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Allotment Tales

Would you believe it! A use for the Mare’s Tail!

Joan Pisanek has been reading her gardening magazines and spotted something that may be of interest to those of you with the dreaded Mare’s Tail.
It is apparently used in vineyards where they cut the tops off, place them in water and then use that water to spray on the vines, as it’s full of silica it creates a waxy coat and protects the fruit from mildew. Maybe not too many vines in Craigentinny but it might be worth trying on plums or gooseberries for example. Good luck to those of you who want to give it a go.

AND……..

For those of you who would rather just get rid of it.
Horse or Mares Tail, Equisetum Arvense is public enemy number one. It looks like it belongs in Jurassic Park and, unchecked, spreads like wildfire.

In spring, brown green shoots appear with small cones at the tips that produce spores. It grows away from creeping thin brown roots that you can hardly see as they are soil coloured. Digging out these roots is not feasible – they go down into the soil for up to 1.5 metres – yes, 5 feet.

Later the ‘leaves’ or tails appear. These will die off as autumn turns to winter and the roots sit there waiting for spring. The leaves have a waxy coat, which makes the plant highly resistant to weedkillers.

Crushing the leaves to break up the coating helps weedkiller to penetrate and become absorbed but in large areas it is not so easy to crush all the leaves . However, glyphosate weed killer will have an effect and eventually kill the plant. You will probably need 5 or more applications. Knock it back, it re-grows and you repeat.

I don’t think you can clear this in less than one season.

Ammonium Sulphamate seems to be a far more effective weed killer. It can kill it in one application but may well need two. It used to be available as Amicide but now you need to look for a brushwood killer that incorporates it like Rootout or Deep Root. Just check the packet for ammonium sulphamate.

I’d recommend NOT digging where there is horsetail until it is dead for sure. Otherwise it just starts springing up from the root cuttings. Drying or drowning the roots prior to composting is a must.

Apparently Horestail is the correct name for the weed growing on land whereas Marestail is correctly applied to the weed growing in water.

Here is an organic control method, which may be effective.

Without resorting to chemicals you can control/irradicate horse tail by digging/forking through the soil when it is in the right condition: ie not too wet and sticky!

Once you have removed as much as possible, any that shoots is easily dealt with. Before it reaches 3 ins/7cm high, hoe off an inch below the surface.

Eventually the food supply in the root is exhausted. Let it get bigger than stated and food begins to be stored in the roots again, and round and round you go ad infinitum.

Never touch Horsetail with a mechanical cultivator. If you do you will understand why it has been around for 60 million years.

AND FINALLY…….

Kibosh kills Mare’s Tail it costs £27.20 per litre and is available from www.progreen.co.uk

Categories
Allotment Tales

University Research Student’s Report of her first visit to Craigentinny

On a blustery and fresh morning I met John McKinlay to be shown around the Craigentinny allotments site, as research for an article I was writing for a university assignment. The article was about healthy living and, having parents who are keen allotment holders, I had already seen the benefits first hand of having your own plot of land to nurture and grow your own fruit and vegetables on.

John kindly showed me around the site, telling me all about the history of the site, about its up-keep and the challenges of keeping an allotment site in good condition and everyone adhering to the site rules. As we walked down the path we saw a fox having a look around the plots, and despite the fact that no-one else was actually on the site when I was there, I could still tell that there is a strong sense of community and goodwill amongst the Craigentinny plot holders.

When we arrived back at John’s plot, he told me all about crop rotations and his most successful and favourite crops. Then it was time for me to get my fingers somewhat dirty, as I sowed Broad Bean seeds into small pots, about 15 in total. After we transferred these into a cleverly built area where they would be protected from the elements, it was time to mix up some compost and seaweed from Portobello beach, to help along the Asparagus plants. John explained to me the wonders of compost and how to make it good, healthy and nutritious for the plants. Whilst John and I blended the seaweed with the compost we could smell the salt from the sea, we then shovelled it onto the raised Asparagus bed and spread it out to cover the whole area.

I asked John about how many hours he puts in to his allotment and he said it needed at least seven hours a week in summer. The dedication he and his wife really shows through when the plot is looking at its best, something which has been recognised by the Edinburgh In Bloom competition after they won first prize in the Allotment Plot category in 2009.

