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!
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) 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) 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)
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)
The Bins - plea |
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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 |
The Local Government Association has an unexpected best seller on its hands - "Growing in the Community". Priced at £25 (£15 to allotmenteers) it is flying off the shelves from its online store at www.lga.gov.uk. The book covers planning laws, rents, setting up allotment associations, health and safety and allotment law (including the consequences of the 1908 Allotments Act), setting out the case for local authorities to press for more space for allotments with every new housing development.

Environment board chairman, Paul Bettison, said, "At a time when food prices are rising, demand for organic food is on the up and we're facing an obesity epidemic, the benefits of allotments are clear. They help to keep people fit and healthy and can help cut the weekly shopping bill." But we knew that, didn't we?
Friends and neighbours, I am sure none of you would intentionally torture and kill a wild animal, but, possible inadvertantly, someone has. Have you been using slug pellets? This morning a beautiful fit plump healthy hedgehog was lying on our lawn unable to stand and every so often writhing in pain. This has continued all day (it is now 7 p.m.). Perhaps I should have had the guts to smash its brains in - but I could not bring myself to do this. My husband placed it in the shade under some hydrangeas. Did you realise if you feed slug pellets to slugs, their predators also get poisoned? That includes hedgehogs, toads and frogs - all friends to the gardener. The death they suffer is brought about by their intestines being dissolved away - a horribly painful, long, lingering death.

