Allotment Blog

Home made growbags

2007-05-21T02:45:00.000-07:00

I have been looking at growbags and I don't know if anyone has noticed but they are getting thinner. So this year I have decided to make my own out of strong rubble bags from the iron mongers and well rotted compost from the heaps. I just fill the bags folded in half lengthwise if needs be for space and put drainage holes in the bottom the plant as usual. So far its been a success but i will keep you posted.
The comfrey I planted in early spring is looking good I think i will have a crop soon to spread on my plants. On an annoying note the allotment committee have complained to me as my allotment has big patches of weeds which are unsightly. I explained they were green manure (fenugreek lupins etc.) and were there to support my bee and ladybird houses but the weren't convinced. Silly lot i will just ignore them one persons weed is another's green manure.

Plum Tree Help

2007-05-08T22:17:00.000-07:00

My friend has a two year old plum tree that doesn't flower (and hence doesn't fruit) does anyone know if it is just too young or there another reason.

Cabbage White Attack

2007-05-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

Last year our cabbages were attacked by cabbage whites (as were most of the allotment holders). I read that cabbage whites were very territorial and would not land on a patch where another cabbage white was seen. So armed with this knowledge we decided to make 'fake' cabbage whites out of margarine tubs. We are going to try them out this year lets hope they work. Here's how we did it. Clean a marg tub (most are white on the inside). Find a pic of a CWB with its wings folded as a template. Cut fakes out of your marg tub, the butterfly is about 2.5 cm long and 2 cm high at the top of the wing. Don't forget to add the black spot on the wing with a permanent marker. Stick two white wings together with some string in between hang over your vulnerable plants.