Worthing and District Allotments and Gardens Association

YOUR ASSOCIATION CONTACTS:

Honorary Secretary PETER WEBB .…......................................... Tel: 523828
Membership Secretary PETER FOAN........................................... Tel: 601859

EDITORIAL
After a good start to the season the Stores' trading has tailed off a bit recently. Don't forget the Stores are there for you, selling practically all you could need at very competitive prices.

The old plot marker posts are either missing or broken or unreadable. It is important that in order to comply with the Rules all plots are numbered. This could save you getting a wrongly addressed Cultivation Order or worse; it happened to a friend of mine recently.

Security at the gates has improved lately, although some think they are above the rules. Others close the gates, but do not lock them. How long does it take to turn a key?

Dennis Dixon

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SECRETARY'S NOTES

I am sure you have been enjoying the sizzling June and July weather, but with the warmth the necessity to water becomes a real chore for most of us gardeners. On Worthing allotments we are not allowed to use hose pipes - which brings me to my first point: there are some individuals who believe they are above the law and who do use hose pipes on occasions. Let me assure all allotment tenants that the Council will not tolerate this deliberate violation of the rules. Personally I have to say that I find it quite amazing that although Adur and Worthing Councils are merging many of their Departments, allotments included, if you have an allotment in Adur you are allowed to use a hose pipe! However, in Worthing we are not allowed to use hose pipes.

I am pleased to report that we had a successful day at the Worthing Horticultural Summer Show, with our President, Arthur Burt, Janice Shambrook and yours truly all picking up awards for flowers and vegetables. Peter Foan, ably assisted by a number of helpers, also had a good day, having organised a vegetable & plant sales stand. A big thank you on behalf of the Association to all those who donated plants and manned the stall.

As I have mentioned previously, wooden pallets are available free of charge at the various sites for construction of compost bins and the like. However, the Council has made it clear that they will not tolerate the building of fences around allotments; yes, they look unsightly but more importantly they restrict access for Council officials who are duty bound to carry out regular monthly inspections during the growing season. Many of you may ask why do Council officials need to look at my allotment? A good question but unfortunately there is a small minority of tenants who break the rules by growing illegal crops. Surely not in Worthing! Well, I am sorry to say that in the last two years there have been several incidents of cannabis plants being confiscated by Worthing police and the tenants served with notices to quit. In addition, Council officials are increasingly being put under pressure by the Association to take action against plot holders who fail to keep their plots cultivated. With waiting lists still in excess of 600 people, I believe this policy of ensuring that all plots are being fully utilised is both understandable and worthy of the Association's full support. To help identify plots that are not being cultivated, can I again urged all plot holders to number their sheds.

Worthing Borough Council has formed an Allotments Scrutiny Working Group to look into how existing and future allotment plots can be better used, to investigate the possibility of cost neutral plots and to review the long waiting lists. The Council is looking for your thoughts on the current allotment procedures, ideas as to future policies, what can be improved and what you like about them generally. If you would like to share your views why not drop me an e-mail and I will forward it on to the relevant persons.

As many members know I have been campaigning for some time now for improved toilet facilities at Humber Avenue and the installation of toilets at Chesswood Farm allotment sites. I am pleased to report that later this year both Humber and West Tarring sites will be getting new toilets, but unfortunately to date we have yet to secure the funding for toilet facilities at Chesswood Farm - but we have not given up hope.

Sadly, during the summer there has been an increase in reported thefts of produce from allotments both at Chesswood and at West Tarring. To help reduce the opportunities for this please ensure that gates to the sites are kept locked to deter unwanted visitors. I would ask that the gates at Chesswood, Humber and West Tarring sites are left open when the Stores are open - i.e. 10.00 to 12.00 Saturday and Sunday mornings.

I am pleased to report that our allotment Stores have been really busy this year up to the time of writing. Many of you have been taking advantage of the increased range of products stocked. I have been very impressed with the quality of the Humax multi-purpose compost; it appears to be an excellent growing medium and good value for money compared to some. Remember, if you are about to buy something for your plot or your garden at home, please try our allotments Stores first.

Finally, if any member has anything which they wish to bring to the Association's attention then please do not hesitate to give me a call on Worthing 523828, or email me at secretary@worthingallotments.co.uk

Peter Webb, Hon. Secretary

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TRADING NEWS

JAPANESE ONION sets should be the next thing to think about. These will be in the Stores at the end of August so you may purchase then for £1.10p per pound - the same price as last year. Please do not plant them before the middle of OCTOBER or they tend to bolt.

