Non-organic Blue Pellets The most popular method of slug and snail control used in the garden is slug pellets. The pellets are manufactured from cereal and yeast that lures the slugs and snails to them and they contain a poison that kills the slugs and snails after they have consumed the pellets. There are three […]
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The Burnside tea room
History During several volunteering days dating back to about 2015, an overgrown area halfway along the eastern edge of the Burnside site began to be cleared to make way for a new communal space. The area had become very overgrown and had, for many years, been a dumping ground for a variety of waste and […]
Using water wisely
John McGill has been doing some research on how to make the most of an increasingly precious resource – water. He starts by looking at ways to reduce the need for water. He then has some tips on how to collect and store water, reducing your need to visit the troughs as often. He’s put […]
Things that go bump in the night
Ever wondered what happens on the allotment when no-one is around? Andy K and friends from Burnside captured some really interesting images of the animals which reclaim the undergrowth on Burnside when there is no-one around to disturb them. Watch the deer playing cards with the fox, and the badger having a crafty ciggie behind […]
Growing saffron
Barry South writes: To John Keats, autumn was the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. He wrote the well known Ode to Autumn in September, now more of a summer month due to global warming. On my allotment plot autumn is marked by the re-appearance of a crop that remains hidden below ground all summer […]
A look back at 2019
Joan Bullock-Anderson writes: Here’s an update on my 2019 efforts to grow slightly more unusual things on the plot, with a few photographs of the results. First of all, edamame beans (soybeans). These originate from southeast Asia. The pods are hairy and can be cooked whole then shelled for the tender green bean inside. They […]
Squash soup
This soup recipe is a starting point guide: you could use other types of squash and add other crops such as carrot (we do). Also you can use the quantities that you have harvested. It will always be a tasty warming soup, BUT sometimes it will turn out especially delicious, so enjoy! Ingredients Method
Quince paste
Joan Bullock-Anderson writes: For anyone unfamiliar with quince, it’s a hard fruit related to the pear. You can’t eat it raw, but it cooks up very nicely into a jelly or a paste (the latter is especially popular in Spain, where it is known as membrillo and often paired with their sheep’s milk cheese, Manchego). […]
Looking back on 2018
Joan B-A writes: When I first took on a plot at Burnside in September 2012, it was all I could do to crank out a few carrots, broad beans, onions, radishes, beetroot and parsnips. Even peas were completely beyond me in the first year as I couldn’t keep pace with whatever was munching the seedlings. […]
From weed-full to weed-free in a morning
Andy writes: Can you transform a 3mx5m section of overgrown plot into a productive, easily manageable and ultimately weed free area, in just a morning? YES, YOU CAN! Step 1. Cut the weeds down.I use a rotary mower with the blade as low as possible, which will get very close to the ground and help guide […]