allotment plan 2010/11

Making a plan. How dull that sounds!

But we need to make sure that we don't put plants in the same place two years running. And then we need to think about manuring and composting the soil and which plants like the rich fertility that comes with compost. And those that find it too strong - like giving a baby a pint of Guinness!

And while planning, you will get filled with anticipation of things to come.

So a plan is what we need. And here it is..

Remember that the formatting comes out odd. We have four equal sized sections and move the families of plants around each year.

Allotment Plan 2009/10

4 beds, each 5 m X 10 m

Comfrey Apples Autumn Raspberries Asparagus: Mary Washington; Connovers Colossal

Broad beans Aquadulce followed by Runner beans Czar for drying for seed.	Mustard followed by EPS Broccoli and Kale
Phacelia followed by Runner Beans for drying for seed	Mustard followed by Brussels
Field Beans followed by three sisters bed corn, cl French beans and Crown Prince squash	Mustard followed by Chevalier Calabrese
Field Beans followed by three sisters bed corn, cl French beans and Butternut squash	Mustard followed by Chevalier Calabrese	Mustard followed by All year round Cauliflower
Field beans Followed by ?	Strawberries Marshmellow 2009	Mustard followed by Detroit Beetroot
Field beans Followed by Marrowfat Peas Maro	StrawberriesMarshmellow 2006	Mustard followed by Detroit Beetroot
Field beans Followed by Feltham First Peas	Mustard followed by Tender and True Parsnip
Vivaldi Early potatoes	Nicola second early Potatoes	Evesham Special Brussels followed by Summer Red Baron onions followed by A. King Carrots
Nicola second early Potatoes	Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Kale followed by Musselburgh Leeks
Nicola second early Potatoes	Mustard followed by Summer white onions followed by A. King Carrots	Cristo Garlic followed by Carrots A. King
Kestrel second early Potatoes	Thermadrome Garlic followed by A. King Carrots	O/W White Onions followed by A. King Carrots
Strawberries Marshmellow 2006	Kestrel second early Potatoes	Strawberries Marshmellow 2006	O/W Electric Red onions followed by A. King Carrots
Kestrel second early Potatoes	Parsnips Tender and True followed by Golden Gourmet Shallots followed by A. King Carrots	Parsnips Tender and True followed by Summer white onions followed by A. King Carrots
Pink Fir Apple Maincrop Potatoes	Summer White Onions followed by A. King Carrots

Crown Prince Squash /Two types of squash Compost Compost ‘Butternut Squash/ Courgettes/Two types of squash

organic rotation

Organic gardeners use rotation to help limit disease in their gardens. Lawrence Hills, the founder of the British organic gardening movement suggested this four year rotation in his book 'Organic Gardening' (1978).
All organic rotations are not the same. Some follow a three year cycle. In our case, it means that plants in the same group are not planted again in a space for another three years.

The photo shows the four year rotation we use.

Front left sees the potato plot for this year with ground mulched ready for planting.

Behind left is the bed given to legumes. These follow potatoes in our rotation. The ground was enriched by compost in the previous year and the legumes thrive on the extra fertility and add to it with their roots that add extra nitrogen to the soil.

Behind right you see the area that will follow with brassicas and leaf crops that love the fertility left in the soil by the peas and beans.

Front right you see the area given over to roots and onion family.

This rotation and limited disturbance of the soil should mean that fertility builds year on year. Green manures preserve fertility and protect soil structure during the winter. That's rotation sustainable garden style!

preparing the allotment for winter

October - and work preparing the allotment for winter and the next growing season is well in hand.

Leaving the soil bare is not good for wildlife. Ground cover provides habitat for invertebrates in the cold winter months.

Leaving the soil bare also leaves it vulnerable to compaction by winter rains as well as the leaching away of vital soil nutrients.

Looking up the plot..

In the ground formerly filled with potatoes we have a strip of phacelia followed by several strips of field beans. This will become the legume and corn bed next year.

Further up the allotment, grazing rye has filled space that had grown summer onions. Overwintering leeks will stand tall until next spring when this will soil will be mulched with enriched compost ready for potatoes.

seed order 2009

Sinfonian asked about seeds.

