|
 |
|
|
About our site ... Wilmot Road Allotments have been self-managed under license from Dartford Borough Council since 1993. The site has 34 plots, and while many were derelict when the Association took over, all are now rented - bar one vacancy (for details of which please contact Barry Ringrose). We were one of the founder members of the QED Allotments Group - and have a magnificent sign on our shed to prove it (see above). We brought to QED our plans for a community composting scheme as a method to cope with a rubbish dumping problem along the perimeter fence. Local householders are encouraged to place garden waste in the compost bins provided just inside the site gate - bins made from recycled pallets. The Association gained the compost - and rubbish is no longer dumped against our perimeter fence. We have a number of the bird boxes on site which were made at the Dartford Show last year - and they have been occupied by blue tits already. We welcome organic gardeners (see Brian's plot, left), who make good use of our problem stinging nettles to make liquid feed (10 parts water to one part nettle liquor). |
|
We also have a range of interesting vegetables grown on site (see Dennis's globe artichokes, right), and some enthusiastic wine makers (one plot is now devoted to vines). We are located next door to a children's playground, and there are no locks on our gates, but we hardly ever suffer from vandalism. We are hoping to encourage a local school to take a plot on our site, so that the allotments can be used to help deliver aspects of the national curriculum. We are not without pests though. There are trees nearby which harbour wood pigeons, and it is essential to net young brassica plants to save them from being devoured overnight. We've just started using old trawl nets for this. You can see our site from the railway - on the left hand side of the track about a mile from Dartford Station, London-bound on the Sidcup line. Don't forget to wave! |
|
|
|
This photograph is of Fred standing by his hut on his allotment at Wilmot Road. The red climbing rose was bought at Woolworths about six years ago so is now nicely established. Says Fred: "I have always been very keen on rose growing and for many years have done my own budding, making my own standard roses for instance. If I was asked to give just one tip to the rose growing enthusiast to give the greatest satisfaction, this is what it would be. Take from the country one of the straightest upright dog rose stems (Rosa Canina) that you can find. Take it home and plant it in your garden. Best time for this is late autumn or winter. Stake it to make sure that it grows perfectly straight and let it grow as high as it likes but remove all the side shoots. Then allow two or three laterals to grow at a convenient height for budding. This might take two or three years or if you're lucky not so long. The main thing is that the upright stem is strong and straight. Then, when you are ready, you can bud on the side laterals as close to the main stem as possible. The main stem can then be cut off two or three inches above the laterals to allow as much sap as possible to pass over your buddings. Best time for this budding is early July when the buds are at their best. the following spring you can cut all the side shoots back to an inch or so from the buds and as the buds grow to stems then lo, you have created, your self, your first standard rose. I won't go into budding itself as there are so many books with diagrams available."
|
|
|
