Birdies on allotments
(08/02/10) 1941 Seed ListsOrdered you seeds yet? Well, how about these prices? Someone sent them in to us to bring to your attention. Very interesting reading; I don't think our stores can compete with these prices!
The amazing cucumber
This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.
Thank you, Dave More allotments?
The shortage of allotments is a national problem which is exercising the minds of many, not just the councils who are supposed to provide 20 allotments per 1,000 residents. Inevitably some have seen it as a chance to make some money. A group called Local Allotments plc is looking for investors to make allotments available to local communities. Shareholders will be given priority when applying for membership to the allotment clubs but they need to raise over £2m to acquire land. So if you want a return for your money as well as your digging you might want to look at localallotments.net. Then there's always the Landshare initiative connected with the Channel 4 series, "River Cottage". They already have 30,000 supporters trying to link landowners with people seeking land to cultivate and they now have a website at landshare.net. Another site worth looking at might be homegrownuk.org, a national garden share intiative. In the meantime let's hope councils up and down the land are doing their best to avoid the 40-year wait faced by the residents of the London Borough of Camden. (12/10/09) Shut those gates!A message received about allotment gates being left open:
(09/10/09) Contaminated manure back on sceneA message from Black Horse Allotments Association:
(08/10/09) 1,725 Pound Pumpkin Takes The Prize In Ohio
A teacher from Ohio has won top honours in a pumpkin-growing contest with a 1,725-pound behemoth that could land worldwide bragging rights. Christy Harp of Jackson Township near Canton took first place at the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers annual weigh-off Saturday in Canfield. She won $2,500 and could claim the world title. Contest organizers say the entry topped the 1,689-pound record-holder grown in 2007 by Joe Jutras of North Scituate, R.I. The seeds from Harp’s winning pumpkin will be dried and given to anyone who asks. (06/10/09) Got a rotavator?
(18/09/09) Theft on allotment sites
Our allotment sites are suffering from an outbreak of thieving. Mainly this involves the theft of produce, particularly soft fruit, especially blackberries and strawberries. We're not talking about someone pinchng one or two as they walk past - which in itself is bad enough - but family groups coming armed with punnets and stripping sections. One person at West Tarring lost all their strawberries and others have lost different crops and even a pot of jam someone put down for too long disappeared. When confronted, one large chap with 2 youngsters had no excuse and a grandad and child said, well they only wanted a few. This is theft! But how are they getting in? Some are probably former tenants who never gave in their keys and we know some are relatives of present plotholders but others are simply walking in when the gates are left open. Please remember: KEEP THE GATES LOCKED. And now we come to the worst bit: some of those seen taking produce from plots are actually plotholders themselves raiding other plots. If anyone is caught doing this they will lose their plot (as per your rules) and if we have the evidence to prosecute well, why not? This is anti-social and illegal. If you observe any of these practises we have to advise caution in confronting offenders (do not touch them!) but please let us know. Just send us an email (worthingallotments@hotmail.co.uk) and we'll see what we can do with the help of the police and the Allotment Watch scheme but Allotment Watch only works if we all keep are eyes open and report anything dodgy. (05/08/09) Where have all the birdies gone?
A Response:
Can anyone help Sue?I have attached 4 photos of this “weed”? It grows so quickly and now covers the borders of our garden completely. The blades are really sharp and the roots are very strong and deep and it’s extremely difficult digging them out. You can’t pull them as they cut your hands. The leaves are shiny and sort of hard. It has hanging ‘seed things’. It has baffled a few garden centres I asked a year or so ago – hopefully you can help. Is it a weed or an invasive grass plant???????????????
Thanks Sue Some answers:
A Worthwhile Trip Out: Ferring Country CentreThe garden centre is generally open for sales Mon -Fri, 9am to 4pm but from Easter to mid-October it is also open Saturday and Sunday mornings until noon.