I am sure that all their hard work is worth it when they can pick delicious fresh raspberries and eat them straight away or turn them into scrumptious jam. I wanted to know about the health benefits of having an allotment, other than eating fresh fruit and vegetables which are 100% organic. It soon dawned on me that the effort and work which is put into keeping an allotment in a state where it can produce crops all year, must also keep the plot holder fit. Those seven hours a week of digging, shovelling, wheeling, carrying and planting is more exercise than the Government recommends the average person has, and I for one think that that this can only be a good thing.

John and I had a nibble of some Pak Choi which I had never tasted before; I was pleasantly surprised by its earthy, fresh and oriental taste. John was kind enough to pack a bag full of vegetables for me to take home – a few Potatoes, some Pak Choi, and a little Chard were all used to make myself some healthy and delicious suppers.

Thanks to John for showing me around the site and letting me help him with some of the jobs on his plot, it was really useful for my article and also very enjoyable.

By Frances Allan

Categories
Allotment Update

Photo Competition is open to all plot holders so get snapping!

We are looking for an interesting photo taken anywhere on site. You may have a prize-winning vegetable or flower, a hut or garden implement, an astounding weed, anything infact that makes an interesting picture. It couldn’t be simpler so get those cameras out and have some fun. Photos have to be submitted by 1st August to John and Monica McKinlay and the winner will be announced at the August BBQ.

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Allotment Update

The tallest sunflower in Craigentinny allotments is this year’s Childrens’ Competition.

We are holding a competition within Craigentinny Allotments for children under the age of fifteen.

The competition this year is to grow the tallest sunflower on site.

If you would like to take part please collect your competition pack from John or Monica McKinlay. The packs will be available from the 1st of May. We will be at the 11 o’clock meeting on the first and the BBQ on the 15th otherwise you might be able to catch us at our plot or drop us an e-mail at findlayalloments@hotmail.co.uk.

Judging will take place on the day of the August BBQ and prizes will be presented then too. Good Luck.

Categories
Allotment Update

Information about the Community Plot and how you could help

When we first took over the Community Plot it was in a sorry state. The underground stream had caused a great deal of flooding and it had been left unsued for some time. Rubbish had been buried on the site by the Council, and others had taken the opportunity to get rid of their rubbish in the same way. It was unkept, unloved and unused!

Now we have a great place to meet and socialise, a clubhouse for all to use and enjoy, or even just shelter on those showery days. A far cry from our first meetings, sheltering under umbrellas by the toilet block! Getting the clubhouse inspired us to greater things and we began to clear away the rubbish and flatten out the ground. We have put in paths, planted fruit trees to start our community orchard, built and nurtured our pond, planted a copse of twisted willow and set up a recycle bay.

There is still a great deal to do by way of maintainance and improvement, but the more helpers we have the easier it will be to have a great space for all to enjoy.

If you have not yet been along to the community plot why not give it a visit. There are plans to erect community composting facilities on the site later this year. This will be done and paid for by the Council but we also have some ideas of our own: once the toilet block leak has been repaired we plan to paint the walls; the shed needs another coat of paint; the orchard area needs weeded; the pond needs some plants; the boundary fence repaired; the recycling bay cleared of unwanted items; perhaps sow some wild flowers in the margins and the list goes on and on. So, as you can see, your help is needed and would be appreciated. We will be working on some of these things on 15 May- why not come along and help?

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Allotment Update

BBQ at the Community Plot on Saturday 15th May, about 11 o’clock

Last year’s BBQ was such good fun that we have decided to do it twice this year, once in May and then again in August. The May BBQ will be on Saturday 15th May and in August (date to be decided nearer the time) we will have it on a Sunday.

These events will follow the same format as last year, an hour or so work on the Community plot followed by the food and drink. John and Monica will set up the BBQs and people can bring along what they would like to eat and drink. At the next Committee Meeting, on Saturday,1st May, at 11 o’clock we will be discussing the detail so come along and find out more about it. Last year there was an abundance of good food and drink with plenty for all to share. So even if you don’t have time to organise sausages or the like on the day just come along to the Community plot with your flask and sandwiches and join in the celebrations.

Everyone is welcome.

