ROEHAMPTON GARDEN SOCIETY

FOUNDED 1873

MONTHLY BULLETIN

OCTOBER 2009

www.roehamptonallotments.co.uk


CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

We have had a sociable September!

Firstly, an entertaining Allotment Gardener’s Question Time with our knowledgeable panelists in sparkling form and enough questions to fill more time than was available: thank you to everyone involved and to Georgina O’Reilly for organising the session.

And on the 12th we held our Autumn Show.  For those of you who don’t participate you don’t know what you are missing.  We had a superb display of the best that autumn offers (flowers, fruit, vegetables and cookery) and I give my heartfelt thanks to all the entrants for their skill and for the effort they make to prepare for the Show – and for donating their produce to the auction and produce stall.  But my greatest thanks are reserved for the group of volunteers that make the Shows happen – in no particular order: Mariangela & David Renshaw (David always does a splendid job with the £10 board and is an auctioneer of merit), Jenny Cobb, Carol Martinez, David & Anne Rossiter, Pip Melotte, Sheila Konig (who didn’t let anyone get away without buying a raffle ticket), Barbara (who assisted Sheila) & Dave McCall, Pat Davis & Judith Glaysher (cake makers and refreshment organisers supreme), Pat Dark, Charles Gillbe, Jonathan Compson (who manned the door and quietly elicited monies), Charles Held, Owen Lobban and Pat Donald (their muscles and Charles’s vehicle shifted the tables from the Store and back again) and, of course, our two brilliant judges: George Scandrett and Marion Rivinell.  Thank you also to everyone who helped clear-up.

George Scandrett is a notable allotmenteer who, before he agreed to judge for us, regularly swept the board at the Shows so it was poetic that, having had his arm twisted to enter the Shopping Basket competition, his basket was judged the best – congratulations George.

You will undoubtedly have noticed the absence of our regular and enthusiastic Show volunteer, Ben Saber.  Poor Ben broke his arm the day before the Show and was in hospital on the day.  I’m sure you all join me in wishing Ben a speedy recovery.

The website is live once again after a series of hacking episodes – thanks to Tom Hancock for his time and expertise in fixing the problem and for his future plans for the site. Please make use of it.

www.roehamptonallotments.co.uk

Apologies for the hole in the path on Site 2 – this is part of the enabling works for the connection to mains water which will now surely happen soon….!  Enjoy the remains of autumn.  Shirley Gillbe

ALLOTMENT GARDENERS’ QUESTION TIME: SUNDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER

Once again the Store was full for the Society’s 2nd Gardeners’ Question Time. The panel and audience were welcomed with wine and nibbles and Chairperson, Shirley Gillbe, introduced the panel, Paula Alderson, Leslie Harvey, Alan Rake and George Scandrett. For the best part of two hours these experienced gardeners answered a range of questions from rotting courgettes to saving seeds for the following year.  The six-foot height restriction for fruit trees on allotments was discussed and the panel recommended buying trees that have been grown on a rootstock that is unlikely to exceed this height (M27).  Wisley now sell a fruit tree called a ‘minarette’ that meets this requirement and grows three types of apple on one tree. The meeting ended with some Topical Tips. Paula suggested that strawberry growers took their best new runners now into pots of compost then, once rooted, out in rows for next year and get rid of old plants.  Leslie suggested planting White Lisbon spring onions in the ground now for Spring harvesting and sowing Autumn Aquadulce broad beans to have an early crop for Spring.  George said that now was the time to dig over plots deeply and roughly and leave for the frosts to break up the soil.  Alan made suggestions that have been expanded in the next section. Georgina O’Reilly

LOOKING AHEAD

This is the time of year when we are all faced with the chores of tidying up plots and harvesting last crops. For those who want to be forward looking it is always a good idea to make a plan for next season. Plans often need to be adapted later but they do help to ensure proper rotation of crops. It is useful to establish where runner and climbing French beans will be located. Dig a deep trench in the area selected and gradually fill this trench with biodegradeable vegetable matter as you clear the rest of your plot. When the trench is nearly full put the soil back (enriched with Country Natural from the store!) and leave until next season. It is advisable to mark out the trench with canes or even by building the whole superstructure. You will then be ready for planting next season. Exactly the same principle as this can be applied to sweet peas.

