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
- Greenhouse Update, early June 2020We’ve been so busy in the greenhouse for the past few weeks that it’s almost reaching maximum capacity…
- Another Round of Hot CompostingHaving decided it was past time to re-load the SoilFixer Super Composter that’s exactly what I did earlier this week…
- Water-Rooted Mint CuttingsStarting new mint plants off in water is a really quick and easy way to multiply your stock.
- Seed Sowing Now in Full SwingMay is the month when it really gets busy in the greenhouse as the warmth-loving seeds are finally sown.
- Greenhouse Update, late April 2020It’s getting busy in the greenhouse as the seedling production line speeds up for spring.
- How To: Prick Out SeedlingsHopefully this handy how-to guide will help anyone who’s wondering how to go about pricking out their new seedlings.
- Plot #59 Update, 07.04.20Today I cycled down to the plot for my hour outside. The sun was shining, the lightest of breezes was blowing, and if circumstances had been different then I would have stayed all day.
- Plot #59 Update, 04.04.20Jo and I invested our State Authorised Exercise Hour in a work session down on the plot today.
- 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…
Latest Comments and Discussion
How do they do when starting from seeds? Can you transplant during the summer?
I think they’re becoming invasive on our plot this year. I didn’t get around to digging up last year’s rooted…
Hello Sue, Are you in England? I just looked up location of Green Lane Allot… These need very little water-England…
Hello Sue, These grow wild in Virginia-best place to find them is at the edge of cornfields and/or in woods…
For every opinion there’s a different one… I appreciate the pictures, but it’s the description that makes the difference between…
I think aphid populations are always going to find a way to their favourite feeding spots if the conditions are…
I sympathise with the aphid problem. I planted a Victoria plum about 5 years ago and the last 2 summers…
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
Hi Anthony – I’ve not tried growing them from seed, and haven’t spotted any seedlings popping up on our patch…