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Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
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Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
January's Jobs
This time of the year the weather is poor with freezing conditions and alot of wet weather so its a good job that you can do plenty inside for the month.
It is a good time to start looking through out of date seeds and re-ordering or deciding what you are going to grow. Pots, trays etc can all be cleaned and you could sow some seeds for germinating indoors like Leeks, onions, broad beans and some brassicas. They need warmth so a sunny window sill or a propagator which is heated are the best bet. You can plant Jerusalem artichoke tubers at this time of year and garlic if you are in mild areas.
If you want an early crop of peas you could sow some now but keep them indoors and dont plant out until March/April.
Of course there are plenty of winter harvesting to do Kale, Sprouts, Leeks, Swede and of course those winter cabbages.
Sow broad beans, Brussel sprouts, early summer cabbage, calabrese, cauliflowers, leeks, onions, peas, radishes, shallots, spinach and turnips in the greenhouse - don't forget the days are still very dark and they need light wherever possibly.
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Plant out shallots and garlic in mild areas - they can be planted in modules under cover if the conditions aren't right outside.
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Radishes, mustard cress, winter lettuce etc can be grown in the greenhouse in growing bags or insulated tubs.
January is a great month for planting any new fruit check the rootstocks and pollination groups before you order the wrong product. Pruning jobs a a must before the sap starts to rise and don't forget to prune the grapevine whilst that is dormant too, thin out currants and gooseberries. Lift and divide unproductive crowns of rhubarb and replant with well manured soil.
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Good time now to remove weeds whilst digging over and check the Soil PH Level with a kit.
Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
February's Jobs
February can be colder than January especially now that our seasons seem to have shifted slightly. There is no point sowing anything outdoors until the soil temperature is up to 7C or 45F if you do they will just rot away - Be patient.
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You can cover the soil up with fleece or plastic in order to warm the soil up this can prevent it from getting to wet. You can also sow seeds in a heated greenhouse or on the windowsill at home. There will probably be harvests still to pick and of course the ever digging over of your plot. A good job on a cold day is to turn the compost heap as you will keep warm yourself doing this.
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On a wet day you can clean all your pots and seed trays ready for using in the next couple of months.
Plant out new fruit trees and bushes, plant garlic, shallot sets, turnips (under cover). You can sow indoors the following:
Brussel Sprouts
Globe Artichokes
Kohl Rabi
Leeks
Lettuces
Onions
Peas
Radishes
Spinach
Purple Sprouting Broccoli
Tomatoes
This is a good month to apply fertiliser to fruit trees and bushes make sure you cover the full root area, then they can be mulched with rotted manure or compost. Prune autumn raspberries cutting to the ground as well as other fruit bushes (gooseberry and currant).
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For early strawberries you can cloche or fleece them - take off if a very warm day allowing pollinators in.
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This is the last chance to plant bare root fruit trees and now is the time to force rhubarb if you want an early crop.
Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
March's Jobs
March is a good time to complete your digging if the weather permits - this does improve your soil quality if digging in with it well rotted down manure, you can also warm up your seed beds by covering them with sheets of plastic or fleece. Frosts are still on the agenda for March so don't plant out too early.
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You can sow indoors in the greenhouse as long as it is warm enough (heated) and don't plant too many too soon little and often is better. Fruit trees will be coming into blossom soon so anything that may be ahead could perhaps be protected by fleece.
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This is also a good time to cover Rhubarb if you are wanting forced as they are about to go into full overdrive. It is a good time of year to collect water and conserve it as plants grown in containers and the greenhouse will need plenty.
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Good time to plant out shallot and garlic and start to chit your potatoes. Also the following can be sown in the greenhouse
Beetroot
Broad Beans
Bulb Onions
Carrots
Leeks
Spinach
Summer Cabbage/Cauliflower
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Put Pea supports out ready (twigs and branches etc) and give spring cabbages a high nitrogen feed.
March is a great month for attending to soft fruit and making sure they are ready for the coming spring summer. Now is a good time to finishing mulching around the bottom and feeding them too. It is a good time to start planting any new strawberry plants you have bought.
Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
April's Jobs
April can be a really frantic month the days are longer and the jobs are endless.
You can sow outdoors if the temperature is correct and there is more that can be sown indoors in preparation for planting. You still have to be careful of late frosts and anything that can be caught even in an unheated greenhouse.
