Homes & Gardens
GROW YOUR OWN
Gardens are getting smaller and more people are living in flats and apartments but the joy of growing your own fruit and vegetables is only an allotment away.
Getting an allotment can take time as waiting lists can be long, but contact your local parish, town or borough council as they can provide you with a directory of local sites, where you will be able to add your name to a waiting list for your nearest site. Other allotment sites are provided by private landlords, including organisations such as the Church of England, or contact your local allotment society and ask if it knows of any available plots.
How to plan an allotment Allotments are wonderful things, but they must be cared for and nurtured to get the best out of them. The type of soil you have, the way the sun hits your plot and direction of the wind, all play a part in the types of plants you will be able to grow. It is often worth having a chat with some of the established allotment holders as they will know instantly what does and does not work on your site, thus saving you time and effort.
Traditionally allotments are set in rows, on a three-year crop rotation system (brassicas, roots and then “other veg”), but today the style of allotment planting is much looser — with people choosing to mix up their beds, breaking up the formality of the rows. It is really up to the gardener to choose what works for them, but the idea of rotating your crops is worth sticking to because it helps to keep the soil in good condition and certain types of pests and diseases at bay. It is also worth considering which type
of crops you intend to grow, because some will take years to establish and will need a bed to themselves for the duration of their life. For example, asparagus beds can last up to 20 years, cane and bush fruit are long-term fixtures, requiring cages and netting, while fruit trees can outlive many generations of plot holders. Perennials such as rhubarb and globe artichokes also need to be thought about.
If your soil is not ideal, or you are not
sure the land you are growing on has been treated well in the past, then raised beds are an excellent option. They allow you to access your crops easily, especially handy for weeding and watering, and you can choose the type of soil you want to grow in.
Benefits of allotment
gardening In a recent survey, nearly every person said their love of allotment gardening comes from the fresh air, home grown produce, healthy lifestyle and like- minded people this activity offers. Did you know that just 30 minutes of
gardening on your allotment can burn about 150 calories, the same as doing low impact aerobics? If managed properly, an allotment can
produce enough food to supplement a family’s weekly shop, with fresh fruit and vegetables during the year. This does require hard work and dedication but even the smallest crop grown is money saved. For more gardening help and advice go to
www.nsalg.org.uk
Supplied by National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners Ltd.
Mid Kent Living 35
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