GARLIC CORMS may be ordered from any of the Stores at £1.20 each, starting in July - cash with order. Collection to start mid-September.

Please think about the SEED POTATOES you will need for next year so that you will be able to complete the Potato Order form which will appear in the October issue of Plotholder. There will not be man y spares, so make sure you do not forget your wants. The price is not yet confirmed but will possibly be in the region of 60p per pound. If you check on the catalogues you will find that the cost will be about £1 per pound as you have to add postage to these orders. Reports I have received about the substitution of the variety Accord instead of Aran Pilot have so far been very good, with good crop yield. If anyone knows different I would be interested to hear. Let the Association take the strain - that's why you are a member.

Peter Everett, Trading Secretary

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PLEA FOR HELP

Palatine School in Palatine Road, Worthing, is a school for pupils with special education needs. It has always been renowned for the way it has involved the pupils in horticulture, particularly in the creation and maintenance of the school's marvellous gardens. These gardens are frequently open to the public through the National Gardens Scheme. However, when "special needs" provision was reorganised in West Sussex the Palatine School lost its older pupils to the new Oak Grove College and is now a special school for pupils of primary school age. The school also lost teachers who had been instrumental in the creation and development of the gardens. Without these older pupils and with no teacher in overall control of the gardens it is obviously much more difficult to maintain them.

The school would love to hear from anyone who could lend a hand. If you enjoy gardening and have time to spare, why not contact the school and become a volunteer?

The address is:- Palatine Primary School, Palatine Road, Worthing, BN12 6JP.
Address correspondence to Mr. Nick Dry, the Head Teacher, or telephone 01903 242835, or email office@palatine.w.sussex.sch.uk

They would be most grateful for any help you can offer.

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CREAM TEA NURSERY TOURS

Culberry Nursery in Angmering are offering group tours of their nursery and a herb talk - lasting around an hour - by Martin Jarvis, the owner of the nursery. The tours finish off with a home-made cream tea in the Herb Garden.

There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions about the plants they have at the nursery and any other horticultural concerns.

Through June, July, August and September the tour and cream tea is offered at £5 per head.

If you are interested in our getting a group together contact us via the site or give John Nutt a ring on 243114 and we will try to fix a date to suit everyone. They are suggestion groups of ten to twenty. Any afternoon, around 1-2p.m. (this is flexible). Weekdays are best. It is necessary to book, but you may pay on the day.

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CALLING ALL CAKE MAKERS

Last year at he Show we had a magnificent well-stocked cake stall and this year we aim to do even better, but we cannot do it without your help.

We need all sorts of cakes for the Show on Saturday, 4th September, both large and small. Please get out your cook books and make us some cakes to sell. Some of the larger cakes could also be used on the Refreshments Stall.

Contact either Anita on 243114 or Lyn on 247555 and let us know you can help.

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SUMMER TIPS

WHAT TO DO IN AUGUST

• Continue to harvest crops, particularly French and runner beans. If old beans are left on the plant it will stop producing any more flowers, so ensure all the beans are removed. Make sure marrows and courgettes do not go short of water; courgettes will also need to be harvested to keep the plant producing.
• Continue planting out leeks, sprouts, late cabbage and cauliflower plants as space becomes available. If caterpillars or white fly are seen on any brassicas spray immediately with an insecticide. SB plant invigorator is a good environmentally friends growth stimulant and pesticide and it available from our Allotment Stores.
• Sow winter salad cops such as corn salad, land cress and winter radish. These should all be ready to harvest form the end of October. Now is also the time to sow spring cabbage for planting out in late autumn.
• Where early potato foliage has died back the crop can be lifted. Let the tubers dry in the sun before putting them in paper sacks to store. Make sure they are kept in a dark but dry place; otherwise they will turn green or start to rot.
• Blanch celery with 300mm wide black builders' damp course plastic. Beware of slugs as they love celery.
• Japanese onion seed can be sown this month. Take out a shallow drill 300mm apart; if soil is dry then water the drills before sowing. Sow the seeds as thinly as possible - young seedlings do not transplant well and sowing too thickly leads to waste. Winter lettuces for growing in the greenhouse can be sown now in trays of multi-compost.