Regular weeding is now going to be essential in order to make the summer easier - even if you spend just 15 minutes spot checking and removing anything that will become a hindrance in coming months.
Prune Plum and Cherry trees once the leaf buds have opened.
Earth up Potatoes and plant second earlies & maincrop this month.
Harvest the first Asparagus along with Spring Cabbage, Caulis, Sprouting Broccoli and other remaining Leeks etc
This is a good month to get ahead by sowing seeds in a greenhouse or cold frame. There are some outdoor seeds that can be sown however they need to be in warm ground and undercover ie Cloche or small tunnels - these are Beetroot, Turnips, Salad Leaves, Spinach, Chard and of course Root Crops like Carrots and Parsnips.
Prepare Seed beds if you use this method by Raking and Sieving before planting any seeds.
Seeds that can be sown direct into the ground include Broad Beans, French Beans, Peas, Sweetcorn, and many others.
April is also the time to plant Fruit outdoors including Cape Gooseberries, Cranberries, container grown Fruit Trees,
Grapevines and Strawberries
Other jobs to be done are building structures for your climbing beans etc, put in peasticks, protect against frosts
and pot on where you need to.
Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
May's Jobs
The days are longer allowing more time spent caring for your allotment and the crops you are putting in. May can be deceptive with some frosts still around so if the weather is mild enough then you can start sowing outdoors , its time to harden off the plants that are now big enough and also not forgetting to protect the delicate ones too.
You will need to weed regularly as now the soil is warming up the weeds are just constant.
Most produce can be seeded now whether it is direct into the ground or in the greenhouse, look at the packet it will give you a guide on the timings to sow. Always stagger growth of products you use a lot of ie salads, peas, spring onions etc this then gives you a constant crop rather than all at once.
Maximise cropping areas by either using the Intercropping or Catch cropping methods so one fast growing and one slow or using space before something else goes in or after.
Fruits are probably the least of your worries in May however there are a few jobs that can be done.
Remove strawberry flowers from first year strawberry plants you can net strawberries to keep the birds off and deter slugs by putting down straw, cut off any runners from older plants.
Begin to thin out gooseberries as the fruits develop.
Prune trained fruit trees, continue to weed and mulch fruit bushes.
Codling moths mate this month so hang pheromone traps in apple trees.
Feed blackcurrants, blackberries and hybrid berries with a high nitrogen fertiliser.
Remove unwanted raspberry suckers.
You can start to move plants out of the Greenhouse to harden off to adjust to the temperature, only plant out when there is no danger of frosts otherwise you will spend your time covering them back up again on a good clear day.
Earth up potatoes so the tubers are not exposed to the light.
Thin out seedlings and pot on - water gently and with a fine rose (early mornings and late evenings) dont let them dry out otherwise they wont survive.
Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
June's Jobs
June is the mid point of the year and could be the start of harvesting some of your crops (runner beans, peas and maincrop carrots) and the possibility of your new potatoes, beetroot, onions & some fruits (strawberries, cherries & gooseberries). The longest day is on the 21st so there is far more sunlight & temperatures should be rising. This is a key time for birds, slugs, snails and other pests to get a good meal from your crops - beware and keep on top of managing these problems.
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You are better making several short trips to the allotment throughout the week rather than just one day this will help you keep on top of weeds, pests and watering. One of the biggest jobs could be watering dependent on our fabulous British Summer time - too little too often will encourage roots to stay close to the surface rather than go down to reach the deep seated water reserves.
Regular watering of crops such as courgette, cucumber, marrow, pepper, squash & tomatoes others that will benefit are peas & beans will really benefit and will also benefit from weekly feeds with a high potash liquid fertiliser (tomato). Tie any fruiting crops that growing fast to supports - they can collapse and cause you to loose the crop. Remove side shoots from tomato plants and check the fruit is growing if not tap the plant a few times to make sure the pollen fertilises the flowers. Water potatoes especially those in tubs or barrels. french Beans are ready for a second sowing, other veg seeds can be sown directly outside (too many to mention but things along the lines of beetroot, carrots, courgettes, kale, french beans, pumpkins, swedes, swiss chard etc. Loads can be planted out that have been progressively growing in the greenhouse like sprouts, cauliflowers, cabbages, leeks, marrows, beans etc.
