Ashford Allotments
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We won't waste water, will we?

18/4/2015

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This is a dry spring (so you've noticed?). We've got used to wet weather over the past couple of years, but it's not normal for this part of the UK and we often have long spells of dry weather.

It's tempting to reach for the hose. But about 95% of water hosed onto our allotments is totally wasted and, so far from not even doing any good, does actual harm.

This wouldn't matter if water was free. The fact that we don't pay for it by the gallon doesn't mean it doesn't cost us. THE BILL FOR THE WATER FOR THE ALLOTMENTS IS MORE THAN ALL THE MONEY WE PAY IN RENT. You noticed your rent went up this year. Want to know why? Wasted water is a huge part of the answer.
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No 'lovely weather for ducks' jokes this spring! It's back to normal with dry sunny weather for Kent.
So how is 95% of the water wasted? Because it never reaches the roots. Spraying water from a hose wets only the very surface, and in dry weather that just evaporates straight off. You might as well pour it down the drain for all the good it does.

But surely it can't do any harm? Wetting the surface of the soil creates a caked 'pan'. Seedlings find it hard to push through this and you will see poor germination. Wetting the surface draws the roots of established plants up to the top, rather than encouraging them to go deep and seek the water still in the lower levels of soil. Shallow roots don't anchor the plant well, they are less efficient at extracting valuable minerals (which you have washed out of the top of the soil) and they are vulnrable to drying out of you relax the watering regime for a moment. Too much water on the soil damages the structure, making it harder to cultivate and less hospitable to roots.

If we carry on wasting water the way we are, the council will inevitably be forced to bring in measures to restrict its use. This will affect everyone, but those who are currently using far more water than they need will of course feel it most.
Experienced gardeners like Tony Fagg, our longtime Show Secretary, do hardly any watering - only newly planted cabbages and suchlike. They know that the plants will root deep to find the water down there. If we get a real drought, put the water on in cans - without a sprinkler!!! Two cans full poured straight on the roots of a row of plants will deliver real water where it is needed, soaking in to the lower levels and lasting the plants for ages. To check this for yourself, try filling a 7 litre can from your hose. See how long it takes? See how little water your hose is actually delivering when you spray it around? Hmmmmmm.

For clever tips on making the most of water and saving yourself a lot of unnecessary work, go to our advice page USING WATER WISELY
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Water leak on Christchurch Road

23/9/2014

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The long-running water leak on Christchurch Road allotments has now been located. Unfortunately, because the area was so saturated, it had become necessary to turn the water off at the water point. A whole section of pipe has failed and it will be necessary to replace this from the stopcock to the water point. The work will be undertaken as soon as Southern Water can schedule it.

The easiest access to another source of water is at the tank just inside the gate to William Road allotments, on the track from William Road to the playing field. Your key will also fit these gates. Obviously this isn't ideal but if you are unable to bring water from your house it is the best that is possible at present.
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Weed-infested fruit bushes? Oh dear, never mind, it's easy to clean them up.

20/9/2014

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Autumn is coming, the leaves will soon be falling, but the weeds just keep on growing, eh? Never mind, if you have perennial weeds amongst your soft fruit, you can turn this to your advantage.

Nothing makes an allotment look scruffier than fruit bushes with couch grass, dandelions and dock growing under and between them. But these weeds don't just look unsightly, they are robbing your fruit of essential water and nutrients. Get rid of the weeds and the bushes will reward you with stronger growth and bumper crops.
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"I've tried!" we hear you wail - "I've dug them out but the roots are amongst the fruit and they just keep coming back!" The answer isn't hand-weeding (doomed to failure) but judicious use of the correct modern weedkiller. Glyphosate - available in many different brands but best-known as 'Round-Up' - only kills where it touches green leaf. This means you can wait till all the leaves have fallen, then water on your glyphosate all over the couch and dandelions. They will die and the bushes be unharmed.

For more about this solution to one of life's more annoying problems, click here.

Got a problem? Try our advice pages and see if we have the answer. Try the FRUIT & VEG A-Z, and the ADSVICE & INFORMATION pages for other topics. Doing well? Send us your tips for success! They will be included in our advice so we can all benefit.
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Biting insect alert

8/8/2014

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PictureMany times actual size!
Two damp summers and a mild winter has meant an explosion in the numbers of 'Blandford Fly'. This tiny, flea-sized insect lurks in grass and leaps out to inflict a very painful bite. Unfortunately, it has now become very common on allotments. It favours conditions near water, so those allotments in low-lying parts of Ashford are worst affected, but this year they may be found on any site. Their chief period of activity is usually early summer but again, this year they are still biting till well into August.
The initial bite hurts (unlike mosquito bites), and bites can be recognised by a red centre surrounded, initially, by a whiter circle. Some people are lucky enough just to get this painful, itchy small bite. However, many people react allergically to the bite and may experience a reddened, swollen area round the bite or, in bad cases, an expanding area of swelling (oedema) which may cover half the leg.

Blandford Fly bites at dawn and dusk, and in periods of humid, overcast weather when the sun is behind clouds. They rise a couple of feet at most from the ground and usually bite on the leg. In these conditions, it is a good idea to cover up with trousers rather than shorts or a skirt. Take care when bending down to weed as they may then bite on the hand or even the face!!!