Horticulture Unit The main glasshouse was donated by Worthing Golf Club Our aim is to offer a superb range of quality Plants & Shrubs to the
general public at extremely competitive prices. Our Clients assist in every aspect of production from seed to sale. Many Clients are studying towards vocational qualifications in conservation, horticulture and land-based skills. Further details can be found at http://www.ferringcountrycentre.org/ (08/04/09) Eastern Allotments
These allotments were in Aqaba which is situated on the Red Sea in
Jordan and the site ran along between the town and the beach. The plots
appeared to be irrigated by large pipes that were used to flood the
area enclosed by little mud banks. The crops we could identify were
radishes and onions. They were being cultivated mostly by men but there
were women working as well. We did not discover how they were rented.
The temperature in Aquaba rarely goes below 20C but in the summer can
get to 35C. There is very little rain. The Bins - plea |
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Does anyone know of a source for organic straw? Needed for forcing rhubarb and protecting strawberries. I last got a bale from Humber Avenue but they are out at the moment. Paul E |
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Hi |
I know Mike's not a member (yet) but come on give him a hand. (Ed)
An
answer:
If a mix will not set then it has possibly been over cooked. Difficult
setting fruits such as strawberry, blackberry etc will respond to the
addition of 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid crystals per 1 lb of fruit in
the final cook period on the boiling time. You can get this at Superdrug,
but you have to ask for it and it costs under a £1 a box.
Peter
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Just thought, as we are being encouraged to make
compost bins from pallets, that I would share an idea that has
worked for us. When making your bin join the 'front' pallet to
one of the side pallets with a couple of tree ties. This creates
a 'hinge' so that you can open up the front and makes for easier
access for turning/emptying. Many thanks
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If you can help, please send us your advice; it may help others too.
K.
Quite a few correspondents wanted to know exactly what the council does for the £30 annual fee so here I print an extract from the Allotment Rules and Conditions:
15. COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITIES
Worthing Borough Council, either directly or through external contractors or Council Appointed Overseers acknowledges the following responsibilities:
So there you have it and I'm afraid there are other costs (such as legal expenses) which are not listed in these rules. That's where your money goes.
(12/12/08)

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There are lots of potholes appearing in my borders
where the squirrels are helping thmselves to our bulbs (I do love
squirrels and dont want to harm them at all, but dont want them
munching the rest of my garden). Will putting some nuts out distract
them enough? I have some mesh fabric that will let light and water
through but not sure how to securely fix it down so it's not dug
up! Help!
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G. (01/12/08)
Answer?
On Gardeners' World they showed a good idea. Plant bulbs in one of those
tubs you use for pond plants (like a pot made of plastic mesh). Dig
a whole big enough for the mesh pot and then fill the pot with soil/compost
and plant the bulbs within the mesh pot. Place some chicken wire over
the top of the pot and then bury the whole thing in the ground. When
the bulbs have died back, you can dig the whole thing up to store the
bulbs ready for next season.
Below is a copy of a message we sent to Worthing Borough Council complaining about the proposed increase in allotment rent to £30 per annum for a 5-rod allotment for this coming year. Also shown are 2 replies received so far from the council. We are doing our best in your behalf; please support us.