AUGUST CHECKLIST

• Continue to water plants in containers. Pots are often in the 'rain shadow' of a house or their foliage acts as an umbrella so they can dry out easily even if it has been raining.
• If you are away on holiday be sure your plants do not dry out. Move any containers out of full sun so they are shaded at the hottest time of the day. Terracotta pots can be left on gravel trays topped up with water so they can gradually absorb the reservoir of liquid.
• Greenhouse plants can be scorched on hot days and shading will prevent this. Use netting or shade paint and take care to avoid drenching plant leaves if possible.
• Greenhouse-grown tomatoes need a weekly feed of high-potash tomato fertiliser and regular watering. Pinch out side-shoots too and tie the leading shoot to its support
• Pick courgettes regularly, when still small and tender, carefully cutting them from the plant with a sharp knife
• In dry weather leave lawn mower blades on the higher setting
• Top up ponds as water evaporates and levels go down.

SEPTEMBER CHECKLIST

• You could sow a late crop of Spinach and plant out the Spring Cabbages ready for early spring harvesting. Continue to sow Japanese Onions, Winter Radishes and Winter Lettuces ready for the Spring.
• Protect late crops of soft fruit. Cover with netting to keep the birds away.
• Trim hedges.
• Clean up fallen fruit. Dispose of diseased or infested plant debris. Prepare for fruit storage.
• Deadheading will ensure a continued display of blooms.
• Attend to bedding. Give displays, hanging baskets and pots a little attention. Support perennials to prevent damage by autumn winds.

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BEST FRONT GARDENS AND ALLOTMENTS COMPETITIONS

2009 winner

The entries are in and by the time you read this the allotments will have been judged and probably the front gardens. Many thanks to those of you who took the trouble to enter. The results will be announced and trophies presented at the Show on 4th September.

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ANNUAL SHOW

Saturday, 4th September 2010

WHITE ELEPHANTS

In the last Plotholder we put out an advance appeal for unwanted DVDs and costume jewellery to sell at the Show but that brought forth nothing. Now is the request for any nice saleable items you would like to clear out which we can sell at the Show to help defray Show costs and keep your subscriptions as low as they are. Anything you have will be gratefully received. You can drop them in to us or we will collect. Just call Jack & Celia on 243216, or Bob Bingham .
Many thanks.

COME TO THE SHOW!

This is the last opportunity to remind you that our Annual Show, the Association's main event of the year, is on Saturday, 4th September and is not to be missed. For the sixth successive year it will be at the Offington Park Methodist Church Halls, on the edge of Broadwater Green, where we share three halls with out friends from the Worthing Horticultural Society, putting two Shows side by side and making it the biggest and best horticultural event of the year.

If you do not yet have your copy of the Show Schedule pick one up from one of our three Stores or get one directly from me (tel: 243216). This tells you everything you need to know and contains a lot of useful tips. It can also be viewed on this website.

In previous Plotholders we have already told you about the fruit, vegetables, flowers and novice classes, plus the photographic competition "Blooming Worthing", but it does not stop there. We have flower arranging, including the very popular "Arrangement in a teapot" and, a new one this year, "a miniature arrangement in an egg cup"! The Cookery section has all the usual favourites - jam, marmalade, chutney and bakery. The "men only" Class is "Syrupy Apple Tart" which is delicious. So chaps, get baking if you want to beat me. Then we have the Children's Classes, more than usual and open to all children. In addition to the old favourites - vegetable animal, bunch of garden flowers and miniature garden - there is a painting "My Holiday" and decorated fairy cakes. Children love doing these things but do need help to get them going. So please help them to help us with this very special section of the Show - but remember, they do the work, not you!

Well, that's it. Have a go, have fun and help make this Show even better than the last. It is up to you, the committee can do only so much. Also remember that the Horticultural Society's Classes are open to all so if you are really keen you can enter some of them too.

If you have not visited our Shows before I can promise you a really good afternoon in the company of a lot of very nice people and the tea and homemade cake will go down a treat. Finally, we will be looking for willing helpers to set up on Friday evening, to man the stalls and to help clear up at the end of a long day. If you can help, please ring me on 243216. Thank you.

Jack Powis, Show Secretary

THAT'S ALL THIS TIME. GOOD GARDENING AND HOPE TO SEE YOU IN ISSUE No 5