Steve’s Handy Hints Page
April 2008

April’s showers and warm sunshine make everything grow at once especially the weeds. Take advantage of the good weather and get out into the garden or onto the allotment. Good preparation now will make for good quality crops and a lot less hard work later.

Before you sow seeds or plant out seedlings remove perennial weeds rake the soil down to a fine tilth and add some fertiliser. Once the plants are established keep on top of the weeds and hoe regularly. Water in dry spells but remember water deeply, shallow watering leads to shallow roots and poor crops. Apply good mulch around plants where possible this will save water and you a lot of hard work

In the greenhouse you will need to provide shading by the end of the month to avoid the very high temperatures that can devastate tender crops. Consistent regular watering is essential to tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, melons and peppers to avoid splitting of the fruit.

Throughout the growing season keep inspecting crops for signs of disease and insect’s early treatment is the key to control.

HISTORY OF ALLOTMENTS continued

The formation of the National Farm Labourers Union in 1875 and changes in local government organisation in the late 1880s saw the formation of Sanitary Districts in 1875, County Councils in 1888, and Rural and Urban Councils in 1895. This lead to many Acts of Parliament relating to allotments.

The Smallholding and Allotments act of 1907 forced councils to ascertain how much lane was required for allotments, and the Board of Agriculture was given the power to hold independent enquiries where councils had not carried out their job.

A survey in 1912 showed that 31,000 acres of land were used for allotments.
In late 1916 the Cultivation of Land Act was passed, the BOA could secure unoccupied land for allotments and spare railway land came into use. By 1918 it was estimated that there was 1.5 million plots and soon afterwards new applications were about 7,000 a week.

The 1920s saw further legislation laying down the maximum size of a plot, it required 6 months Notice to Quit and compensation for plot holders and required councils to form Allotment Committees (removed in an Act in 1972).

A very important act of 1925 forming “Statuary Allotments” meant that councils could not sell or reuse the land without the consent of the Ministry of Agriculture. In 1929 allotment land became non rateable.

The 1920s and 30s saw a decline allotments. The Second World War and the “Dig for Victory” campaign meant that pasture land, railway land, bomb sites, front gardens and spaces in parks were turned into allotments. The government produced leaflets on aspects of growing fruit and vegetables and introduced National Growmore fertiliser. By 1944 there were 1.75 million plots in use.

Between 1945 and 1947 three quarters if a millions disappeared, this decline continued though the 50s and 60s and today there are an estimated 200,000 plots nationwide.

Allotments may take on a greater leisure role, as on the continent the pressure from development means that we will have to fight to keep are allotments in many areas.

To be continued...

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