news - Ashford Allotments

Stunning Orchids at the Orchid Show

30/3/2015

Those of you who braved the blustery weather to see the South East Orchid Society show on Sunday had a rare treat - the range of different species and hybrids filling the hall was almost more than the eye could take in.

Top quality refreshments were available too, and the orchids for sale showed how much things have come on over the years - much more exotic types and at much lower prices.

To find out more about the Orchid Society click here.

Sorry for the early closing!

28/3/2015

Unfortunately the Trading Store had to close early today. We would like to apologise to anyone who was inconvenienced but this was unavoidable and unexpected.

The Trading Store needs to have 2 people present during open hours. Sometimes it is hard to get a volunteer for the period from 12-2, and today we could not leave one person alone there. If you are sometimes free on a Saturday, why not come along? There is always something to do and you will meet like-minded people. 12-2 is the quieter part of the opening and an ideal time to learn the ropes.

If you'd enjoy 'playing shop' occasionally, please contact me (you can use the website contact form) and I'll put you in touch with our the Trading Store Membership Secretary Alex Fraser

Please don't wreck the grass paths and damage people's plots!

28/3/2015

"Who, Me? I wouldn't do such a thing", we hear you cry! But some people cannot resist the temptation to see if the soil is firm enough for them to back their car right up to their plot. Answer - it isn't! At the best you'll make deep ruts (dangerous - we know someone who broke an ankle). At the worst you'll destroy the edge of someone's plot, or even get stuck having gone over the edge and have to face the humiliating prospect of somehow getting professional help to get your car back out.

Damage has recently been done to plots on Westrees. Anyone seen doing this sort of damage will of course be in deep trouble and could risk losing their plot, if not worse. Grass paths are not meant to be driven on, you shouldn't take a vehicle onto any part of the site that hasn't been given a hardcore base for driving on. So do please resist that temptation and build up your wheelbarrow muscles instead.

Have hoe, ready to go

25/3/2015

Spring is here and any minute now the weeds will start growing like crazy. The inexperienced allotmenteer waits till they are six inches high and then tries to pull them up - often as not leaving the roots behind to re-grow. Even sadder is leaving them to seed, making sure you'll have plenty more weeds in years to come. And weeds can seed in the twinkling of an eye, even before you've noticed they're flowering.

Clever and expoerienced gardeners know the secret of a weedless plot - a good hoe. Hoeing between the rows, or even vacant areas waiting for sowing, chops the weeds off before they have had a chance to develop proper roots, and even problem weeds like dandelions and docks give in if you how them off while they're babies.

Gardeners used to treasure their hoes like favourite pets. Few outlets do a decent range of hoes these days, but it pays to look for specialists like Bulldog (all made in Briatin too!) who still stock a nice range of different hoes. Especially interesting are the Warren Hoe, with its broad choppping blade ideal for heavy soils, and the Paxton Hoe, for slicing seedlings off with the minimum of effort. You may be luccky enough to find vintage versions of these, but you might have a long wait, and then with vintage hoes the handles have often been replaced . . .

Above: left, the Paxton Hoe, right the Warren Hoe. Both hoes have a full 54" handle (that's 135cm in the new money) made of natural ash for lightness and springiness).

For more about hoes and tools in general see our information page on TOOLS

Don't miss the stunning local ORCHID SHOW Sunday Match 29th

21/3/2015

You didn't know we had a local Orchid Show? Well we do. And it's wonderful! It's the utterly gorgeous
Spring Show of the South East Orchid Society on Sunday March 29th, 1pm to 4pm, at the British Railway Staff Association Hall (by their bowling green) on BEAVER ROAD - not far from the railway station. Entrance is just £1.50 towards club funds. In addition to the members' display, there will be two companies - Ratcliffe Orchids who will be selling orchids and sundries and Earthen Wear Jewellery who will be selling jewellery crafted from flowers. As usual there will be a tombola stand, refreshment stand and a questions/advice stand.

Picture south east orchid show

This photo from their gallery of pics from last year's spring show gives you an idea of the glorious plants you can expect. More photos below. Click on the pic above to go to their website, with membership details and so on.

Tempting asparagus

20/3/2015

Personally, I grew my asparagus from seed, but as a result I have some female plants (not good) and a mixed bag of quality. Planting crowns is quicker and, as long as you prepare a gritty well-drained bed, usually pretty straight forward. If I knew then what I know now, I would have taken up an offer like this.

