Next week sees the start of National Allotments Week at a time when the allotment and vegetable are seen to be making somewhat of a revival.
The Good Life with Richard Bryers and Felicity Kendall sparked a period or self sufficiency but more recently, fuelled by Alan Titchmarsh and his desire to deck out the whole of the UK, gardeners have been keen to re-invent their space and out door living experience.
Now it seems, after a recent survey by standard life, that one in six people now grow some of the food that they consume.
Read Jane Peronne's book 'The Allotment Keepers Handbook' for some great tips on starting an allotment or veg patch.
You do not necessarily need a large garden but if you have a spare 10-50 square metres that can be turned over to support some fresh produce then some great satisfaction, and a bit of fun can be had in serving up fresh potatoes or carrots on the Sunday dinner plate.
How to prepare your vegetable plot.
Lets talk organic versus pesticide.
I am not necessarily pro organic as a single way to achieve fresh and healthy vegetables. Chemicals can be used safely as long as you follow the instructions properly.
Roundup, until I see something definitive to the contrary is probably the safest herbicide on the market. It is perceived to be so safe that farmers will spray their pea crop just 24 hours before harvest to ensure that the root is killed off.
If you want to stay chemical clear then I am afraid it is the spade and fork or a rotovator and just keep chopping through the vegetation until a tilth is produced. If you do spray off a couple of weeks previously you will find less resistance to your spade and turning over a spit of soil will be much easier.
Come this autumn, dig over your patch and leave it fairly rough. Do not break the soil down too far because we want the weather to do this for us.
Dress the surface with some manure - old horse manure is best but compost from your wormery or cow manure (subject to Foot and Mouth restrictions) will suffice although cow manure will disappear from your soil more quickly.
Let the wind, rain and frost get into the soil through the winter ready to break down further as the spring arrives and the soil warms up a bit.
Why not visit Harrod Horticulture in time for next season
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