Amateur Allotmenteers for over 30 Years!
by Caroline & Mike Hockey
Our allotment has meant a lot to us during the pandemic. It has been somewhere to go to and enjoy the delights of our beautiful surroundings. Nestled under Ham Hill at Greenham’s Cross in Norton, you couldn’t wish for a nicer place to work and in which to tire yourself out!
Unfortunately due to lockdown in March 2020, we couldn’t start our work until the middle of May as were stranded in N.Z. SHAME! Having managed to eventually get home we found a very weedy allotment. But our broad beans which we sowed in November 2019 were thriving. And then thanks to our then next-door neighbours, Jane and Michael Spencer, who supplied us with runner bean seedlings, and fellow allotmenteer, Chris, who gave us leek seedlings, we were up and running and full of beans! At the moment, we have purple-sprouting broccoli plants that think they are trees. High hopes for them in the Spring.
Then in our greenhouse at home we have sown sweet peas. Watch out for these in next year’s Flower Show. Fingers crossed.
Winter vegetable growing tips
Early November: sow broad beans ‘Aquadulce’ (Mike’s Dad always swore by the date of 5 November and we still abide by this).
Early November: plant French garlic ‘Topadrome’.
November: Remember to put plenty of manure on your rhubarb (we won’t do the custard joke) and then cover, so as to have nice young tender shoots early in the season.
Late January or early February: direct sow shallots and onion seeds to give a nice long growing period. They are not frost-sensitive.
February/March: save your cardboard toilet roll tubes to sow parsnips in readiness for transplanting.
Update: March 2021
Although Spring is just around the corner there isn't much hope of getting onto our allotment for the time being as it is far too wet.
For us, lockdown has meant not being able to go to the nursery to browse for our seeds. So we have had to resort to the internet.
Potato 'Red Duke of York ', a heritage variety dating back to 1942, is our first choice. Our main crop choice is 'Sarpo Mira' which is a relatively new strain developed for its resistance to blight. When we have a particularly wet summer our allotment is susceptible. At the moment the seed potatoes are set in boxes 'chitting' in our house!! They will duly be planted late March, early April. Don't forget we can still have late frosts so we mustn't be too eager.
In November we sowed broad bean seeds directly into the ground. Oh dear! The mice who are resident tenants thought that they had been put there for them. We hate those 'mieces to pieces'. Anyway, not being deterred, we had saved back some seed which we have sown in boxes in the greenhouse!
Also, we have sown parsnip and onion seeds in trays ready to be transplanted when the sun shines and Spring has sprung!
Update: May/June 2021
Here we are at the end of May and at times it feels like the end on November!
Must admit that our allotment has suffered with the weather this spring as the growing season seems to be about a month behind.
However, things are starting to happen. Our garlic "French Topadrome" which we planted on 5th November is filling out nicely. Same goes for our broad beans, which are podding up. Parsnips, which we sowed in cardboard tubes in the greenhouse and then planted out are looking splendid. Likewise leeks and cabbages were brought on in the greenhouse and transplanted out. A lot of work, but worthwhile we think!
Seeds which were sown directly into the ground include carrot, spinach, beetroot, chard and french beans.
Potatoes which were planted on 3rd May are now earthed up and looking good. Another 6 weeks or so and we should be digging.
Just sown purple sprouting and kale again in the greenhouse, ready for planting out.
Also time to plant out courgettes and pumpkins, again brought on in greenhouse.
Nothing better than fresh vegetables.
Fingers crossed for some better weather!
Feel free to take a peek over the allotment gate, our plot is the first one just inside!
Happy gardening.
November 2021:
After nearly 40 years extremely happy and rewarding years at Greenham’s Cross, Caroline and Mike are relinquishing their allotment. We hope you have enjoyed their seasonal advice and anecdotes above, and feel encouraged by them to tackle your own veg growing with renewed zest.
If you are interested in becoming an allotmenteer please get in touch with: Stuart and Liz Maunder, 2 Church View, Norton-sub-Hamdon E: stuartandlizmaunder@yahoo.co.uk
Mike & Caroline’s Rural Commute Home from their Allotment
-by Sarah Bailey : www.sarahbaileycartoonist.co.uk