Fifteen crowns for £15 is pretty good value, and you have the knife as an extra. Click on the picture to go straight to the offer at Marshall's (same comapny as Unwins). More details about the varieties below.

You get: (quoted from their website)
5 x Asparagus Pacific 2000
Asparagus Pacific 2000 is acknowledged as the benchmark variety for flavour in our trials, with excellent spear and head qualities. Crops from Early April - Mid June.

5 x Asparagus Ariane
Asparagus Ariane has good-looking stems and a distinctive, full flavour. This purple-topped beauty came first in our trials of over 250 varieties. Crops from Late April - Late June.

5 x Asparagus Millenium
Asparagus Millenium produces slim, tender heads and spears of comparable quality to early season varieties, putting it in a class of its own in the late season asparagus bed. Crops from Mid May - End June.

This looks about ideal for the allotmenteer. The initial expense is soon recouped when you think of the expense of buying it, the bed will crop for twenty years plus, and asparagus is one of those things which is bteer the shorter the time between gathering it and cooking it. Like the books say, put the water on to boil before you go and cut it!

If you're serious about asparagus, you'll want one of the tall thin pans designed for cooking it. This one from Lakeland is relatively less extortionate - or you could drop lucky and get one at a bootfair (I did) - keep your eyes peeled.

Your best ever spring bargains!

14/3/2015

Indulge your allotment for less!

Pelleted chicken manure, 60p a kilo. Compare that with the best prices you'll find on the high street or at the garden centre. That's like getting a large 10kg drum for £6

Really strong, chunky garden canes, 5ft long, 10 for £1.80. 8ft long, 10 for £3.10! We challenge you to find canes this good anywhere for any price, let alone this cheap.

Professional quality rot-proof, tear-proof woven weed-control fabric, 4 metres wide, £2.40 a linear metre (that's 60p a square metre!!!). This is nothing like the flimsy rolls of struff you buy at garden centres or DIY stores. Just one glance is enough to see that this is the product you need, at a price you can't believe. Use it again and again to clear ground, or peg down for permanent weed-suppression on paths etc.

Hard-to-get fertilisers like Hoof & Horn (slow-release high-nitrate fertiliser, 4kg for £4.60) or impressive soil-conditioner Calcified Seaweed (superb for brassicas and onions, 4kg for £4.40)

Where can I get all this???

At the Trading Store, of course! So why are you still waiting? Anyone can join, you don't need to be an allotmeteer. Click here to go to the page with all the prices and the opening times.

Henwood AGM

8/3/2015

Secretary Melonie Pentecost has asked me to let people on Henwood know that the AGM of the Henwood group is on 26th March at 7.30pm at the Willesborough Baptist Church.

If you would like to receive renminders about this kind of thing, then you can add your address to our mailing list by emailing us at [email protected]. You address is held confidentially, shared with no-one, and used only for allotment business.

Sissinghurst trip - revised plans

3/3/2015

Unfortunately, we have not had enough people confirm by the deadline to be able to book our private guided tour of Sissinghurst (there is a large-ish non-returnable deposit to pay). This is a shame, as April 12th is a particularly good time to see the gardens - less busy, and so much of the garden was planned for spring colour by Vita Sackville West and Harold Nicholson. The Winter Tour option ends on March 14th, so we will not be able to take that in April.

We have decided to go ahead with a group visit on Sunday April 12th, as it is such a good date. This will be done by car-sharing, meeting at the entrance at 11am to get in early while it is as quiet as possible. Normal entrance will apply, and each car-full can sort out their own parking and entrance individually. Sissinghurst no longer does 'timed tickets', and the staff assure me that we should have a good visit. Talks and even demonstrations are often available and are announced only on the day - these are free and anyone is welcome to take part.

As the cafe is reasonably expensive, you may wish to take a picnic (weather permitting); there is plenty of picnicking space with tables and benches. Please don't be put off if the weather is forecast wet; some of the best visits I've ever had have been when the rain was dripping on my umbrella and there was scarcely another soul to be seen!

Please let me know if you are planning to come, so we have an idea of numbers. Do organise your own car-full at your site. Anyone who has spare spaces, or who would like a lift and hasn't been offered one, please contact me and I will match do my best to match people up.

Grafted Tomato Plants from Marshalls

3/3/2015

Why grow grafted tomatoes? They are more vigorous, earlier to crop and more resistant to growing problems. Are they worth the extra money? Your decision. Click on the pic to see more at the Marshall's website.