Thursday 28 March 2024

Envii - Maximato Tomato Feed

Envii Maximato featured at this years Garden Press Event is a concentrated liquid feed, that cost £8.99 for a litre a bottle that's capable of making up to 250 litres of feed that's certified organic and vegan-friendly. Enriched with calcium, magnesium and seaweed, Maximato maximises your harvests and builds resilience against disease,  Envii kindly sent me a bottle to trial this year, and it's got the same easy to use measuring system as their Seafeed Xtra that I trialed in 2020 

This feed is created from 100% natural ingredients including essential micro and macronutrients and minerals. These ingredients are crucial for strengthening plants whilst ensuring your growing is free from synthetic chemicals and harmful additives. 

Maximato is a high potash feed with a nitrogen- phosphorus- potassium (N-P-K) ratio of 4-2-6. These macronutrients ensure your plants develop robust roots, vibrant growth, and an abundant yield. The potassium found in Maximato is crucial during the fruiting stage as it leads to high-quality fruits, improving size and flavour. 

Seaweed is a plant superfood. The addition of seaweed in Maximato improves plant health by boosting their ability to resist external/ environmental factors that risk their development. Discover more about the benefits of seaweed fertilisers.

Calcium and Magnesium Deficiency in Tomato Plants

Tomato plants are susceptible to calcium and magnesium deficiencies. These deficiencies affect their growth and the quality of fruit.

Calcium deficiency in tomato plants may be caused by low calcium levels in the soil or fluctuations in soil moisture, otherwise known as irregular watering. The most common sign of calcium deficiency is blossom end rot, other symptoms include stunted growth and leaf tip burn.

Magnesium deficiency may be caused by naturally low magnesium levels in the soil. Alternatively, magnesium may have leached from the soil during heavy rainfall. The most common signs of magnesium deficiency include yellowing leaves, leaf curling and wilting and reduction in fruit size and quality.

Maximato contains sufficient levels of calcium and magnesium that will reduce the risk of your plants suffering from these deficiencies.

What makes Envii Maximato special?

  • Certified organic and vegan-friendly
  • Natural ingredients
  • Safe for children, pets and all wildlife
  • Safe for greenhouse crops
  • High potassium level to encourage crop development
  • Contains added calcium, magnesium and seaweed

  • Maximise your tomato harvest with Maximato.

Click Here to see other products from envii 

Tuesday 26 March 2024

Time To Sow Melons

Today I have sown 4 seeds of each of the above melons, the aim to two of each outside under glass against the wall and to also grow 2 of each in the greenhouse.  

Monday 25 March 2024

It's Now Or Never ......


 
I can't resist anymore, Emma took me to get some seed and sowing compost on the weekend and it's now or never. I'm not quite ready for driving myself around again but the way my legs are healing it will hopefully not be long. So with time marching on and real spring coming, I'm biting the bullet and starting sowing at home and starting with tomatoes. 

The potting tray fits nicely on top of the oven and I get to play with the seed sowing items Pauline (Sister-In-Law) bought me for my birthday. I love the little cell tamper.

One half tray 4 cells each of the Crimson Collection, Crimson Cocktail, Crimson Crimson Cherry, Crimson Crush, Crimson Bush and  Crimson Plum 

The other half tray has 4 cells of Red Pear, Arielle (Cherry), Merrygold F1, Crokini F1 and  Burlesque F1.

Sunday 24 March 2024

T&M Strawberry (Fragaria) Elsanta

New to Thompson & Morgan for 2024 Strawberry (Fragaria) Elsanta
an excellent mid-season Dutch variety, producing heavy crops of glossy, orange-red fruit with a delicious sweet flavour. 

A supermarket favourite, Elsanta strawberries have a good storage life and are less prone to bruising than many varieties. 

The juicy berries can be picked from mid-June through to mid-July and are perfect for making your own jams or for freezing to enjoy when out of season. 

Height: 20cm (8"). Spread: 30cm (12").

