Tales from the Plot May 2023
May is one of the busiest times on the allotment, potatoes can now be planted with some confidence but always be ready with a fleece or some straw to cover them over should you suspect a frost, there’s an old saying ‘beware of the last full moon in May’ that’s hopefully the last chance of a frosty night.
Runner bean and French bean seeds can be put in the ground as they normally take a couple of weeks to show their heads, by this time the last frost should be gone ……… for all beans remember the word ‘bingo’ because all beans should be planted eyes down!
May is a great time, I love filling my allotment with seeds and plants that will hopefully supply us with produce throughout the year and into the next.
Compost has been a problem for me recently, the transition to peat free compost has been difficult, we used to be able to purchase a reasonable quality multipurpose compost that you could use to set seeds, fill hanging baskets and pots etc however it is now difficult to find a reasonably priced multipurpose compost. Bought compost now has to be put through a sieve if it’s intended to be used for setting seeds and it’s quite shocking how much rubbish there is in it – what’s discarded is only fit to use as a mulch or add to your compost bin. I find I am increasingly reliant on my own compost which is made from leaves, weeds, grass cuttings and general green waste off the allotment, this not only saves money but once sieved so far has been used quite successfully for setting seeds in. Hopefully all of our attempts to save water throughout the winter have been successful and all our water containers are full? We encourage all to collect water from whatever building they have, rainwater is better for your plants, it’s also free. On Syston allotments we are so lucky to have a well which was dug well over 100 years ago and amazingly supplies cold water even on the warmest of days! Syston allotments plot-holders have to be aware that the water supply to the black troughs is mains water which is through a meter so every litre is at a cost.
As the climate evolves we have to evolve with it and adapt, I have to admit I am as guilty as most gardeners, always complaining it’s either too wet, too dry, too cold or too warm. I believe our ancestors before us complained about the weather just the same and I guess what we ideally want warm sunny days with gentle rain during the evening ………. I wish LOL!
Richard Thorpe Syston allotments