It might be thought that
vegetables are hardly worth growing but
there are many advantages. Take the
question of freshness - there can be no
doubt that home-grown produce, freshly
picked, has a quite different flavour to
shop bought produce and with a family
there can be quite a saving on
greengrocery bills. It can also be very
enjoyable to plan for and produce a
regular supply of vegetables. A well
cared for vegetable plot has its own
visual appeal.
The 5 Main Benefits
of keeping an allotment:
- Eat
well - When you grow your own you
can enjoy the taste of delicious
fresh vegetables grown without
the use of pesticides or addition
of chemicals.
- Save
money - It will greatly reduce
greengrocery bills.
- Keep
fit- The exercise involved in
tending an allotment is a good
way to keep fit and healthy, but
don't do too much too quickly.
- Make
friends - Most allotment holders
are happy to offer advice to
newcomers and to share their
surplus plants.
- Relax-
Many people find that an hour or
two spent working on an allotment
can be very therapeutic.
10 Top tips for new
allotment holders.
- If
you have no tools only buy the
essentials at first- spade, fork,
hoe, rake and trowel.
- If
your plot is weedy or full of
grass it is best to remove as
much vegetation as possible
before you start to dig.
- Don't
rush digging - it can be hard
work on the back! It is best to
start in the autumn.
- As
you dig make sure you remove the
roots of plants such as docks,
dandelions, thistles and couch
grass.
- Draw
up a plan. consider what you want
to grow and where. Make sure you
don't grow the same crop in the
same place in consecutive years.
This is called crop rotation.
- Don't
sow seeds too early. Wait until
the ground warms up in April/May.
- When
watering do it thoroughly. If
done sparingly it will cause the
roots to come to the surface.
- Make
sure you support the plants that
need it, such as peas, tomatoes
and runner beans.
- Visit
your allotment every few days to
keep the weeds at bay by hoeing.
- Start
a compost heap to
take all vegetable waste matter.
This will produce excellent
compost to be dug in next year.
You can
rent an allotment through Colchester
Borough Council and sites are listed
below. To enquire about availability
write to Leisure Services, P0 Box 331,
Town HaIl, phone 01206- 282909 or call in
to Angel Court. In the villages allotment
sites are usually administered by the
parish councils.
Colchester Borough
Council Allotment Sites
Stanway near New
Farm Road
Lexden near Back
Lane off Lexden Road
Hazell Avenue near
Gosbecks Road and Layer Road
Irvine Road near
Drury Road
Drury Road
Highfield Drive off
Lexden Road
Sheepen Road near
Colchester Institute
Bergholt Road near
North Station
Severalls
Mercers Farm near
the Superbowl
Notleys off Harwich
Road
New Fairfield bottom
of East Street
East Bay bottom of
East hill
Brook Street
Grants Meadow Hythe
Area near Parsons Lane
Littlebury Gardens
near Barn Hall Avenue
The Willows near
Thomas Lord Audley School
Blackheath behind
Finchingfield Way
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