New Mid Season Variety 
Heavy crops of Delicious Sweet Fruit
Less Prone to bruising than many Varieties 


Available Pack Sizes

  £5.99 -   1 x 9cm Peat Free Potted Plant  
  £9.99 -   1 x 9cm Potted Plant 
£17.99 -   5 x 9cm Potted Plants  
£27.99 - 10 x 9cm Potted Plants
£19.99 -   6 x 9cm Peat-Free Potted Plants 
£34.99 - 12 x 9cm Peat-Free Potted Plants  
  £8.99 -   6 x Bear Root Plants
£11.99 - 12 x Bear Root Plants

The web site states "Plant height and spread is seasonal therefore we list by pot size rather than a defined plant size. The height and spread of the plant delivered will vary depending on the season, meaning arrival images are an indication only." however there are no photographs of what you receive on the web site, below is what arrived from Thompson & Morgan. 

Now I have no idea what the difference is between a 9cm Peat Free Potted Plant & a 9cm Potted Plant that warrants an additional £4. I've emailed and asked T&M Customer Services and will let you know if and when I get a reply. 

Update via email received 25th March 2024 3:45pm 
The only difference between the two plants is the soil in this instance, and the price difference is due to the peat-free and non-peat free coming from different suppliers and stock.

 
  

How To Grow

Plant strawberry plants in autumn or late spring in a sheltered, sunny position in well manured, free draining soil. Plant strawberry runners every 45cm (18”) in rows spaced at 75cm (30”) apart. Spread out their roots and place them in the soil at a level where the crown of the plant is just poking above the surface. Avoid planting them too deeply as this may cause them to rot. Alternatively try growing strawberry plants in hanging baskets or in specially designed strawberry planters for the patio.

More Information 

Water strawberries frequently throughout the growing season and weed regularly between rows. When growing strawberry plants in baskets and containers, they will also need feeding every two weeks. From early summer, remove any runners that are produced as these will weaken the plants vigour. Protect the developing fruit from slugs and snails by spreading straw around each plant. Positioning a net over the plants will also prevent crop damage by birds. The netting and straw can be removed after cropping to allow better air flow around the crown of the plant. Mulch strawberry plants with well rotted manure in spring. Although strawberry plants will continue to fruit in successive years, the crop will become considerably reduced and it is advisable to completely replace strawberry plants every 3 years.

Friday 22 March 2024

Mill Green Allotment's History

 


This is a Google map image saved in 2024, but the containers at the end of Parchment Close means that the images are actually from 2021 - 2022 as the Parchment Close development is completed, but the site huts are still in place. 

I have outlined in Red the area that was to become Mill Green Allotment so you might better identify it on the earlier historic Ordinance Survey Maps.  


The earliest map I could find above is dated 1896 and one can see the Watercress beds clearly shown on the map along with a Peppermint and Lavender Distillery. The footprint of what was later to become Mill Green allotment is surrounded by drainage / river channels that connect to the watercress beds and to and from the river Wandle that also had Flour and Drug and Dye Mills on it.


The next map is from 1913 and there appears to have been some housing development along Wood Street but very little has changed since the 1896 OS Map. This map shows the state of play just before World War I or the First World War (28th July 1914 - 11 November 1918) 


The map above is from 1935 and is thus four years before the start of World War II or the Second World War which started for the United Kingdom on the 1st September 1939 and lasted six years and one day with the Japanese surrender on 2nd September 1945. 


The OS Map above is dated 1941 - 1952 and the area is still shown as a Peppermint and Lavender Distillery however it is known that 
Jakson & Co grew peppermint and lavender in big farms near Mitcham.

Their essential oils were extracted in a distillery situated in Philpot Lane, Mitcham Road & near West Croydon. The company was started by a Frenchman called Philip Lelasseur.  Monsieur Lelasseur wanted the company to have a very English name. Unfortunately he spelt it wrongly, but it didn’t stop the company having worldwide success.