Please, please, please do not use slug pellets. This is the third time we have had to endure this spectacle. Needless to say, we never use slug pellets. My method of removing slugs if they get too bad is to go out after dark with a torch (there are plenty around at that time) and I steel myself to squash them as I feel this is the quickest and most humane death available. Alternatively, beer traps can be effective. If we could only build up the population of hedgehogs again I am certain the slug problem would improve dramatically - but it needs a concerted effort by us all not to use these poisons. Do you think in the circumstances it is at least worth a try and everyone should agree No Slug Pellets to be used at all in our area?
Celia
I print here a message from a would-be swapper.
| Hello, I have 2 plots at the West Tarring site. I have just planted
2 rows of Juliette salad potatoes and have run out of space. I have
11 seed potatoes left and I was hoping that you may have a Message
Board on the website where I may be able to advertise to swap some
potatoes for some seedlings or whatever. I look forward to hearing
from you . Best Wishes George Middlehurst |
If you can help George, please get in touch by clicking on the Contact us button.
| If this an acceptable why to communicate unwanted things. I have
the following: Lots of glass panes, some in frames and some not; Pile
of Logs, Some shed panels, Pea Sticks Location: Plot 400. Would really
like some broad bean plants or other seedlings but would be happy
to get rid of the above. Briony |
Get in touch if you can help Briony
| Hello George and fellow allotmenteers, I would be very interested in your potatoes, I would like to pass them on to my Father-in-law. In return I can offer some Cauliflower All Year Round plants x 6. Or Cabbage Greyhound x 6 or perhaps 3 of each. I can also offer some Chilli Plants, Hot Pepper Fuego (Italian Cayenne type), Capsium Twilight (which produce multi-coloured fruits) and Chilli Birds Eye. Would anyone else be interested in swapping a Chilli Fuego and Chilli Birds Eye for something? Kind Regards, Mel Lenihan |
George has now got rid of his potatoes but if you want to trade with Mel just click on the Contact us button and put Mel in the subject line.
recycling As we are all aware composting is an effective and environmentally
friendly way of recycling organic waste. For the best composting results
you need to build or buy a special bin. Did you know that if you live
in West Sussex, you can purchase a compost bin, for as little £10.00,
and have it delivered to your door? The County, Borough Councils of West
Sussex have joined forces to promote composting, the scheme, funded by
WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) offers a range of composting
bins from only £10.00. To order your compost bin, either telephone 0845
0770757 or order online at www.recyclenow.com/compost.
Please note: maximum of 2 bins per household.
(dearer
model)
Peter
W.
Allotments have become very popular in recent times - there
are now over 300,000 allotmenteers nationally with a wating list of
around
100,000. Some places have a waiting list of over 1,000 and Swindon has
a 5-year waiting list. Makes things in Worthing seem not that bad.
How has this state of affairs been reached? Several theories have been
propounded:
Whatever the reasons, companies such as Thompson & Morgan
and Suttons report they are now selling more vegetable seeds than flower
seeds which is a definite turnaround from a few years ago. Apparently
the most popular grow-your-owns are:
beans, carrots, fruit, garlic, herbs, onions, peas, potatoes, salads and
tomatoes (not necessarily in that order).
Of course, this time of year, Easter, is traditionally the start of the
gardening year and we're all supposed to get our potatoes in on Good Friday
but Easter is very early this year and it's a mite cold in most places
so if'you're waiting for an allotment don't panic - many crops will catch
up after a late start and no matter when you get your plot there is always
something you can be getting on with. (22/03/08) Acknowledgements
to Anita
On
Saturday 29th March Worthing Coaches are running a day trip to Kew's Spring
Festival which runs throughout March. The coach leaves at 09.00am and
returns around 6.30pm. Entrance fee is included and at the moment Kew
also have an exhibition of Henry Moore statues on display. Not bad for
£22 all in, is it? For more about Kew and their events click
here.
Town hall bosses are to consider asking
developers to provide allotments in return for planning permission on
large housing projects. Brighton and Hove City Council, which runs 2,300
plots at 37 sites, closed its waiting list after the number of applicants
reached 1,700. In parts of the city applicants may have to wait up to
five years for a plot to become available. Geoffrey Theobald, chairman
of the council's environment committee, said the council was reviewing
the allotments service to see if improvements could be made. He said it
would consider asking developers to provide allotment space in certain
circumstances. He said: "With more people living in high density housing,
allotments are now vital spaces for outdoor physical exercise and contact
with nature, as well as for local, healthy food growing. "In Brighton
and Hove, the number of people wanting an allotment has jumped dramatically
as more people recognise the opportunities they offer. "Providing contributions
towards allotments as part of a Section 106 agreement is something the
council would consider if it were appropriate."
(10/03/08)
Matt
Ellis
We're a bit late with this news unfortunately. Last Sunday
was Seedy Sunday at Hove Town Hall. "What is Seedy Sunday?"
I hear you ask - only the country's biggest community seed swapping event!
And it's held every year in our area. It has been going since 2002 and
is run entirely by volunteers, enthusiasts who are determined to try and
conserve seed varieties the commercial companies can no longer be bothered
with. This year over 1,000 people attended the event. For more details,
see their website. Reading about
it reminded me of a suggestion made by one of our members that perhaps
we could start an online seed swap here. If you're interested drop us
a line and we'll see if we can get it off the ground. After all we nearly
always have too many seeds/seedlings of one particular sort and perhaps
we could swap with someone else who has a different glut. Waste not, want
not.
(08/02/2008)
Acknowledgements
to Peter
Can you believe somebody has come up with a greenhouse made of plastic bottles? Don't believe me? Click here! Just think how you could do your bit for recycling, over 500 bottles at a time. (05/02/08) Thanks, Matt
Most
of you will have heard of the misfortunes of the stricken vessel "Ice
Prince" and its load of timber. Much of this has now been washed
ashore along the South coast and a good deal of it on Worthing beach which
has now theoretically been closed to the public to prevent scavenging.
I say "theoretically" as there was no sign of any police or
security presence at 9 o'clock this morning, just several people taking
photographs. No one appeared to be taking wood although there was plenty
of it about, not just on the beach either as some appeared to have blown
over the wall on to the grass at the bottom of George V Avenue and one
or two pieces were on the road in Marine Parade. (Perhaps someone is coming
back later to pick them up as they were very tidily arranged!)Nevertheless
there was no sign of the mass pilfering witnessed previously in the South-West
which just goes to show what basically honest folk the citizens of Worthing
are (or slow).
For more (and bigger) pictures click here.
You couldn't make this up but it might appeal to some of you looking to shake off those winter blues. The General Tarleton Inn in Ferrensby, North Yorkshire is doing a special "Rhubarb Weekend" break for all you rhubarb lovers out there. For £230 per room you get 2 nights' B&B, a rhubarb-themed menu, a visit to a local rhubarb grower and your own pack of fresh rhubarb to compare with your own efforts. For more info', ring: 01423-340284 or visit their website on www.generaltarleton.co.uk. Me, I think I'll stick to the Association Dinner and the Dutch Bulbfield trip.

