’t.
Happy digging
April 4th 2005
Robin Williams once said "Spring is natures way of saying 'Lets party!'"
I believe this to be true but as we all know the best parties take a lot of preparation. So here is the preparation. It may not be as exciting as the actual party but very necessary, none the less.
The allotments I wanted were just up the road from where I live but happened to be controlled by Ware Council, which comes under Hertfordshire Council. I found out that because I’m a resident of a different area I could not register the plot under my name. Luckily my sister is a Ware resident so it could be registered under her details. Thanks sis! First hurdle out the way.
Dad and I went to the site to have a look at the two plots available. We knew this was a popular site and this was backed up by only two sites being available. What we found was one plot so hopelessly overgrown, it would have taken months, if not the whole Summer to get it to a state where we could grow something on it. A very nice man even told us that that plot was actually used as a dumping ground for some of the gardeners. We crossed that off our list.
The second one was not as overgrown but would still need a lot of work. It was also very near the main road and seemed a potential target for the local teenagers to invade or at least throw empty bottles of Bacardi Breezers on to it. The other problem was water. It was a fair way from the plot and this is our biggest lesson so far on choosing a plot. According to Dad, you need a water supply as close as possible. It makes sense really. Even I know, to grow a plant you need Sun, water and of course love and attention!
So we turned our attention to another set of allotments in Ware. I was a bit reluctant but was pleasantly surprised to find a plot that had been used last summer. A water tank a few yards away and a fantastic view. Apart from the earth being a bit stoney it was perfect. We'd found our Purple Plot!
This is a quick update to whet your appetite.
I will be receiving photos from the first dig and you’ll find out about what we will be planting first and when. If at anytime you want to ask questions, the comments box at the bottom of the article is perfect for this. I’ll answer them as fast as I can get the answer from my Dad!
Until then, love your fruit and veg!
March 2005
The Oxford Dictionary’s definition of Allotment is ‘a small plot of land let out for cultivation’.
You can’t beat pulling up your potatoes, picking your peas and collecting up your collies in the morning, straight out the earth, where you sowed them months earlier. The veg is then on your plate by the afternoon with all the taste and nutrients that you can’t get from a supermarket. Even organic veg loses a certain something in the taste department. After a hard days toiling in the field, you can sit back with a cold Guinness and ponder life and what it means while surveying your land, safe in the knowledge that you won’t need to go to Tesco that afternoon. Who needs more encouragement?
So here is the game plan.
We are renting an allotment close to where I live in Ware, Hertfordshire. When I say we I mean my Dad (Mick) and me, Martin. Or Marts, to family and friends. We will also be helped by my nephews George and Joe, who will probably just play in the mud. Dad is an expert on most things horticultural and so will be the steady ship on the rough sea of land cultivation.
He will be telling me what, how and when to do things because I know next to nothing about growing things. I’ll be letting you know the progress of the allotment in a diary-type update with pictures, showing you how things are going at The Purple Plot.
Veg, fruit and herbs will be grown over the months and I hope you enjoy this as much as we will. Here’s to the fruits of our labour.
In honour of The Big Chill Forum, I will be planting a special 'pet' plant. After much discussion and consideration, I have decided that the Forum pet plant will be Henry's Ladyflower.
Watch this space to see how we get on!
Marts
Written: 10th Mar, 05
Read: 5929 times