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We are writing to you on behalf of the members of Worthing & District Allotments & Gardens Association, and I dare say, most allotment plot holders in the Worthing area, to bring to your attention our serious concerns regarding Worthing Borough Council's proposed 16.5% allotment rent increase for 2009. In 2006 the Council increased rents by 5.5%, in 2007 the rise was 5.2% and in 2008 the rise was 3%. All of these increases have been well over the rate of inflation and, although our Association has never been happy about them, we have accepted them without complaint. This year however, there is no way that the Association can accept a 16.5 % rise. Every year the rent goes up and the tenants never see any increase in services offered to justify an above inflation rise; indeed this year the Council are also proposing from 1st April 2009 to withdraw the weekly rubbish bin collection service from each site. This in itself will provide the council with a considerable saving year on year. If we look at the wider picture, and compare Worthing to our neighbouring districts. In Adur the cost of one rod in 2009 will be £4.80, the proposed cost in Worthing is £6.00 per rod. If we go past Adur to Brighton, then the cost comes down to £3.50 per rod! Nearly half the price and every plot holder receives automatic membership of their Association subsidised by the council. If we go the other way to Littlehampton, then the cost is £2.90 per rod, which is less than half the cost of Worthing! All these areas offer exactly the same services. Worthing already has the most expensive allotment rents in the area and now Worthing Borough Council want to increase the rent by 16.5%. The Association has worked closely with the council over many years and we have made every effort to promote and encourage the use of allotments. With allotment popularity booming, Worthing Borough Council are receiving more rent from the allotment sites than they have done for over twenty years and our association has been instrumental in helping to achieve this. Worthing & District Allotments & Gardens Association do an enormous amount of work to help in the smooth running of the sites and this is all by volunteers. All of this work appears to be taken for granted, with no appreciation of how much time, and hence money, that we are saving Worthing Borough Council. The Council's response to us is to increase rents by 16.5 %. We have tried to look for any sort of reasonable justification for this increase but there seems to be none. We would ask you to consider whether this increase is justifiable. |
Reply 1:
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From: Tim.Everett@worthing.gov.uk Thank you for your email. I will discuss the matter with John Thorpe whose department includes this function through the management of the grounds maintenance contract with Continental Landscapes. We are currently in the process of looking at proposals for next years budgets, and the final decisons on that will be made by the Council itself on recommendations from the Cabinet. I do have a role in that process, and I will ensure both John and the relevant Cabinet Member are aware of your concerns. Unfortunately we are having to make further substantial savings for 2009/10, and Leisure and Cultural Services alone have a target of about £300k. As has been well publicised as a Council we have done particularly badly out of the Government funding for the new Concessionary Fares scheme, which has cost our Council Taxpayers more than £600k a year extra. Inevitably there will be some difficult choices. I will keep an open mind but I would make two points at this stage - the charges are still objectively very low compared to other services that the Council is able to charge for. In addition my understanding is the function will still be heavily subsidised by Council Tax Payers, although I will check this aspect out. The general advice form the Audit Commission is that Councils should set their charges to recover their costs where they can unless there are either legal or policy reasons that justify a subsidised rate. I will reply in more detail as soon as possible. Tim Everett |
Reply 2: Cabinet member for Clean and Green Environment, Bryan Turner, says:
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Worthing Council, like every local authority is under massive financial pressure both from the Government to find efficiencies and budget savings, and from the current financial turmoil. In order to continue to provide the range of services to the community that it currently does the Council must seek to maximise income wherever possible. This is especially so where there is no absolute statutory requirement on the Council to provide particular services (such as allotments) and where there is clearly a strong demand, again as with allotments. As the Council is limited in the total amount of money it can raise, and therefore spend, maximising income in this way prevents cuts elsewhere. In making the decisions that it does on charges we are also mindful of the total cost of the service to the user, in this case the cost to the average allotment plot-holder is £30 less than 60p per week which can hardly be considered excessive for the rent of a plot of land. The comparisons provided are unfortunately comparing 'apples with pears' in that they show current charges in neighbouring authorities and compare them with the proposed charges in Worthing for next year. Adur will also be seeking to impose an above inflation increase in allotment rents for exactly the same reasons. Wendy Knight |
So what do you think? Let us and/or the council know.
Letter from Jim about rent increase:
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Is it possible for the Council to detail exactly what they do to justify a rent increase of any kind? It would appear that the only cost to them is emptying the bins. If these are taken away then they don't have to even do this. I realise there is the administration costs of sending out the bills to plotholders once a year, and keeping a waiting list, apart from that it would appear they do nothing to benefit the plotholders. Can the Council also advise what people are supposed to do with diseased plants, bindweed, couch grass and hardwood pruning's once the bins have been taken away? Jim S |
Any replies or other opinions? In fairness I must point out that recently the council and the police have been working with the Association on site security and they also launched the Allotment Watch initiative. But does this warrant an increase of such magnitude? Let us know what you think.
