Hello and Welcome to a blog about allotment fruit and vegetable growing, sustainable GYO, and more.
I’m an organic gardener based in North Manchester, and I grow a wide range of fruit and vegetables, as well as a fair few flowers, on Plot #59 at Langley Allotments, Prestwich. I’m also one of the custodians of the Plot #79 orchard: see OrchardNotes.com for more about my interest in orchard growing and top fruit care and management.
Latest Blog Posts and Updates
- 2019/20 Green Manure Trial – Winter UpdateMixed results so far from the two green manure cover crop tests that I set up back in September 2019.
- Soft Fruit Re-Vamp, phase twoOne job I definitely wanted to get done this winter was to finish the reorganisation of the soft-fruit section of plot #59.
- Bring on the SummerThe winter months are no time to be tramping back and forth across your soil, but it's an ideal time for catching up on your maintenance jobs…
- New Year, New SeedsI've been carrying out my annual seed audit. I was planning an epic spending spree on new seeds, but it didn't quite work out that way…
- The Rhubarb – and the Growing Season – Is OverOur rhubarb keeps going right through the summer and into the first few weeks of autumn. When it starts to go over it's a sure sign that our main growing season is done for the year…
- Growbag Trial Update – The Harvest Results Are InThis year I've been trialling the new SylvaGrow Peat-Free Planter vs a bog-standard peat-based growbag, and now I'm pleased to report the results of the trial.
- Super Composter Trial – Second Results and ReloadAnother Super Composter trial update: bringing the second round of composting to a close, and setting up for a third batch of compost before the end of the year…
- 2019/20 Green Manure Trial – Setup and SowingI'm starting another growing trial, this time assessing the performance of four types of green manure crop…
- Growbag Trial Update: Fruit-Set, Ripening and a Disorder or TwoSo far the 'Maghrebi' tomato plants have been doing well in both the peat-free and peat-based growbags, but neither have been completely problem-free.
- Super Composter Trial – First Results and ReloadIn my latest Super Composter update I bring the first round of composting to a close, assess the general results, and set up round two.
- Restoration Pruning on a Plum TreeLast week I tackled a job I've been waiting to do all summer: pruning a badly overgrown plum tree at the back of #Plot59.
- Growbag Trial Update: Good Growth So FarThis year I'm trialling the new SylvaGrow Peat-Free Planter from Melcourt, alongside a 'bog-standard' tomato growbag. Here's a quick update…
Tag Cloud
2019 trials apple asparagus blackcurrant broad bean brussels sprout carrot cauliflower chilli clearing compost composting courgette Dahlia digging French bean Garden Organic garlic gooseberry green manure harvesting kale leek onion pea planning planting out potato potting on pruning raspberry redcurrant rhubarb runner bean seed sowing soilfixer soilfixer trial soil preparation squash strawberry sweetcorn Swiss chard tomato turnip weeding