Jakson’s & Co essential oil business continued to flourish until the outbreak of the Second World War when the export of oil to all European countries was stopped. How long it continued to operate could not be found.


Some time between the 1941 - 1952 map and 1957 map shown above the area within the water course became Allotment Gardens, and the Engineering Works appears to have been constructed. If this happened during or after the Second World War is unclear.  

I've not been able to find OS Maps after 1957 on the historical maps sites, which is a real shame. So the next jump in time is via Google Earth Pro to 2003 


Google Earth Pro Image dated 2003 and as can be seen there are very few plots that appear to be being worked. The industrial workshop units to the left of the allotment have replaced the Peppermint & Lavender Distillery  shown in the 1957 OS map.  

This is the CAD drawing of Mill Green Allotment dated 1993 revised 1995 that was created in a CAD Package called Cadvance using DXF Ordinance Survey data and was supplied to me when I applied for Plot 1A in October 2012. 

It shows that the Works were still operating in 1993 however by the time I took over my plot they had been demolished and industrial units had been erected on the site, with the wall of the works forming the boundary of the north of the site and to my plot which was the smallest on the site at the time Plot 1A. 

I had previously worked for the London Borough of Sutton for 18 years and knew the allotment officer, who I contacted about deliveries of manure and woodchip and it was she who asked me if I would become the site rep for the allotment as no one on the site wanted to take the role on. 

I checked with the other plot holders to see if any of them were interested and as they weren't, I accepted the role as I have always found it's easier to get things done if you are on the inside rather than the outside of any organised social gathering or club. The first things I did was to source funding for a new notice board for the allotment, and to show new prospective tenants plots.   


Google map image July 2013
 


14th August 2014 I visited the council offices to get the planning application for the Parchment Close development on the West boundary of the allotment.


I had already found the application for the conversion of the Business Park on the the North elevation into residential flats. This meant that there would be 
nowhere to park once both of these schemes started. There was a Volvo scrap dealer and car mechanic operating in the industrial unit that was to become the site complex for the Parchment Close development. 


Google map image July 2013
 

Google map image June 2015 


In August 2015 I took on another half plot 23B on the Spencer Road Allotment down the road because there was adequate parking outside the site and one could also get your car to your plot to drop off and pick up resources, and for a couple of years I worked both half plots on the two allotments. 
  
As the site rep in 2016 I liaised between the Contracts Manager and Site Agent for the Contractor and the Council, enticing the contractor to do something for the local community and getting the council to give permission for them to do the works for free. 


Mill Green Allotment in 2016 whilst the Parchment Close Estate was being constructed 


26 August 2017 I was on site early in the morning as I had arranged a meeting with Redrow and the Allotments Council Officer regarding the formation of the drop off and pick up area in the overgrown area of the allotment.

It looks like we were not only back on track but in fact we ended up with a better specification of works than we originally had agreed, largely due by the generosity of Natta Building Company Limited the groundworks subcontractor on the Redrow scheme, who I thanked for their generosity, as it was so much appreciated by all the plot holders especially the special needs allotmenteers who work plots 13, 13A & 14 and come to their plots via minivan and car with their carers and who will now be able to be dropped off in the entrance to the allotment. 



The growth and debris in the drop off and pick up area was removed and arising's from the demolition were laid and compacted and a new timber fence to match that erected between the development was agreed to be erected between the bees on plot 14A and the new area.



1st September 2017 A small work party of allotment plot holder was arranged to cut a way into the overgrown area and to create a path and define a line for the contractor to work too when using earth moving equipment to clear and level the area before laying and compacting the risings.  

Now knowing that we were going to get somewhere to park and that we had no one on the waiting list for Mill Green I put my name down to take over plot 1 which I had been fighting from trying to invade plot 1A for a year, should it become vacant. The tenant of Plot 1 & 8 gave his two plots up and thus I gave up my plot at Spencer Road which was a nice plot, lots of gravel in the soil, but suffered from a lot of break-ins and criminal damage by kids because it was next to the playground.    