(18/10/08)
Bill writes:
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Good Morning! Bill G |
(20/10/08)
Janet writes:
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I was reading with interest the letters regarding allotment rent
and thought perhaps you might be interested to hear from an Adur
plot holder. I have a 5 rod plot on the Lancing Manor site and my
October 2008/2009 rent was £24.00. We do not have a regular rubbish
removal service, but over the last couple of years we have had a
"one off" removal of rubbish from the site by the Council.
This has been both good and bad; good in that it gives people taking
on plots the chance to get rid of all the paraphernalia they don't
require, but bad because the pile of rubbish sits around for many
months attracting vermin. Regards Jan |
(21/10/08)
Jim writes:
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I was under the impression that Councils had a legal obligation to provide allotments for residents. In view of Wendy Knight's statement on behalf of Worthing Borough Council that 'there is no absolute statutory requirement on the Council to provide particular services (such as allotments)', can you please clarify? I also understand that part of West Tarring allotments, near the railway line, were in fact gifted to the Council for the express purpose of being used for allotments Jim |
(18/11/08)
An answer:
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In regards to the article on the website left by Jim, it is section 23 of the 1908 allotments act. 23 Duty of certain councils to provide allotments:
On the subject of the cost I personally believe that the cost for next year's allotments is very reasonable at 0.82p per day. If there are those that feel the £30 per allotment is too much then let them give up some or all of the plots to some one on the waiting list that feels this is not overly priced. |
(21/11/08)
Geoff writes:
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Now that we are to lose the bins in April and we are not allowed bonfires at Humber Close, how are we to dispose of prunings e.g. apple, currant, raspberry, pear, etc? Also on the West side we have to trim back the hawtorn bushes beyond the fence every year. Also if we have any diseased plants, cooch grass, brassica stalks, etc are Continental Landscapes going to supply a shredder or some means of disposal? These things cannot be composted. What does Continental Landscapes do for their fees? Regards Mr L |
(15/01/09)

We recently received this message from Briony of West Tarring site.
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Dear Sirs
I understand some of these ideas will cost but lack of waste management could potently lose the bins altogether. Briony |
Here is the reply Briony received from Ned:
| This is personal response only as our next committee meeting is
not until October and I know there is a hefty agenda already. I
will, however, circulate this to the committee. We know West Tarring has a problem with waste and discussions with the council are ongoing. The bins do state on them what should not go in them but for some reason people still insist on filling them with compostable waste and unsuitable materials (someone put a load of rocks in one which damaged one of the the new lorries and brought forth a threat to do away with waste removal altogether). The woeful situation is compounded by - would you believe it? - outsiders bringing in domestic, building and industrial waste onto the site for clearance, and being abusive to allotmenteers who speak to them. Our secretary, Terry Edwards, has made frequent appeals through our newletter, The Plotholder, for people not to misuse the service as it risks being taken away and has had discussions at meetings with the council but of course the Plotholder only reaches Association members. He is also trying to arrange for someone to come and give a talk on composting at West Tarring site. I remember speaking myself to someone who was putting a load of green waste into the bins; she did not say anything in reply but looked at me as if I were stupid! Tangmere Recycling Site is having a free open day this month (see website under "Events"). Others have also come up with the idea of a green waste bin for those who can't be bothered to compost it. The council could compost it and actually sell it back to us to reduce costs - if they do such composting. The locals who put their bags of green waste out to be collected pay 50p per bag for the priviledge and the bags are then collected once a week from the pavement outside their houses. As regards making people clear their plots before leaving you have to remember that many do not volunteer to leave. Apart from the unfortunate illnesses and deaths others are removed for non-cultivation so that new people can take on plots and look after them. Continental Landscape are supposed to strim the plots for newcomers. We are not allowed to have bonfires on the site at West Tarring because of the surrounding houses. I know this is not a satisfactory answer because all it does is point out the present situation but fear not, I will pass it on. Regards Ned |
Since this exchange we have learned that the council will pobably do away with the refuse collection altogether at West Tarring in April 2009.