Most of our seeds come from Leapool Allotments bulk order to Kings Seeds. Robert is our organiser and does a brilliant job!

So, here is our seed order for 2009. We always have quite a lot of seed in opened packets left from the current season, so this the following isn't all that we are planting.

We also dob in an order for dad, so there are some packets for him.

		Total
		Total	Price
From list
Onion sets (500g)
Sturon		2	2.20
Red Baron		2	2.80
Shallots (500g)
Golden Gourmet		2	3.60
Potatoes (3kg)
Sharpes Express (FE)		1	2.75
Kestrel (SE)		1	2.90
Nicola (SE)		1	2.90
Pink Fir Apple (M)		1	3.50
Leapool Trading Post Total			20.65
From catalogue	Code
Vegetables
Beetroot, Boltardy	10502	3	1.35
Calabrese Chevalier F1	11003	1	1.00
Carrot Autumn King (lge. pack)	11104	1	1.30
Carrot Autumn King	11103	1	0.50
Cauliflower All year round	11201	1	0.50
Courgette Defender	11808	1	0.85
Leek Musselburgh (lge pack)	12507	1	1.50
Leek Musselburgh	12506	1	0.45
Lettuce Little Gem	12624	1	0.50
Lettuce Red Salad Bowl	12645	1	0.60
Lettuce Salad bowl	12646	2	1.20
Lettuce Cocarde	12654	1	0.60
Lettuce Fristina	12659	1	0.90
Mitzuna	30901	1	0.60
Onion White Lisbon (lge pack)	13218	1	1.60
Onion White Lisbon Winter hardy	13219	1	0.55
Parsley Plain French	13305	1	0.55
Parsnip Tender and True	13407	1	0.50
Sweet corn Royalty	14703	1	0.75
Tomato Gardeners' Delight	14806	1	0.60
Tomato Tumbling Tom red	14853	1	1.30
Tomato Tumbling Tom yellow	14856	1	1.30
Turnip, Snowball	14905	1	0.45
Herbs
Basil	80205	1	0.65
Flowers
Convolvulus tricolor	57625	1	0.55
Cowslip Common yellow	58301	1	0.95
Nasturtium Alaska	68701	1	0.55
Sunflower Music Box	74702	1	0.65
Peas and beans
Pea Feltham First	30305	1	0.70
Pea Dwarf Sugar Mange Tout	30339	2	1.60
Climbing French Beans Markant	205	1	1.35
Climbing French Beans Climbing Blue lake	30201	1	0.95
Climbing French Beans Barlotta LinguaDi Fuoco	30222	1	1.00
Green manure
Field beans	31409	3	2.10
Mustard	31425	1	0.70
Rye Grazing	31417	2	1.40
Handling charge (or donation if no charge)			1.00
Leapool Allotment Association Order Total			33.60

Planning for next year

Cold and damp, we trudge towards the solstice and look forward to lengthening days. But, we're not just sitting on our hands here: planning ahead for next year is well in hand.

Seeds have been bought and our allotment plan is sorted. I show our allotment plan for 2009 below.

We use a four year organic rotation that begins with the potato bed. This is manured/composted before potatoes are planted.

Next into that ground will go the legume family (peas and beans) that like higher fertility and then the following year, brassicas (cabbage family) are planted.

In the final year, onions and roots are planted.

Planting in strips does allow us to blur the edges a little, and so parsnips have gone onto the brassica bed from this year. carrots will not be planted in that strip the following year.

