West Yorkshire Organic Group on Saturday, 11 February

… and …
Hollybush Conservation Centre on Sunday, 19 February

Community Gardening in North-West Leeds
Two Potato Days in February, with lots of varieties to choose from:
West Yorkshire Organic Group on Saturday, 11 February
… and …
Hollybush Conservation Centre on Sunday, 19 February
RSPB’s annual bird count. Everyone can take part.
It affects allotments, too.
Several people have pointed out that the itv article was incorrect (thanks!), and we are allowed to water our food crops with a hosepipe:
A hosepipe can be used for watering food crops but not for general flowers and plants. Where you can, we’d encourage you to use a watering can to save on the volume of water which is used through traditional hosepipes. It’s best to water in the morning or evening, as that means the water won’t evaporate quickly in the sunshine.
Yorkshire Water web site.
Watering dry, bare soil requires patience. It can take a long time for the water to soak in, as shown in this clever little video.
A layer of mulch helps prevent evaporation from the soil, and it also helps the soil soak up water more quickly. I’ve seen a great little video showing this, but I can’t find it just now…
Have a go!
Our Autumn Show for 2022 is a bit earlier than usual this year: Sunday 4 September. You can download the Schedule as a PDF. Our member Peter Blakey has compiled some useful tips for showing the most common veg.
A safe and effective slug bait?
A researcher in America has found a highly effective, non-toxic and cheap slug bait. Is bread dough what we have been looking for all these years? Why not try it and see? But don’t let the rats reach it!
Autumn show Sunday 12 Sept. 2021.
Refreshments from 11:30, “pay as you feel”. Donations of cakes and savouries welcome.
Snail racing from 11:30. Bring your own competitor, or choose one from our racing stable.
Members only this year, because of the pandemic. All entries from plotholders are welcome. This is intended to be fun, not a ‘professional’ show or one for ‘expert’ gardeners.
Entries accepted between 12.00 and 1.30pm. Cost is 20p per entry for the first ten entries. Additional entries are FREE.
All produce must be grown by the plotholder.
Maximum of 3 entries per class for each exhibitor.
All exhibits shown as multiples should match. Please be ready to state variety if known, as this is helpful for others.
Prizes to the value of £10 for overall points winner, and for the best exhibit in the Show, will be awarded at the Annual General meeting.
Peter Blakey has kindly put together some tips for those who are new to exhibiting vegetables. The judging is done according to the guidance given by the RHS in The Horticultural Show Handbook.
Local garden centres who deliver
Here is a list of local garden centres who deliver around Leeds – useful during lockdown.
Updated 4 November 2020
The National Allotments Society recommendations on Covid19 were updated on 4 November 2020. They apply during the current lockdown.
An excellent little video.
Here is an excellent little video that explains how washing with soap and water kill viruses, including the COVID19 virus. It even explains the 20 second rule with a clever experiment – all in less than four minutes.
Advice from LAF and NAS
Here is some advice from Leeds Allotments Federation about coping with the corona virus emergency on your plots.
Follow Government Advice at all times, and remain at a distance of at least 2 metres from other allotment holders. Don’t gather in sheds. Use hand sanitiser or soap & water as you enter and leave site. (We can’t supply this at the moment due to the panic buying). Be mindful of other allotment holders who may need help if they can’t get to the site regularly. If you are displaying any of the symptoms associated with Coronavirus stay away from the site until you are clear & if you decide to self-isolate for 12 weeks let your committee know via email/text so they know you won’t be around for a while and won’t hassle you over your plot not being cultivated.
Please be respectful if people don’t want to engage in conversation and don’t go onto anyone else’s plot unless they invite you. This is a situation which is changing daily and we need to ensure our own and other people’s safety.
The National Allotment Society also has a page about Covid 19 Emergency Measures which has a list of important precautionary measures.
Keep well!