Grow your own - it's the new rock and roll
WHEN we met friend Louise recently she had that look on her face which said: "Guess who's just secured an allotment."
It must be two years since she first talked about it and went on a waiting list so as these things go, that's not too long.
Both locally and nationally, the craze for home vegetable growing and space on which to do the job seems to be going through the roof. It's the new rock 'n' roll.
Best advice for would-be allotment holders is to approach the secretary of your nearest organisation and enquire about the waiting list.
There might even be someone prepared to share a plot.
Beyond that, place a notice in the village shop or find like-minded people in your community and pursue your goal as an action group.
If you have organised a basic committee structure, people will take your cause more seriously.
Six is the magical minimum number required for any group making an official request to the local council for allotments.
This will add weight to the search but the sad fact is that there is a real shortage of gardening amenity space and owners prepared to free-up land for that purpose.
For the latest information on this matter, visit the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners site at www.nsalg.org.uk then click on Allotment Legislation in the box left of screen.
Next, further click on Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908.
Winter greens are at their best right now with star plants sprouts, cabbages and purple sprouting broccoli a joy to behold let alone eat.
I find it most interesting when vegetable growers are gathered together discussing the merits of different cultivars.
It is such conversations that highlight any shortcomings a particular variety might have and hone our thoughts on what is best to grow.
Arising from this, we have Boltardy beetroot as a popular choice for the home garden and the cultivar Globe 2 most sought-after for exhibition purposes.
Those with exposed gardens clamour for Brussels sprout Peer Gynt because it is low growing but where there is shelter, the giant Bedford Fillbasket comes into its own.
Notice too, how many vegetable varieties remain popular, several decades after their introduction.
The first name that comes to mind for me when leeks are mentioned is Musselburgh.
It's difficult to think of anyone who's been let down by it.
Extremely winter hardy, with tasty, white stems, at 360 seeds for 1.60 (Suttons) they seem to be giving it away.
Has anyone ever been disappointed with a crop of Early Onward or Onward garden peas? Thought not! Add Kelvedon Wonder to the list and you're flying.
My fourth 'banker' and personal favourite is Hurst Greenshaft. We've always associated it with the show bench but it can shine in the kitchen as well. It's not unusual to find 10 or 11 peas in those long slender pods and a resistance to downy mildew and fusarium wilt just adds to the attraction. Nor can you complain at the price – 2.45 for a packet of 330 seeds.
The fact that some vegetable varieties just will not vanish from our catalogues speaks volumes for their lasting power.
In written horticultural examinations of yore, it was a requirement that you offered examples of what they called 'trustworthy cultivars'.
Best place to find those was in the hallowed RHS companion volumes The Fruit Garden Displayed and Vegetable Garden Displayed.
Both of these are still on the shelf here and a quick flick through the latter confirms the staying power of many old varieties.
Carrots Amsterdam, Nantes and Chantenay Red Cored are still around. Parsnip Tender and True is also hanging on in there alongside runner bean Enorma.
It is reassuring to see the big-hearted Savoy cabbage Ormskirk standing up to frost in the garden as it always has, but best of all is the thought that we have a packet of tomato Gardener's Delight ready for sowing next month.
It was hitting the spot for gardeners when The Beatles were topping the pop charts.
Interesting is it not, that their music and this little sweetie remain so popular.
A concerted effort is required to keep up with all the new vegetable cultivars (cultivated varieties) appearing on the market each year. Tomatoes are typical of this. Last year, we had three dozen plants in the greenhouse border covering just 12 cultivars.
These included beefsteak, traditional, cherry, coloured, Italian, Chinese and Turkish.
All interesting stuff but this time around it will be much simpler. Gardeners' Delight and Shirley are definite starters – then we shall see!
One winter vegetable newcomer that has caught my eye appeared in the Thompson and Morgan catalogue last year as Petit Posy.
Their recent press release also highlights it – suggesting a big push to win us over.
The flower sprout, a cross between kale and Brussels sprouts, is hailed as the first new vegetable type on the market in almost 10 years.
Marks and Spencer will stock it at 1.99 for 160g but you can buy the potential for oodles of plants in a packet for 2.99.
Thompson and Morgan are also reporting that sales of grow-your-own, home mushroom kits, have recently outstripped traditional favourites such as vegetable seeds and potatoes in the run-up to a new growing season.
The Gourmet mushroom collection, comprising Lion's Mane, Shiitake and Oyster (18.99) has been their top seller online recently.
They're easily grown and kits give crops for five years – something to consider perhaps next time you're buying a pack in the supermarket!
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Weather for Morpeth
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light rain
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