If you are bitten and experience swelling or reddening of the skin, an antihistamine or steroid cream available over the counter may help. More severe reactions may make it desirable to take an antihistamine tablet. The ones used for routine hayfever treatment are not necessarily the best for this and it would be best to ask advice from the pharmacist.

In some cases more prolonged symptoms can develop, including fever and joint pains. For more on 'Blandford Fly' bites click here for the Boots website  

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Micro-allotments at Cryol Road

11/6/2014

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A five-rod plot at Cryol Road has now been split into two plots each of 2.5 rod. This seems, to the traditional allotmenteer, to be rather astonishingly small.

However there is a demand for very small plots. Many people who have taken on 5 rod plots say they are quite big enough for them, and a very very small plot indeed at William Road - an awkward corner cut off by a path and measuring about 1 rod - found willing takers who said they did not want anything bigger.

Clearly it makes sense for the council not to ask people to take on more land than they want. But now aadays no-one is ever offered a traditional 10-rod plot, and the 5 rod plot has become the new standard. Let us hope the 'standard' plot does not shrink any further! It is sobering to realise when looking at the plot maps that plots used to be about 4 times the size of the new 'standard' plot - the original numbering gives the game away.

Two things spring to mind. When these large plots were set up, vegetables were very expensive and many poor households tried to grow everything they needed for the whole year, potatoes included; today we are accustomed to cheap (often imported) veg all year round in the supermarkets.

The other thing is, how many people would actually want to cope with 20 rod of land? Hard work at the best of times - and all that to winter dig! No wonder there was much less obesity in the past!!!

If you're reading this and thinking "Great Scott, I have trouble coping with the land I've got!, then do talk to Eileen. In most circumstances she will be very happy to split an existing plot so you get just the land you want and someone else gets a bit too. If you have a large plot you struggle with, don't delay. You can contact the council by
email at allotments@ashford.gov.uk or phone the allotment officer on 01233 330476.
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SECURITY ALERT

19/4/2014

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There has been a spate of break-ins to allotment sheds lately. Police are keeping up with developments but these things often go in bursts. Be extra vigilant, especially at dawn and dusk. If you have expensive items in your shed which could be stored at home, you may wish to move them for the time being. If you live adjacent to your site and you hear or see anything suspicious, call the police immediately. Make sure your back gate is secure as thieves have gone in from William Road allotments to gain access to a plotholder's private garden.

The police do not belittle this type of crime at all - they have a zero tolerance policy and every incident of shed break-ins is properly dealt with. Notify all break-ins to the police immediately, before contacting your rep. The number for the incident room is 01622 690690. If a crime actually is in progress dial 999 - the police would just love to catch the thieves in the act.

The William Road site rep is working with police to set up some crime prevention advice. If you are concerned about this and would like help from the Kent Police crime prevention team, you should first speak to your rep. If you are not able to get them to set up a visit, then contact us and we'll take it from there.

More news about crime prevention advice will be posted as soon as available.
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Burning bonfires

14/4/2014

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The Council has asked us to draw your attention to the important guidelines on bonfires.

Bonfires are sometimes necessary on the allotment to get rid of diseased plant material, or where it is impractical to take prunings to the dump for industrial composting.

The dump will take all woody and green refuse. It is open everyday, including weekends. There is no charge for taking things to the dump.
Click here to go to the website for the dump.


You should always be aware of the people living in houses nearby and be a good neighbour. Don't have a bonfire during the daytime when people may be in their gardens or drying washing.

Leaving bonfires unattended clearly isn't safe.

You don't need to burn weeds: even tough weeds like dandelions and bindweed will die if composted properly. Anything which can be composted, should be.
Weedy topsoil must never ever be taken off your plot. It isn't just against the rules to take it to the dump, it's plain daft. You NEED that topsoil and getting rid of it will ruin your plot. It can be piled onto a bonfire at the end to burn out any remaining roots.

You should not under any circumstances burn plastic or polythene: it releases horribly toxic fumes. All such refuse should be taken to the dump: it mustn't be left by allotment entrances. The council does not clear rubbish from allotments.

Here is the council's leaflet for you to read.
Use the controls at the side and bottom of the box to go up and down or make the print bigger.
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Noticeboards sorted out - hooray!

14/4/2014

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Picture
Click on the logo
to go to the
Medash Signs
website

Medash Signs have reported back to us that all the noticeboards which were wrongly assembled have now been taken apart and sorted out, then replaced on their sites. This has been done as a level of after-sales service rarely encountered today.
At every point John Hobbs and the team at Medash have been helpful far beyond the call of duty, and we should all be well aware that they have, in very short order and without any cost to the ratepayer, fixed a problem which has been driving reps up the wall, and which, despite all efforts, it had proved impossible to get the council to address.

To be fair to them, however, the council, under new the head of department Julie Rogers, have also gone ahead and supplied the missing noticeboards from Gashouse Fields and Musgrove New sites. Please make sure you look out for useful information and important notices on these boards. Thank you to Culture and Environment for fixing this anomaly and providing the boards which were omitted during the original refit 3 years ago.
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