Check Apple & Pears for greenfly and the pheromone traps for codling moths. Net soft fruits from birds including strawberries also check them for grey mould and remove any infected fruits. Prune side shoots on the grape vines and thin outdoor fruit grown for eating so the remaining can grow to a reasonable size. Tie in new shoots on wire trained trees and out fruit (peaches, nectarines & apricots)
Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
July's Jobs
Its now the middle of summer and everything should be growing well, dont take your foot off the gas otherwise all that work you have put in will go to waste. It will be time to start harvesting a lot of produce so pick crops regularly don't leave them to get too big as the best flavours come from the younger crops. Show items are a little different where you want them to be bigger. This means in hand you will be busier in the kitchen preparing and cooking some of the best fruit & veg you have tasted.
Watering is still crucial due to probably being a dry month most crops need a unbroken supply of water and interruptions can cause all sorts of issue spreading mulch can prevent these as it retains the moisture underneath.
In hot weather some items prefer to be planted in partial shade like leafy salads and is best sown in the cool of day rather than the peak of the heat. Carrots can still be sown and Autumn products such as spring cabbage, turnips, Oriental veg, fennel etc. Still make successional little and often sowing of salad leaves to ensure you are covered throughout the Summer. Climbing beans may need to be stopped (pinch out) in order to maximise cropping.
Still water to prevent bolting, its time to dry out garlic and onions, feed tomatoes and peppers and earth up celery to keep stems out of the light. Sometimes it may be necessary to earth up brassicas too as they can become unsteady. its a good time to take cuttings of herbs and propagate them such as Rosemary, Sage and Thyme.
Once the strawberries have finished then tidy them up removing straw, dead leaves and remove any runners either for planting or composting. Summer prune fruit shrubs, thin apples and pears.
When summer raspberries have finished cropping then cut out the old fruiting canes - down to the ground. Autumn Raspberries are done later in winter.
Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
August's Jobs
Everything is still in full swing and giving bountiful baskets of produce each week. No time for holidays! Don't waste any gluts of produce start stock piling the freezer to keep you going through to next year or make jams, pickles, chutneys and swop with fellow plot holders if you just cant face anymore.
Pumpkins are starting to grow and will need feeding if you are wanting a giant for Halloween.
Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
September's Jobs
This marks Autumn on the way! The days are drawing in and there can be a chill in the air or we could be experiencing an Indian Summer. Most earlier crops will be coming to an end and for many it will be the last month for produce such as Beans, Courgettes, tomatoes, cucumbers and sweetcorn. The later crops are now coming into harvest such as main crop potatoes, squashes, apples, pears etc.
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This will denote the big Autumn clear up and preparing or the winter months ahead. Plenty of compost heaps on the go is great as you can add a lot to them in in Autumn, weeds are still on the go so make sure you dig them out as this will help when it comes round to spring next year
This is a good month to start sowing items such as green manure in vacant spaces which need soil improvement. One you start digging you will need to add well rotted compost in clay soils to start the breakdown. Don't stop feeding tomato plants if they are still in crop it will help ripen the last of the fruit.
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You can still sow salad leaves (winter lettuces and Rocket), radishes, spring onions and winter purslane and you can still plant out spring Cabbages and onion sets.
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If you need additional compost bins then now is a good time to make them, if you have compost that needs attention then turn and cover to keep the heat in (water if it is dry).
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Removes some leaves of pumpkin plants so the fruits can ripen, earth up Brussels sprouts and other autumn & winter brassicas so they grow taller, cut down asparagus foliage to 2.5cm above ground and feed/trim celeriac.
Continue to harvest Apples & Pears,
Later apples store well put them into a ventilated box, not touching r wrapped in paper and keep at a temperature of around 2 - 5C (a slight humidity also helps to preserve).
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Prune blackberries and other hybrid berries (you will of finished picking by now) and cut out the old canes that have carried this years fruit. Order new fruit trees as November is the best month to plant bare root trees & bushes.
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Lift and pot up any strawberry runners or plant out any you have already grown
Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
October's Jobs
This is the month you definitely notice the changes, you can now breathe as everything quietens down and so the clear continues adding plenty to the compost bins and starting to think towards next year.
