Launton Plotters

A December report

We have had very funny weather this year. Very wet at times, with not much sunshine or warmth.

Where did the summer go?

A mild October and November enabled the grass and weeds to continue growing, we were still cutting the grass when normally the mower would be away for the winter.

EWR finished work at the beginning of the year leaving the allotments in surprisingly good order with a new access road, new fencing, and better drainage in some parts of the allotments, although some poor plotters must still put up with winter flooding. We have no free plots now; on the other hand we have no one on the waiting list either, it was cleared when EWR gave us over 20 plots back.

Plotters are now tidying up and sorting out their plots for the winter. Some covering bare plots, although there are still many crops to harvest, cabbage, kale, chard and our staple Christmas dinner vegetables, parsnips, and sprouts, to name but a few.

However there is something else eating our Christmas dinner! Signs like holes in the ground near parsnips, small teeth marks in beetroot, potatoes nibbled away show that mice are about. The musty smell in the shed and shredded paper also show they are making themselves comfortable.

It is difficult to get rid of mice in an open field situation like our allotments. If they become a problem, you can set traps baited with peanut butter where other animals cannot reach them. Much safer than introducing poisons to your plot.

Useful Tip

• When harvesting cabbages, leave the stump in the ground and cut a cross in the top: fresh leaves will sprout which can be used later when there is little around.

I wish you all a Happy Christmas and productive New Year.

Jackie Hackett - Launton Plotters