View of the Drop Off and Pick Up Area (we were not allowed to call it a car park) from the new gates installed. Plot 14A The bees are behind the fence at the rear of the photograph.   


20th October 2017 I took over the vacant plot 1 on the left of the photo above and started Planning My New Kingdom clearing the debris, the hawthorns along the wall, the brambles, mares tail couch grass and bindweed. 


Mill Green Allotment in 2018 Parchment Close Estate development significantly completed, the last few houses towards the entrance of the development are still under construction. The site road that was labeled as Parchment Close in the 2016 photo has now been constructed over and the fencing to the gardens can be seen as just being erected. 

The industrial units on the other side of the wall to the north boundary, are in the process of being converted into flats and the steel framework can be seen in the photo. 


Image July 2021 from Google Earth Pro and the containers used as site accommodation for the Parchment Close development have now been removed and turned into pavement and road for parking. The industrial to residential conversion renamed "Greenside Views" on the north boundary is now complete.

There are no Google Map or Earth images later than 2021.  


2023 Panorama of my plots from the 4th floor balcony of one of the flats next to the Allotment in 
Greenside Views curtesy of a fellow plot holder on the site.


2023 Panorama of the whole of Mill Green Allotments from the 4th floor balcony of one of the flats next to the Allotment in 
Greenside Views curtesy of a fellow plot holder on the site. 


My planting plan for 2024 produced using a CAD package. Makes it easy working out my crop rotation and what's going to be grown where. 


Finally two years ago plots 3A and 11A became vacant. These plots had been used as a dumping ground by its tenant with plot 3A having 22 trees on it they were in no state to be offered to anyone to take on.  Enthusiastic plot holders John & Wally adjacent to both plots cut down the trees, cut back the brambles and exposed all the debris that had been piled there. idverde dragged their feet and missed the opportunity and the plots once again got taken over be weeds and brambles.  

Metal was put to one side and a scrap metal mad called to remove and idverde (allotment Managing Company) dropped the first of a number of skips, so that the plots 11, 11A & 3A can be cleared and hopefully let to one of the 36 people we have on the waiting list for an allotment at Mill Green.

Plot 9 has been vacant since 2015 because it has Japanese knotweed but has never been treated properly and effectively thus that's why its still out of action.

Wednesday 20 March 2024

March 2024 Waiting List & Vacant Plot Update

 

This is a snapshot in time based on information provided by idverde as of the second week in March 2024 for the Waiting List and Vacant plots in the London Borough of Sutton, and was out of date moments after the information was provided. This year a record amount of people gave up their allotments.  

Site reps & committees on Belmont, Cheam Court, Green Wrythe Lane, Roundshaw, Stanley Road, Westmead Road, & Wrights Row Allotments have plans to show all the vacant plots to people on the waiting lists that have been contacted and have shown an interest in the next couple of weeks. So hopefully by the next gardening Group meeting these allotments will be fully tenanted.

Jane our idverde allotment officer, is also contacting people on the waiting list for all the other allotment sites and is still finding that many people that jumped on the waiting list during the pandemic are no longer interested in having a plot, because the pandemic is over and they don't have the time or need somewhere they were allowed to visit during the pandemic anymore. 

On some sites where the site rep is ill or there isn't a site rep Jane is meeting prospective tenants and showing them the plots. 

Jane is chasing the Council for a date for the next Gardening Group meeting and for the promised information that has not been forthcoming from the London Borough of Sutton, since the last one in May last year.

Tuesday 19 March 2024

Organic Gardening Seeds - Swiss Chard Fordhook

Organic Gardening Seeds have sent me a pack of their Swiss Chard Fordhook Giant which has been added to their catalogue for 2024. It sells for £2.99 for approximately 100 seeds. 

Heavily savoyed leaves with a superb dark green colour and contrasting ivory stems that make an excellent alternative to spinach. 

The flavoursome leaves are thick and tender, making an appealing steamed vegetable or a colourful addition to stir fries. Swiss Chard 'Fordhook Giant' is a well established variety from the 1920’s and remains popular today. 