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There may be some items still growing and any tender produce may need fleecing if a sharp frost comes along. Clear an dead plant materials and add them to the compost and begin digging the vacant beds in ease of the following year.
Most root vegetables are best left in the ground until required however some may need lifting if they do not like the frost ie carrots, beetroot & turnips. Harvest pumpkins and squashes when ripe.
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Finish planting autumn onion sets, earth up trench celery, earth up Brussels sprout and stake them if required along with any other brassicas.
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Some items can continue in the greenhouse (radish/cress/winter lettuces) and you can plant garlic and Rhubarb sets now. Broad Beans are good to sow now as they are good at over wintering and give an early crop the following year.
Plant any new bare root fruit bushes now (currants,cranberries & gooseberries) including grape vines.Â
Spray apple and pears against canker if about half their leaves have fallen and prune out any diseased branches. Fit grease bands to trunks to prevent winter moths climbing and laying eggs.
Take any hardwood cuttings required from blueberries, currants, gooseberries, figs and grape vines - make sure your shrubs are virus free.
Clear strawberry beds from old leaves, straw, old runners and plants that look like they may have a virus.
Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association
November's Jobs
A short while in the allotment in November can pay dividends for next year so anything you do now will make the work load easier in spring.
November is a good month for pruning as the tree is in hibernation and it is best done before it gets very cold.
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It is a good opportunity to cover any ground that is not in use and has been dug over - this will help weeds and will protect the ground from heavy rain throughout winter.
Items that can be sown currently are Broad Beans the overwintering variety of course this will be the last chance. Also garlic can still be planted but again if not this month it will be too late.
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Some jobs that can be done to help for the following year are as follows;
Clear away old plants (finished cropping)
Take down supports (beans/pea etc)
Weed and dig (always a job there)
Dig in well rotted manure or spread over the top
Lime soil if required
Cover up vegetable beds
Make leafmould
Mulch celeriac/globe artichokes
Protect Cauliflowers (the heads)
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Here are some of the fruit trees/shrubs that can be planted through Autumn (bare root):
Cherries & Plums
Apples & Pears
Raspberries/Blackberries & hybrid berries
Currants & Gooseberries
Grape Vines
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Make sure your ground is well prepared with added organic matter (well rotted manure/compost etc), if the plant arrives and the ground isn't ready put in a heel in the plant in spare ground temporarily, water well if it is in a pot. Always plant at the same depth the plant was originally growing. Trees will need to be staked with a good stake and secured with a few ties. After planting mulch around the tree 3 inches thick to prevent weeds and keeping in moisture.
Milnthorpe & District Allotment Association Services
December's Jobs
The year has come to an end and although the nights are dark the shortest day is only just around the corner and that means it gets lighter each night after that. Although you may think December is a month with not a great deal happening here are some jobs that can be done - bearing in mind the ground can be frozen or waterlogged.
Draw up a scale cropping plan which ensure you buy the seeds you need as well as a reminder for when they should be sown and plant out.
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Make a list of seeds you want to grow the following year with success's and failures on your produce.
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Prepare new Aspargus beds as these need plenty of organic matter.
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Clean out seed trays, pots and the greenhouse and if you are feeling daring the shed can always do with a good clear out!
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Make a list of all accessories you may need ie new canes/fertiliser/netting etc you can guarantee you will always need it when its not there.
Lets not forget to harvest the leeks, root veg and of course those hardy salad crops.
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If you are storing crops its worth checking them this months to make sure they are top notch - remove any that look like they may be diseased.
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How about making your own liquid fertiliser using manure/nettles for high nitrogen feed or comfrey for high potash feed. Put in a hessian bag or tights and hang in a water butt and allow the contents to seep into the water (word of advice this will need diluting to feed your plants next year - make to a mix of weak tea).
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Make some cloches out of old lemonade bottles by cutting the bottom out or fill with water and put some small holes in the lid to make your own drip watering system.
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Clean all your tools so they are ready for the start of next year.
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Clean old plastic plant labels ready for re-using.
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There are hundreds of money saving tricks out there so have a look, the one that has tickled me whilst researching for this is a pair of old tights stuffed with compost tied off (each leg) and then used as grow bags - thick somebody would suspect I had a body on the greenhouse! but a great idea.
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