(19/09/08)
One job gardeners often look forward to in late summer is gathering seed. You don't have to buy packets from the garden centre; you can save your own to ensure the survival of the tastiest, healthiest crops, and the most beautiful blooms. Saving your own garden seeds is both easy and economical - one seed from a single plant will raise hundreds more plants with minimal effort. By collecting seed you give them the best chance of survival by storing over winter and sowing under cover in early spring, while controlling where the seedlings take root.

Here are our top tips:
Top Tips:
Annual flowers and vegetables are a good place to start; the seed is usually
easy to collect and the plants grow fast. Many will sow themselves if
you let them.
Choose a still, sunny day, looking for seed-heads that have turned brown
and seem on the verge of splitting and releasing their contents. Have
bags handy (small clear plastic freeze bags are ideal) and invert one
over the top of the seed-head before cutting the stem, turning the bag
over and tying around the top. Label as you go, so avoid mix-ups. Leave
in a warm dry place for up to two weeks to dry out, then empty one bag
at a time on to a sheet of paper and separate out the seeds from their
casings and other debris. Store seeds in labelled envelopes and store
somewhere cool, dark and dry till needed.
Swap seeds to increase stock, insure against crop failure and try new
things.
Some seeds, (such as those of hellebores, and umbellifers) need to be
sown fresh. Start these off now in pots or seed trays with a little shelter.
Biennials (such as foxgloves and hollyhocks) can also be started now,
and if you look after them well they may be big enough to flower next
summer. With plants that self-seed, gathering your own seed can ensure
a continuous flow of blooms all summer.

Can you help this lady with her search?
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Do you by any chance know of anywhere in Worthing or Ferring I can buy some Crab Apples ? I want to make some Crab Apple Jelly. I did have a tree myself some years ago but unfortunately it died. I then had a source from a friend - but last year her husband attacked her tree with a chain saw !! End of tree ! Kind regards |
Can you help with the problem below?
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I have had an allotment for a month and have planted some swede and sweet peas which have grown from seed into small baby plants. I have watered them tonight and noticed some very small white insects flutering around in large numbers. Do you have any ideas as to what they are and what I should do? I would be very grateful for advice from experts. John |
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Your problem does sound like white fly. S B Invivorater should do the trick, available in the stores as a trigger spray which kills white fly, black fly red spider and caterpillars and costs £2.20 from our allotment stores. Peter. |
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We find that small plants like young swedes, radishes etc. can be successfully protected by covering with fleece. It is only 20p per metre in our stores. Jack |

Ian Williams, at: ianwilliams1960@hotmail.com, says:
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Hi! I have a large amount of horse manure that I am trying to find an outlet for. There is no charge if you want to come and pick it up or, for a small charge, we could deliver it in a trailer. Our land is at West St Sompting. We have a selection of fresh to well rotted manure. If your organization or any member would like it please contact me on 07717515321 Ian Williams |
I have checked with Ian and it is fine for you to contact him direct.

Hi!
I regularly get The Allotment and Poultry Newsletter from a guy called
John Harrison via email and he has discovered a disastrous selective weedkiller
which can be present in manure and straw bedding. I have added the link
to the relevant page in his website below and wondered if you would perhaps
like to mention this on the website and perhaps draw members’ attention
to the potential hazard in the next newsletter.
http://www.allotment.org.uk/garden-diary/257/aminopyralid-herbicide-residue-in-manure-killing-crops/
Regards
Jo Jones
West Tarring Plotholder
07.07.2008
We've been asked to pass on this message so if you know Bob and Barbara pass it on please.
I don’t know Bob and Barbara or if they are still members but I do feel we have a responsibility to them somehow!! If they are no longer members could someone who knows them pass on my best wishes.
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Dear Bob & Barbara Best wishes Kathy & Jan |
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