Home | Garden Index

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 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:

1. 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.
2. Save money - It will greatly reduce greengrocery bills.
3. 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.
4. Make friends - Most allotment holders are happy to offer advice to newcomers and to share their surplus plants.
5. 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.

1. If you have no tools only buy the essentials at first- spade, fork, hoe, rake and trowel.
2. If your plot is weedy or full of grass it is best to remove as much vegetation as possible before you start to dig.
3. Don't rush digging - it can be hard work on the back! It is best to start in the autumn.
4. As you dig make sure you remove the roots of plants such as docks, dandelions, thistles and couch grass.
5. 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.
6. Don't sow seeds too early. Wait until the ground warms up in April/May.
7. When watering do it thoroughly. If done sparingly it will cause the roots to come to the surface.
8. Make sure you support the plants that need it, such as peas, tomatoes and runner beans.
9. Visit your allotment every few days to keep the weeds at bay by hoeing.
10. 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

1. Stanway near New Farm Road

2. Lexden near Back Lane of Lexden Road

3. Hazell Avenue near Gosbecks Road and Layer Road

4. Irvine Road near Drury Road

5. Drury Road

6. Highfield Drive off Lexden Road

7. Sheepen Road near Colchester Institute

8. Bergholt Road near North Station

9. Severalls

10. Mercers Farm near the Superbowl

11. Notleys off Harwich Road

12. New Fairfield bottom of East Street

13. East Bay bottom of East hill

14. Brook Street

15. Grants Meadow Hythe Area near Parsons Lane

16. Littlebury Gardens near Barn Hall Avenue

17. The Willows near Thomas Lord Audley School

18. Blackheath behind Finchingfield Way