As the name suggests, this monster Swiss Chard grows up 60cm (24") tall, making an impressive display on the vegetable plot, or even in your flower borders! 

Height: 60cm (24"). Spread: 50cm (20").

Once again the web site graphics don't reflect what printed on the actual pack. How anyone can think that you could possibly harvest the same month you sow is beyond me. Their webmaster needs to start reading the back of the packs and using their brain a little. 

Sow March to August and Harvest May to November.

Sowing Instructions 

Sow seeds thinly, 1cm (1/2") deep in drills 30cm (12") apart. Sow little and often for a continuous supply. Cloche later sowings for harvesting into December.

Monday 18 March 2024

Two New Cabbages from D.T.Brown

D.T.Brown have very kindly sent me two new varieties of Cabbage that they have added to their catalogue for 2024 these are Marquis F1 and Tourmline F1.

Cabbage Marquis F1 - £2.99 for approximately 30 seeds 

Versatile pointed heads which can be harvested as greens or mature heads. Hold well in the ground and stores well once cut.

SOW INDOORS February-April, thinly in trays of compost, 1.5cm/half-in deep. Transplant when plants are about 10cm/4in tall, spacing of 30cm/1ft. 

SOW OUTDOORS March-June. Transplant at 2-4 leaf stage to final growing position. Firm in well. Keep moist.

HARVEST June - October 


Cabbage Tourmaline F1 - £2.99 for approximately 50 Seeds 

Attractive savoyed leaves with excellent flavour and winter hardiness. Forms large dense heads with resistance to black rot.

SOW INDOORS February-April, thinly in trays of compost, 1.5cm/half-in deep. Transplant when plants are about 10cm/4in tall, spacing of 60cm/2ft. 

SOW OUTDOORS April-June. Transplant at 2-4 leaf stage to final growing position. Firm in well. Keep moist.

HARVEST December - March 

 

Sunday 17 March 2024

Kyuri / Japanese Cucumber

Japanese Cucumber (Kyuri) Slighter, more slender and with a more delicate skin than European varieties. Kyuri are a sweeter alternative with crisp cool, succulent flesh. Delicious freshly picked and in salads.

Plant seeds on their sides, inside from January or outside in a sunny spot from late May Intolerant of frost. Warm weather required for strong growth. Water soil not leaves to deter fungal infections 

Cucumbers can be found easily and at a cheap price in supermarkets in the summer season in Japan. However, they can also be seen year round because of vinyl greenhouse cultivation. The Japanese cucumber is about 20 cm./8 in. long, about 3 cm./1 1/4in. in diameter and weighs around 100 g/3 1/2 oz.

The skin is thin and it has few seeds. It is low calorie and good for health. Its high moisture content of 95% is suitable for summer because it cools the body. Cucumbers are mostly eaten raw, such as in salads and as tsukemono (Japanese pickles).

Cucumber originated in India before the 10th century. It is a popular and widely consumed vegetable now in Japan. Cucumber pickles (kyuri no tsukemono) can be obtained easily at supermarkets and speciality pickle shops in Japan.

Saturday 16 March 2024

Suttons - New Sweet Peppers

Suttons have very kindly sent me two packs of sweet peppers that they have added to their catalogue for 2024 to trial Pillar Sweet Trio F1 and Spiralus

Sweet Pepper ‘Pillar Sweet Trio' bears deliciously sweet, mini peppers in red, orange and yellow. Cost £3.49 for a pack containing an average of 6 seeds 

These revolutionary plants are not only the perfect size for a windowsill, greenhouse staging or sunny patio, they also produce their fruit by the central stem, meaning the plants don't bend or fall, and won't be damaged by a blind or curtain if grown on a windowsill.

 Thick, crunchy flesh on single-serving-sized fruit that is great for salads, snacking and stir-fries. More drought resistant than other varieties. Height 40cm (16in). Spread: 30cm (12in).