Did you see Alan Titchmarsh in "Nature of Britain" in the
telly when he was at the Rolls-Royce plant at Goodwood? He was showing
and talking about the eight acre "living roof" over the factory where
a number of breeding pairs of skylarks now nest. The manufacturing plant
has been designed to blend into the environment, with the sedum "living
roof" making it difficult to detect where
the boundaries lie between the buildings and their surroundings. The effect
is further enhanced by sustainably sourced cedar wood cladding on the
buildings. In addition to skylarks, other birds feeding on the roof have
included linnet, meadow pipit and pied wagtail. A lake at the main entrance
to the courtyard is a key part of the water-management system as well
as a striking feature and attracts a wide variety of aquatic birds. Species
that have been seen here include grey heron, mallard, coot, moorhen, Canada
goose, mute swan, yellow hammer, corn bunting, whitethroat, blackbird,
song thrush, green woodpecker and grey partridge. Over 400,000 trees and
shrubs have been planted to screen the buildings and encourage a rich
biodiversity of flora and fauna species into the area. Isn't it nice to
see that such a big, commercial enterprise is doing its bit for wildlife?
So come on the rest of you big firms - follow the example of Rolls-Royce.

Yes, there could be a lot of them about at this time of year but is this all pumpkins are good for? Recently I've seen several articles telling us not to throw the rest of the pumpkin away as they are full of goodness and can be made into delicious pumpkin pie or pumpkin soup. Have you ever met anybody who's done that? I don't believe it, as Victor used to say. Meanwhile here is another picture showing you a much more amusing way to use up all those pumpkins, nothing else has been used in the construction of this monster.

Acknowledgements to Ken (2007)
Tips
Things are winding down a bit now and the mind turns towards tidying up and preparing for next season but there are plenty of jobs we should be getting on with now. Here's a few ideas:
I suppose we all fear vandalism - broken glass, trashed or stolen produce, anti-social behaviour and so on - and we all have to be vigilant about such things as locking the gate, but these beggars can also get in over, under or through the wire netting and we have been warned against using barbed wire. I hereby include a message from Louise who says:
| Note for the Ramblings section. Did anyone else have glass broken on their greenhouse recently and was given a number to contact the police for them never to call back after leaving several mesages? |
This particular incident was on the West Tarring site but we'd like to know of incidents on any of our sites and what the police response has been. get in touch and lets us know.
Yes, they're all coming at once - carrots, courgettes, cabbages, runner beans, raspberries, etc., etc. So here's a couple of tips to use up what you don't eat or give away.
Courgettes. Did you know you can freeze courgettes? All you need to do is cut them into 1cm slices (half an inch), blanch for 2 minutes, cool, drain and dry them then make them up into polythene bags and stick in the freezer. Easy!
Yes, it will soon be on us and the schedules are available right now from your Association Stores. To help those new to competition Jack includes an insert entitled Helpful Hints for Exhibitors which is reproduced here.
|
FLOWERS Quality of blooms and freshness are important points.
Aphids should be removed. Flowers should be cut in the cool of the
evening preceding the Show, immediately placed up to their necks
in water and kept in a cool place overnight. Choose those that are
not fully developed - they will expand by morning and retain their
freshness longer. The use of moss or newspaper is allowed to pack
the vases so that the stalks remain upright. The above are extracts from the NAFAS Competitors Manual 2001. |
VEGETABLES Root vegetables should be carefully washed to
remove soil; do not use a brush as it will damage the skin. On other
kinds, retain the bloom.
FRUIT The appearance of all fruit is enhanced by its natural
bloom. Do not polish the fruit. Where applicable the stalks should
always point away from the front of the table.
COOKERY Jars of jam and marmalade must have
cellophane or cling film covers with wax discs. Chutney can
have metal tops but these must be plain without makers' names, etc.
Make sure the jars are clean with clearly labelled contents and
FULL TO THE TOP.
(2007 show) |