AUTUMN SOWN GARLIC, ONIONS, SHALLOTS

Two crops that can be planted before the winter are garlic and onions and shallots sets that are recommended for autumn sowing. Sets should not be planted in recently manured soil as the objective is to grow them hard so that they over-winter properly and form tight bulbs rather than pushing them on to premature maturity. Garlic needs a long growing season so it can be planted now or before the winter sets in. Plant the cloves at least two or three inches deep, spaced about a foot apart. Mark the ground as there will be no sign of growth for some time and the soil must not be disturbed.  Shallots and onion sets specially recommended for autumn planting can be ordered from the store in December or January. They include varieties such as Radar and Electric onions and Echallote Grise. Make a note in your diary to order in December for planting in Autumn 2010. However, seed merchants and garden centres stock recommended varieties for immediate purchase and planting this Autumn. For those who have glass protection, seed can be sown in modules for over-wintering. These mature in the spring and can be planted out as soon as weather permits, stealing a march on the spring crops. Planting of sets can be made any time before winter, preferably in soil that was manured for a previous crop. Otherwise give the soil a dusting of superphosphate,  (available at the store) raking it in at the time of planting. Alan Rake

THE RGS STORE IS OPEN EVERY SUNDAY MORNING BETWEEN 10.00 A.M.  AND 12.00 NOON. IT HAS AN EXCELLENT VARIETY OF GOODS FOR ALLOTMENTS AND IS STAFFED BY KNOWLEDGABLE VOLUNTEERS. SO PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR STORE.

BEST PLOT WINNERS

Site 2 Plot 19B: Leslie Harvey

Site 3 Plots 76&78: Paula Alderson.

The cup will go to Leslie this year as Paula won it last year. Many congratulations to both of them.

YOUTH OFFENDERS TEAM (Y.O.T.)

For the past two years we have been affording the opportunity for youth offenders to expend their allotted time by helping the Society with routine jobs on our two allotment sites: such as, plot clearances, keeping the access roads free of weeds and over-hanging vegetation, etc. At present the Y.O.T. are asking W.B.C. for funding for the next two months for up to six youths. If successful, it will be difficult to find routine work for all of them. Consequently, we would like to hear from any plot-holder who would like assistance with their allotment, such as cutting grass on the edge of their plot, help with work erecting a shed or green-house, etc. Any plot-holder wishing to participate in this activity should give their name and plot number and a brief description of the job to be done to any member if the relevant Allotment Sub-Committee. We will endeavor to inform about date and time of Y.O.T. attendance so plot-holders can supervise the work. The Y.O.T.s are always accompanied by a supervisor.  Derrick Ratcliffe

OCTOBER RECIPE

I am highlighting green tomatoes (as we always end up with a lot of these). This is my grand –mother’s recipe.

GREEN TOMATO CHUTNEY

450g green tomatoes

1 medium cooking apple

50g raisins

150g brown sugar

500ml malt vinegar

110g shallots

1 tsp. curry powder or 1 chilli

1 / 4 tsp. mixed spice

1 dsp. dry mustard

2 tsp. salt

1. Slice the tomatoes, peel & chop the apple, peel and chop the shallots. Put in a pan with the raisins.

2. Mix all the dry ingredients together (finely chop chilli if using) and add to pan with the vinegar.

3. Slowly bring to the boil and simmer slowly for 1 ½ – 2 hours, stirring from time to time.

4. Bottle in hot, sterilized jam jars and cover and store

Green Tomatoes are delicious thickly sliced and tossed in flour and fried for breakfast, preferably in bacon fat!

POLITE REMINDER

Plot-holders are responsible for removing their own rubbish from sites. The exception is the once a year rubbish collection by W.B.C. We do not have a date yet but it is likely to be late October/early November. Notices will be posted on sites to alert you in good time.

Recent bags of rubbish on site 3 were from the Y.O.T.s work and have now been removed.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

A.G.M. 26 NOVEMBER

There will be full details about the A.G.M in the November Bulletin.

Comments and copy for the next bulletin, by 15 October please, to Pat Dark (tel. 8789 7568) 19 Westhorpe Road, SW15 1QH. patdark13@yahoo.co.uk

Next bulletin available from the store on 1 November 2009.