Sowing Information

Sow sweet pepper seeds on the surface of a good, free-draining, damp, seed sowing mix and cover with a fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place seed trays in a propagator at a temperature of 18-25C (64-77F) until after germination, which takes 7-10 days. Do not exclude light as this helps germination.

When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into individual 7.5cm (3") pots of compost and grow on in cooler conditions. When plants are well grown and all risk of frost has passed, transplant them into grow bags and containers, or plant them in well prepared beds of fertile, moist, well drained soil. 

Peppers may be grown undercover in a greenhouse or polytunnel, or grown outdoors in a sheltered position in full sun. When growing peppers outdoors, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over a period of 7 to 10 days prior to transplanting them. 

Space sweet pepper plants at a distance of 45cm (18") apart.


Sweet Pepper ‘Spiralus’ is an early variety with long ram's horn fruits that have an average length of 20-25cm. packs cost £2.99 for an average of 15 seeds 

The fruits start a very pale green and gradually turn red. Healthy and high-yielding, use ‘Spiralus’ fresh in salads or try it roasted in the oven or charred on the BBQ. 

It’s also great for pickling whole as the flesh stays nice and crunchy after processing. Suitable to be grown in a greenhouse, tunnel or sunny/sheltered spot outside. This reasonably tall variety may require support as the fruit begin to ripen. 

Height: 70cm (28in). Spread: 40cm (16in).

Sowing Information

Sow sweet pepper seeds on the surface of a good, free-draining, damp, seed sowing mix and cover with a fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place seed trays in a propagator at a temperature of 18-25C (64-77F) until after germination, which takes 7-10 days. Do not exclude light as this helps germination.

When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into individual 7.5cm (3") pots of compost and grow on in cooler conditions. When plants are well grown and all risk of frost has passed, transplant them into grow bags and containers, or plant them in well prepared beds of fertile, moist, well drained soil. 

Peppers may be grown undercover in a greenhouse or polytunnel, or grown outdoors in a sheltered position in full sun. When growing peppers outdoors, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over a period of 7 to 10 days prior to transplanting them. 

Space sweet pepper plants at a distance of 45cm (18") apart.

Friday 15 March 2024

Dobies - Cauliflower Fioretto



Dobies have sent me a pack of a delicious alternative to standard cauliflower, that is more tender, sweeter and nuttier that has been added to their catalogue for 2024 called Cauliflower 'Fioretto 75' that cost £3.99 for a pack with an average contents of 10 seeds.

Instead of forming a dense head, this stick-type cauliflower develops lots of small florets on long, thin stems. The tender, crisp florets make a versatile ingredient. ‘Fioretto 75’ can be eaten raw in salads, gently steamed, roasted, pickled or stir-fried. 

It makes a lovely accompaniment to purple sprouting broccoli. This fast-growing, hybrid variety works well in small spaces, is more heat-tolerant than traditional cauliflower and only takes around 60-65 days to mature. Sweet and succulent, even fussy kids will enjoy Cauliflower 'Fioretto 75'. 

Height: 45cm (18in). Spread: 60cm (24in).


Again the sowing instructions on the pack do not tie up with the graphic from the web site (above) The pack says Sow May to June, and Harvest is August to November !!!! One has to ask does the web master actually look at the packs of seeds before he puts the web pages together? 

Sowing Instructions & Aftercare Instructions also missing from the web site

Sowing Instructions 

Direct sow outdoors into a well-prepared seedbed for transplanting to their final positions later on. Sow at a depth of 1cm (1/2") at a distance of 30cm (12") between rows.

Plants can be transplanted to their final positions approximately 5 weeks from sowing. Alternatively, sow indoors at a depth of 1cm (1/2") in trays of free-draining, seed compost. Place in a propagator or sealed container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 21C (70F)

Germination takes 4 - 7 days 

Aftercare Instructions 

Transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3") pots and grow plants on in cooler conditions until the risk of frost has passed and plants are large enough to be transplanted outside at 60cm (24") spacings.