🌼 Bringing Colour to the Plot This Spring

Dear Member,

My allotment gardening always focuses on the vegetables I can grow — I leave the flowers to my wife. As a result, most of my weekly articles are veg‑based, but there’s always room for flowers to brighten up the plot.

🌸 Cosmos

Add some cheer to your garden or allotment with these wonderful blooms — they’re great for attracting pollinators too.

Cosmos are half‑hardy annuals, meaning they flower all summer but cannot withstand frost.

• 🌱 Sow under cover in April for earlier, more abundant blooms
• 🌤️ Outdoor sowing from May to early June, once frost risk has passed
• 🐝 Excellent for bees and beneficial insects

🌻 Sunflowers

Growing sunflowers from seed is easy — all you need is a sunny, sheltered spot and good soil.

• 🌱 Enrich soil with compost or well‑rotted manure
• 🐌 Protect young plants from slugs and snails
• 💧 Water regularly
• 🪢 Stake if growing in an exposed position

Choose your variety carefully:

• Dwarf types: ~50cm
• Tall varieties: up to 3m

Sow seeds in pots from April and plant out a few weeks later.

For height, feed weekly with a nitrogen‑rich fertiliser and stake taller varieties.

💐 Cut Flower Seeds – New at The Hut

New this year is a range of cut‑flower seeds ideal for growing at home or on the allotment.

• ✂️ Cut mature stems for vases, bouquets or arrangements
• 🌈 Mix colours, shapes and textures for beautiful displays
• 🔁 Many varieties flower again when regularly cut

A great way to bring colour indoors and support pollinators outdoors.

🪴 Plants for Sale

The first vegetable plants went on sale last weekend — lots of interest and lots sold.

I still have plenty of stock, so there will be more available at The Hut this weekend.

🥕 Carrot Root Fly

Carrot root fly is a tiny insect that attacks carrots, celery, celeriac and parsnips.

They become active in May, so now is the time to protect April sowings.

• 🕸️ Cover with fine vegetable mesh
• 🌱 Drape over hoops or lay directly on the ground
• 🚫 Ensure no gaps for flies to enter

I’ve never done this myself, but I may give it a try this year.

🐦 Feeding the Birds – New RSPB Advice

The RSPB now advises not feeding birds using feeders between May and October due to the spread of disease.

✔️ Do:

• 🧼 Clean feeders and water baths weekly
• 🔄 Move feeders regularly to prevent disease build‑up

❌ Avoid:

• Flat surfaces such as tables or tray‑style feeders

🌿 Instead, plant bird‑friendly species:

• 🌻 Sunflowers
• 🌾 Teasels
• 🌿 Ivy

These provide natural food sources and support healthy bird populations.

🌻 Happy Gardening

Mick Goodman

Membership Secretary