Things are definately slowing down as the nights draw in and the weather cools down. The forecast of a cold night on Monday, made me shut the tunnel doors for the first time this autumn, a good job too, the temperature dropped to zero overnight inside and the same the following night. This cold spell blackened the leaves of some squash plants, but not all nor did it touch the courgettes. The runner beans are still doing well, putting on new growth and flowers

It is now a case of preparing the plot for next year as this years crops finish. I have dug over the potato patch and started the area for the shed. I will finish that this week and dig over the pea area. Then it is time to sort out the potting lean to, shed is to posh a word for it.

The tunnels are still growing well, the tomatoes are nearly finished but the peppers, chillies, etc. are still producing  even though some of the cucumbers look a little strange to start with.

This years seed catalogues have started to arrive showing it is time to start thinking about what has performed well this year and what new varieties I will try next year. It is also time to order some manure to spread over the dug areas for the winter.

JOBS FOR THE WEEK

1. Finish preparing shed area.
2. Tidy potting area -Done
3. Dig pea patch - Done
4. Remove old strawberries and dig area

WORK DONE THIS WEEK

SUNDAY

1. Pick
2. Water
3. Plant seedling in tunnel for winter
4. Dig over and rough level shed area

MONDAY

1. Start leveling for shed
2. Tidy rubbish out of potting area
3. Pick
4. Water
5. Start digging pea patch

TUESDAY

1. Empty bins of rubbish into skip
2. Water
3. Dig more of pea area 

WEDNESDAY

1. Finish diggging pea patch
2. Water
3. Pick 
4. Turn off water due to leak

THURSDAY

1. Water 

FRIDAY

1. Water
2. Pick
3. Clear manure area of weeds 

SATURDAY

1. Water 

CROPS PICKED THIS WEEK

1. Tomatoes
2. Beans
3. Courgettes
4. Peppers
5. Chillies
6. Lettuce
7. Cucumbers
8. Sprouts
9. Cabbage
10. Broccoli
11. Spinach
12. Sweetcorn

As you can see from the pictures this week it is the time of year when we are in transition from the growing/harvesting period to the preparation period for next year. There are still many crops that are continuing to produce whilst others have been harvested and stored ready for later use.

The cooler weather at night and the winds last week have dried the leaves on the climbing french beans and stopped them cropping, whereas  the runner beans are still growing and producing new flowers.

I have managed to weed the pea area and removed the canes so it is now ready to be dug over, I have already started digging the potato patch ready for manuring. the water melons in the tunnel are still growing in size as are some of the sweet melons. The sweetcorn is continuing to produce tasty cobs which we are enjoying most days.

The early carrots I sowed in tunnel 1 are growing aand I hope that they will produce a good late crop. I have some chard, perpetual spinach and lettuce to plant out in the tunnel for the winter.

JOBS FOR THE WEEK

1. Finish digging the potato patch. -Done
2. Start preparing area for shed. -Done
3. Clearout and tidy potting shed.
4. Continue weeding.

WORK DONE THIS WEEK

SUNDAY

1. Pick.
2. Water.
3.  Finish weeding pea area.

MONDAY

1. Start digging potato patch.
2.  Water.

TUESDAY

1. Dig a bit more of the potato patch
2. Water
3. Pick

WEDNESDAY

1. Dig over more of potato patch
2. Water

THURSDAY

1. Pick
2. Water

FRIDAY

1. Clean onions for storing
2. Water

SATURDAY

1. Finish digging potato patch
2. Pick
3. Start preparing shed area
4. Water 

CROPS PICKED THIS WEEK

1. Sweetcorn.
2. Beans.
3. Tomatoes.
4. Cucumbers.
5. Chillies.
6.  Aubergines.
7. Courgettes
8. Melons

The story of Crumpsall & Cheetham starts in the late 60’s.