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Meeting Minutes

Minutes- April 2010

MINUTES -April 2010
Present; John and Monica McKinlay, Tom Cashman, Katie Ferguson, Ernie and Joan, Rod, Joan, John Maule, George, John Roberts.

  1. Ian Woolard has been informed that locks on the Clubhouse and Toilets need to be changed.
  2. Despite urgings the leaking toilet roof and consequential jamming toilet door has still not been attended to.
  3. Plots 40/41 which had been flooded are drying out – there is still a suspicion that the drainage work carried out by Edinburgh Leisure is directing water to these plots. Ian Woolard is talking once again about digging a ditch outside the boundary fence. Individual plot holders should follow this up.
  4. The new bin arrangement is in place. I have suggested that a skip twice a year might be appropriate but his has not been met favourably by Ian Woolard and he has arranged an emergency uplift of the bucket and uplifts should now be regularly carried out on a Wednesday. To facilitate this I have agreed to put the bin out on a Tuesday night for the next few weeks.
  5. All vacant plots have now been tenanted.
  6. Free slabs still available at Portobello –  see web site.
  7. A site map is now on the Notice Board please add your name if you wish. Thank you.
  8. Following the success of our B-B-Q last year we are holding another one on Saturday 15 May, same style as last year, an hour light community work then bring your own food and drink. We have now argreed to go ahead with this and the details will be worked out at the next meeting.

Next Meeting, Saturday 1st May at 11 am.

Categories
Allotment Update

And the winter goes on for ever………….

How frustrating is this poor weather?
Just when we were all geared up to get started, plant some early tatties, sow some beans or salad leaves under cover, the snow is back!
Don’t let it put you off there are lots of things you could be doing to move things along.
If you are lucky enough to have a shed or greenhouse you will have a multitude of things to do and shelter from the weather at the same time. Here is an article from the Fedaga Newsletter that you could say was appropriate for our current spell of bad weather……………..

GIVE A WELCOME TO GENERAL WINTER – THE PLOT HOLDER’S FRIEND.
Winter defeated Napoleon but it can be your ally.
I derive terrific enjoyment from allotmenting but part of me looks forward to winter – when I’m not driven by the demands of the plot. However, if you don’t see your plot from November to March you are missing the great opportunity that General Winter provides as growth begins to slow. So, as you plan for the growing season why not draw up a plan of campaign for winter?
It’s a two pronged campaign- firstly, when the elements allow working the soil and secondly, when frost or wet mean that working outside is impracticable. The first category would start with preparing the ground for next year. This would include digging in manure in Plot A of your rotation. I leave this till late winter to prevent the goodness leaching away. Tackle any over-grown patches as clearing them now will be easier than when the couch grass and dockens are in full growth in summer. Or just cover it with old carpet so the weeds are suppressed until you have time to tackle it. Paths too can be a productive area for operations. They will have become a bit fuzzy over the summer and a general clean up, weed or edging of these can make the plot look much more cared for. New paths, especially along the perimeter of your plot, give access and provide a barrier against encroaching weeds. John Lord on 07968865826 will provide free wood chippings from his tree doctoring business. Why not take advantage and improve your plot for free!
Rainy days are perfect for cleaning the shed or greenhouse..….and talking about rain why not set up a water butt with guttering and pipe. It will be full by spring and will save you queuing at the stand pipe in the summer.
Now would be a good time to build raised beds, the soil in the bed will dry out and warm up quicker giving early spring sowings of salads and spinach a flying start.
So come on!
Make an alliance with General Winter, not only will it save you time when the growing season gets underway but a regular hour or so in the fresh air will be a healthy antidote to the winter blues. Who knows, this winter I may even join you!……………………..
and if you are fixing paths, remember there are slabs at the gate for free!

Categories
Allotment Update

100 slabs have been delivered to the gate of the allotments. Help yourself!

Thanks to Lorne for arranging this delivery of slabs from Portobello. This is on a first come, first served basis and the slabs are outwith the fence, so get there quickly to avoid disappointment!

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Allotment Update

Manure has now been delivered, look out for next delivery in September.

One or two have already said that they could have done with an order of manure and are disappointed to have missed out.
It is a good deal at 60 pence a bag, and delivered to your plot, so look out for the notice. It will be posted on the notice board sometime in August and ofcourse we will post it here too.