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
- 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…
- Spuds Out, Leeks InHonestly, I don't know what it is about leeks, but I seem to have a mental blank when it comes to remembering to get them in the ground in good time…
- Aphid Update: Damson Saved, Plum Under ThreatAt the end of May I reported on a nightmare aphid infestation. Drastic preventative measures seem to have worked, so far…
- To De-Scape or Not to De-Scape?I've given up on growing garlic (for the time being at least) due to a few years' poor results, but I am still growing elephant garlic…
- A Good Shallot Harvest This YearI've been growing and saving a few 'Hative de Niort' and 'Jermor' for propagation every year for the past few, and this year we've had a bumper harvest…
Tag Cloud
2019 trials apple asparagus 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 salsify seed sowing soilfixer soilfixer trial soil preparation squash strawberry sweetcorn Swiss chard tomato turnip weeding