Allotment Round-up

THE PLOTTERS: LOOKING BACK AT 2021 AND FORWARD TO 2022

by Geoff Hamilton, Macmillan Cancer Support allotment volunteer

2021 started, fairly timidly, with us all wondering whether anything would be di erent in our virus infested world. It wasn’t - the start of the year was a shambles and it continued downhill from there. I always enjoyed listening to ‘The Crazy Gang’ on the radio but, I never believed I would live with them, for ‘real life’, in year long episodes. To be fair, no-one knew which way to turn or, what was coming next. We had no crystal ball only the NHS to help.

The Plotters cussed the weird weather that badly a ected our early cropping plans and then suddenly the hot, dry summer came to upset everything by leaving us with hardly any rainfall. At least we were kept on our toes and carrying watering cans is honest exercise.

It was a fraught year on the plot - we are a sociable lot and keeping apart was di cult. Matters were made worse as the community facilities were kept closed and there was an eerie feel about the site.

In November the members of the allotments held a Special General Meeting informing the committee that they were unhappy with the running of the site. The committee quickly resigned and a new one was formed and has taken on site management in a totally different manner.

The committee is looking into forming some starter plots, smaller than full sized units, so that new growers can try their hand at plotting before taking on a larger site.

The Community Cabin has been cleaned and re-opened - the rotted office floor has been replaced and the room brightly decorated. Our big new planters near the car parking area are filled with compost and fully stocked with a range of spring owers; the bulbs were generously donated by a neighbour on Tindall street.

The community raised bed has been repaired by the new site managers, ready for planting-up in spring giving the community volunteers a fresh start for their planting programme in 2022. We held a Covid compliant Christmas celebration under the gazebo where mince pies, shortbread, kichels and tea was shared with many plotholders. Hopefully, this is the first of many get-togethers on the plot. Incredible Edible Salford has now moved to its new home in Winton. We wish the new venture all the best for the future. The plot it occupied has now been shared between the community groups who previously worked on the site. The new committee is looking at what grant aid may be available to improve facilities on the site and we hope to see the benefit of this during 2022. There are many more plans being put in place and having resolved the problem with the solar power installation, we are now getting an income from power production and topping up the national grid!

JOBS FOR FEBRUARY...

Prepare beds for sowing to help aerate, drain and warm the soil. Mix in plenty of homemade compost or composted manure. Clean and set up cloches ready to warm the soil for early sowings and to protect seedlings and young plants. Plant rhubarb in a bright, open position. Dig deep, adding plenty of rich, homemade compost. Sow broad beans undercover, for a rewarding harvest in late spring.

JOBS FOR MARCH...

Weed your plot - dig out problem weeds and hoe regularly to prevent annual weed seedlings growing. Protect plants from pests, especially slugs in warmer, wet weather. Cover brassicas with eece to ward o hungry pigeons. Cover beds with cloches or black plastic to warm the soil for early sowings. Buy trays of young veg plants that you don’t have the time or space to grow from seed. Sow seeds and get planting!