Things are slowing down at the allotment after the glut of fresh produce we had during the summer months. The cabbages and Brussels sprouts are still going strong and we hope to crop them in the near future, but we have now removed all the potatoes and carrots and stored them for the winter months.

Most of your time at this time of year is spent clearing the beds in readiness for next year’s plans, so why not get together with some of your allotment friends and celebrate the bountiful harvest we had during the summer months.

You could arrange a late summer barbeque and use some of the fantastic produce from the allotment to create wonderful salads and amazing side dishes. Why not celebrate the end of summer with a bang? You could have a bonfire and buy fireworks to turn your party into a real celebration. You could use solar lighting to create a great atmosphere down at the plot and see off the summer in style.

It is always worth checking with your allotment association if they will not mind the event taking place at the allotment. Some associations don’t mind if you can prove that numbers will be strictly limited and most people who are at the event are allotmenteers themselves.

The RHS Show at Tatton Park is taking place this year between the 22nd and 26th of July. The show is always exceptionally produced and hence is the highlight of many gardeners year.

This year there are a wide range of inspirational garden ideas on show including classic designs, contemporary designs and visionary designs. There are also the usual magnificent marquee displays which are bound to astound and impress the visitors.

This year, the show will also feature for the first time at Tatton Park the ‘Summer Fruit and Vegetable Competition’. The competition is available to enter by everybody, so if you think your vegetables or fruit have got what it takes to beat off the competition why not have a go at entering.

The show takes place over five days and is a great day out for with your family and friends. Many people choose to take a picnic with them on the day, but if you are not organised there are food stalls selling quality home produced products and various vending machines around the site so you can grab a snack on the go.

There are many stalls where you can buy plants and accessories for your garden. So make sure you take your bank cards with you, you won’t be able to resist the tantalising offers.

The Hampden Court Palace flower show will take place this year from the 7th to the 12th of July. And with something on offer for everyone it is a must visit in any gardener’s calendar. The show will feature sections on show gardens, small gardens and conceptual gardens and with the magnificent displays on offer from some of the UK’s top growers in the Floral marquee and Tudor Rose festival marquee (in honour of Henry VIII’ s coronation) the show promises to be bigger than ever.

Tickets are priced at £27 for a full day (10am entry) and £17 for a half day (3pm entry). So to get some great ideas for your garden or to just spend a fantastic day out make sure you pencil the date into your diary.

Harrogate and District Allotments Federation is holding its Annual Allotment show on the 16th of August this year. The show will take place from 11.00am to 4.30pm and is held in the Sun Pavilion, Valley Gardens, Harrogate.

A local band provides music through the day and there are many stalls to visit selling allotment produce, supplies, cakes and refreshments. There are also many prizes to be won as well as the usual raffle and tombola.

The show gives an opportunity for allotment holders to show off their produce as well as promote allotments to the general public. It has now been running for many years and is always a favourite of the local community and visitors to the area.

The show always incorporates some sort of fund raising event or collection for local charities and in the last few years has raised £2,000 for Young Carer’s and £1,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Harrogate Borough council have a waiting list for anyone who would like an allotment at their three sites at Claro Road and Pearl Street in Harrogate and Ferrensby Allotments at Knaresborough. An application can be filled in online, but the current waiting list may be up to 2 years.

It is the time of the year again when dandelions invade our lawns and without a doubt they will soon be sending their spores far and wide as soon as they are caught by a gust of wind. This means that even if you have a pristine weed free lawn the chances are it will soon have spores from other people’s gardens waiting to take seed.

Dandelions are notoriously difficult to get rid of. You must remove the whole root from the ground to be sure it will not shoot next year. When doing this I remove the head first carefully to avoid any more spores being picked up by the wind and infiltrating other parts of your lawn. Then using a trowel or small fork loosen the soil around the root before pulling the entire root from the ground. If you have a lot of weeds in your lawn you could choose a weedkiller, but always get one that will not damage the surrounding grass or cause harm to pets or children.

The Dandelions Latin name is Taraxacum Officinale, Dandelion coming from the French for lion’s tooth. The plant is still used to make Dandelion wine, Dandelion beer, and the popular Dandelion and Burdock fizzy drink. Read more about how to get rid of Dandelions here.

With local governments reluctant to release any land for new allotment sites, the 100000 people in the UK who are currently on waiting lists may finally get a chance at growing their own veg.

The National Trust in collaboration with Landshare, who match land to prospective growers, has announced the release of land for up to 1000 allotments on some of its properties and country estates.

Landshare was the brain child of TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall who has achieved notoriety for his “Chicken Out” campaign and the famous “River Cottage” TV programme. He has recently been advocating for more people to grow their own veg and has been putting pressure on local and national government to help make more land available.

The National Trust is releasing land at 40 different locations that will be available from around 2012 and will feature small plots and large community areas. The scheme has the backing of celebrities and the general public alike.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall stated:

“I’m completely thrilled with this fantastic pledge from the National Trust to offer 1,000 growing spaces to Landshare. This pledge alone has the potential to make a difference to many thousands of people – not just those who grow, but those with whom they share their wonderful produce. These kinds of initiatives offer immeasurable benefits to communities across a whole host of areas – from good health, to helping minimise our impact on the environment, to simply bringing people together”

Traditionally, vegetables were grown in rows and blocks, however with the development of mechanical farming techniques, it was easier to tend crops which were grown in long rows. More recently with the increasing trend to grow vegetables at home, or on the allotment, raised beds have become a popular alternative.

Raised beds are usually 3 or 4 feet in width, allowing easy access to the middle, and can be any length. The soil levels in these beds are usually a few inches above the surrounding ground.

Advantages of Raised Beds:

• Permanent paths can be established
• Soils drains freely
• Soil warms up quickly
• Beds provide good growing depth
• Defined areas are less daunting
• Rotation of vegetables is easier
• Beds can be made to fit all spaces

Disadvantages of Raised Beds:

• Time to build
• Expense to build
• Dry out quickly in summer
• Not easy to relocate

If you’re a big fan of orchids, this Royal Horticultural Society event has to be for you. The RHS London Orchid Show is taking place this year on the 15th and 16th March, but if you can’t wait that long there Read the rest of this entry »