* The next couple of months is a good time to sow biennial old favourites such as forget-me-not, foxglove and
bellis. You can either sow them direct where you want or in a special bed and then move them to their final position as soon as they're big enough, usually around September.
*Some say you get a better display from tulips if you lift them after the foliage has died down and then keep the bulbs dry and cool before replanting in Autumn. I leave mine in but they're no show-stoppers.
* From now on citrus plants such as oranges, lemons and limes need a weekly feed if the leaves are not to lose their healthy green colour.
* How's your leeks doing? Now's the time to start thinking about planting them out in 6" (15cm) deep holes six inches apart (12" between rows). Just water them in well and keep filling up the holes with water - the soil will gradually fill the holes itself. Keep the bed weedfree and earth up if you want long white stems. (You can earth up brassicas as well if you like)

A bit of info I (Matt) just received
25 April 2007
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Incorporate rather than demolish Manor Garden Allotments within the 2012 Olympic site."
"100 year old Manor Garden Allotments lies in the middle of the Olympic Park site. These beautiful, productive vegetable gardens are due to be demolished to make way for a four-week footpath during the 2012 Games despite the land being given in perpetuity. A campaign is underway to protect the allotments and encourage a more imaginative Olympic development which includes this special place with its healthy, green lifestyles and vibrant community."
* Read
the petition
* Petitions home page
The Government is aware that this is a very sensitive issue and the decision to relocate the allotments was not one that was taken lightly. However, it is necessary for the allotments to be relocated if London is to deliver the Olympic Park for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the long-term plan for the regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley.
The current site of the Manor Garden allotments is in the heart of the Olympic Park and ground levels at the allotment site will need to change by up to 6 metres. These level changes will form part of the flood risk management of the Lower Lea Valley and create a natural area of reed beds and wildlife habitat. The area the allotments occupy will also be in the middle of what will be a huge construction site for the next few years and it would therefore not be possible for the allotment holders to continue their activities in this environment. It would also not be possible for the allotment holders to have access to the site because it needs to be completely secure.
The space currently occupied by the allotments will form part of a circulation and access area during the 2012 Games. This area is vital for the movement, safety and security of the public during the Games. After the Games it will be one of the key connections in the area, acting as part of the link between the green spaces of the Lea Valley Regional Park, Hackney Marsh and the Olympic Park.
Following the 2012 Games there is a commitment to reinstate at least the same number of allotments within the Legacy Park and all current Manor Garden allotment holders will be offered one of these new allotments. In the meantime the London Development Agency (LDA), which is responsible for assembling the land for the Olympic Park, is working with the allotment holders to try to relocate the Manor Garden society for the period running up to the Games. To achieve this, the LDA has submitted a planning application that, if approved, will allow the creation of new allotments within 1 mile of the existing site.
Matt E
colonies
have just disappeared, not died just vanished. The problem was first reported
in America and given the name Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). The vanished
bees are never found and predators which would normally steal the honey
will not go near the empty hives. The West coast of America has lost 60%
of its bees and the East coast 70%. No one knows what causes it but the
University of Landau (Germany) has now come up with the theory that modern
technology such as mobile phones may be to blame because the radiation
emitted confuses the bees' navigation system. In experiments bees would
not enter hives with a mobile phone. So there you have it: if you get
no fruit this year it's your fault for using you mobile phone. Ban them
from the allotment!
Well, you wouldn't believe it, would you? Harrods are now doing allotments.
Not only have they got one on their roof but for a slight fee (?) they
will now design your allotment for you. What is the point? I mean, if
you can't even be bothered to work out what you're going to grow and where
you're going to put what, are you ever going to get round to things like
digging, planting and weeding? Or do they supply a little man who does
that for you as well? * You might just as well buy the
produce from Harrods in the first place. What next - ferrets and whippets?
I believe they already sell the flat caps which are now very desirable
items for your wealthy young fashionistas. They can buy my 3 if they like;
they must be authentic as I inherited 2 of them.

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