The first we knew of the move from Crescent Road Allotments was when we saw two men with clip boards measuring the site . On investigation we discovered that the intention was to build the Abraham Moss Leisure Center and school on the site. As we already had a well managed site we were not inclined to move without an adequate replacement. Venue unknown at that time.

Their now began a series of letters to the council and meetings. In all we attended 48 meetings and our secretary wrote 24 letters. The council offered very inferior sites as a replacement and used many threats but had the Nation Association of Leisure Gardners helping us. We were adamant and finally settled on a piece of land owned by the I.C.I. This was used as a tip for all it’s refuge from the dye works, consequently it meant moving the entire topsoil leaving a field of clay.
Meanwhile plans had to be made for the planning of the new site. Manchester City council undertook this and their planning department designed what the first and only Model Allotment site of it’s kind in the country.

Top soil for 114 plots to be delivered and evenly spread. Siting for the pavilion and sheds. Plots to be measured and staked out. We had to fight for greenhouses to replace those being demolished at Crescent Road likewise the huts, eventually we won a one for one replacement for greenhouses and huts for every plot. Plans were drawn up for a tar macadam ring road, 5 car bays and 32 taps also the replacement of the pavilion. This was to replace the one we had at Crescent Road built by the plot holders. We arranged for concrete paths between each plot.

The recreation (now Leisure) department was very much involved in this venture which assured its success. later the council formed an allotment sub committee of 8 plot holders who sat with the recreation committee and dealt with allotments as a first item on the agenda then left. It worked well for both parties but was abandoned when the Council decided to re stucture the system. Later additions to the plans were made, a hard standing for a designer plot for the disabled and a bay for garden refuge. Public sponsors eventually furnished the disabled plot. The greenhouse from Granada Television after an appeal made at the end of one of the documentaries made about the site at this time. The raised beds for disabled people from the Manchester Evening News after an appeal. Lord Morris of Wythenshaw opened part of the site attended by the Lord Major and members of the recreation committee. H.R.H/ Prince Phillip attend by the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress opened the main site in 1972.

The site as it’s own Exhibition hall which was built by the members. That is another story and will be related at a later date.

I stepped through the door in my shed and the floor,which has been springy for a while, gave way. A new floor is now needed. The flooring has rotted and the joists have gone, all were ripped out and burnt, see picture. A new floor is about to go in today.

The better weather of the last week has prompted the squash to start putting size on and the courgetters hae grown again and are begining to better. The climbing beans are continuing to flower,so should go on producing far a while yet.

I have managed to start clearing away some of the weeds from the areas which have got away in the last few weeks. The comfrey is ready for its last cutting and filling the bin for some more liquid feed.

JOBS FOR THE WEEK
Fix shed floor -Done
Dig up last of potatoes -Done
Continue weding areas
Weed carrot bed - Done

WORK DONE THIS WEEK
SUNDAY
Pick
Water
Weed
MONDAY
Remove shed floor
Pick
Water
Weed
TUESDAY
Replace shed floor
Pick
Water
WEDNESDAY
Weed carrot bed
Weed leeks
Weed root bed
Water
THURSDAY
Weed
Water
Pick
Refill comfrey bin
FRIDAY
Finish digging last two rows of potatoes.
Weed
Water
Pick
SATURDAY
Weed
Pick
Water
Tie in grape vine leaders
Finish lining shed
Finish erecting shelves in shed

CROPS PICKED THIS WEEK
Potatoes
Beans
Sweetcorn
Tomatoes
Peppers
Chillies
Cabbbage
Cucumbers
Apples
Calabrese

This is the time when the crops are finishing and the plot is starting to clear ready for digging. Once an area is cleared the soil is then dug over and either covered with manure or a green manure is sown.

The sweetcorn is finished in one bed so I have cut the tops down to let me get to the squash below. The carrots are out of the ground and the whole area has been dug over. The runner beans are finished and have been removed and so has the beetroot.

The brassica bed is nearly empty and will soon be cleared, ready for digging over.