Gardening Questions

Dukinfield Library,  2009

I have a new allotment plot which is mostly already set up. It has some fruit trees and has cucumbers, peppers, aubergines and tomatoes in the green house. What can I plant in the plot outside?

You could plant potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, sweet corn or broad beans in the ground.

Nasturtiums planted around the outside of the plot will attract the aphids and black fly away from your vegetables. Marigolds will attract slugs and deter aphids.

If you plant carrots try not to disturb the leaves too much. When they are rubbed or brushed they release a scent which attracts carrot fly.

Use crop rotation to deter diseases and soil born pests.

Use plenty of fertiliser.

Use seedling compost to start with as the fertiliser in other composts can burn the seedlings.

You can compost many weeds, as long as they haven’t set seed. You should not compost Mare’s Tail (Equisetum) or Japanese Knotweed. You can compost the top foliage of Bind Weed, but not the roots.