Allotment Plan 2008/9

4 beds, each 5 m X 10 m

Comfrey Apples Raspberries: Summer Autumn Asparagus: Mary Washington; Connovers Colossal

Leeks Musselburgh followed by Sharpes Express First Early potatoes Followed by Nicola as a late second crop potato

Leeks Musselburgh followed by Nicola Second Early potatoes

Field beans Followed by Three sisters bed, Corn, cl blue French beans and Crown Prince Squash

Field beans Followed by Feltham First Peas

Nicola Second Early potatoes

Kestrel Second Early potatoes

Field beans Followed by marrowfat Peas maro

Broad beans Aquadulce Followed by Mustard

Kestrel Second Early potatoes

Field beans Followed by beans for drying

Strawberries Marshmellow 2006

Field beans Followed by Three sisters bed, Corn, cl blue French beans and Crown Prince Squash

Strawberries Marshmellow 2005

Pink Fir apple Maincrop potatoes

Field beans Followed by beans for drying

Garlic Followed by Carrots A. King

Electric O/w red onions Followed by Carrots A. King

Mustard followed by EPS Brocolli

Mustard followed by Turnips snowball

Onions Sturon

Garlic Printanor Followed by Carrots A.King

Mustard followed by Chevalier Calabrese

Early Purple sprouting Broccoli Followed by Musselburgh Leeks

Early Purple sprouting Broccoli followed by Onions Red Baron

Mustard followed by Chevalier Calabrese

Senshuii Yellow O/w white onions Followed by Carrots A. King

Garlic Rob’s dad Followed by Carrots A. King

White Lisbon Spring onion

Shallots Jermor Followed by Carrots A. King

Mustard followed by Boltardy Beetroot

Strawberries Marshmellow 2006

Onions Sturon

Strawberries Marshmellow 2006

Mustard followed by Boltardy Beetroot

Mustard followed by Sorrel

Musselburgh Leeks

Shallots Golden Gourmet

Mustard followed by Parsnips tender and True

Onions Sturon

Onions Red Baron

Kale

Cauliflowers

Kohl Rabi

‘Butternut Squash Compost Compost ‘Butternut Squash/ Crown Prince Squash

round and round

Organic systems rely on a rotation of crops so that pests and diseases do not build up in one area and so that fertility can be built up in the soil.

Our four-year cycle begins with potatoes after the ground has been well composted or manured. Field beans are sown into the ground after potatoes are lifted as a 'green manure'.

The following spring beans are planted. Their roots are mini nitrogen factories that pack extra nutrients into the soil.

Brassica (cabbage) family plants follow in the third year.
With onion tribe plants completing the cycle.

Here's the bean bed plan for this year.

sweet corn planted with beans: climbing blue lake
early peas: feltham first
sweet corn planted with beans: climbing blue lake
marrowfat peas: marro
strawberry: marshmello	french beans for drying: horsehead
broad beans: aguadulce
beans: climbing blue lake	french beans for drying: horsehead

slow down, you move too fast

There's an unnatural rush to get the vegetable garden planted up at this time of year. 'Wait!' I say. There is no hurry!

I say that because this photo shows one quarter of the four bed rotation fully planted. We're waiting on the broccoli, chard and sorrel from last year, but apart from that we're fully planted. But that leaves three quarters of the allotment waiting. Plants put in later usually catch up - and so there is no rush!

'Stuttgarter' white onion sets have been planted today in the bed previously occupied by brussels sprouts. These join the 'Red Baron' and 'Sturon' onion sets planted a couple of weeks ago. Overwintering red and white onions and garlic look good and will stay where they are until June.
When the chard and broccoli finish we need to find space for shallots 'Golden Gourmet' (THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!) and some more 'Musselburgh' Leeks.

We are changing the rotation this year and including parsnips in the section occupied by either beans or brassicas - dependent on room.

The old gardeners had it just about right: they valued the power of doing nothing! 'A garden needs a good coat of looking at' was how I heard it explained. And that's what ours will get, plenty of looking at.

And relax!

bare earth is bad earth!!!!!

Although it is traditional for gardeners to clear their land and leave it empty for the winter, there is another way.
This photo shows one quarter of the vegetable garden - the section given to legumes (beans and peas) next year.
The bed is is now planted with green manures - red clover and field beans- and broad beans were sown today.
The leaves of the growing plants will dissipate the compacting effects of winter rains. The roots of these leguminous plants will enrich the soil for a longer period.
The stems and leaves will store nitrogen that will be released in the spring when green manures can be 'dug in' or chopped off and used as a mulch or composted.