Welcome to the TAA Winter Newsletter
First of all, I would like to wish you all the best for a happy, fit and healthy 2021
2020 was an extraordinary year and a very difficult one for some but do not get downhearted as spring is not too far off, daylight hours are getting longer, the vaccine is being rolled out and if we all keep being careful and follow the rules, hand washing and social distancing, some normality will return before too long. Luckily we are still allowed to “carry on gardening” and tending our allotment plots.
News from the TAA committee
As many of you have probably gathered the 2020 AGM was cancelled due to the pandemic but the accounts have been emailed to members (thanks so much to our treasurer, Lynn Boyd, for providing them).
2020 was an extraordinary year and a very difficult one for some but do not get downhearted as spring is not too far off, daylight hours are getting longer, the vaccine is being rolled out and if we all keep being careful and follow the rules, hand washing and social distancing, some normality will return before too long. Luckily we are still allowed to “carry on gardening” and tending our allotment plots.
News from the TAA committee
As many of you have probably gathered the 2020 AGM was cancelled due to the pandemic but the accounts have been emailed to members (thanks so much to our treasurer, Lynn Boyd, for providing them).
It has also been decided that the 2021 AGM will not go ahead this spring due to the current situation, however, this will be reviewed and postponed until possibly September 2021.
After due consideration it was agreed that the rent will not be increased and will remain at £9.20 a rod. The site supervisors will be in touch with each plot holder as to how much is due. We are asking for payments to be made preferably by bank transfer but will still accept cheques and cash if you are not set up with online banking.
We have had an enormous number of enquiries for plots on both our sites, there are approximately 60 people on the waiting list and continue to have enquiries every week. If you are finding it difficult to manage your plot and thinking of giving it up please contact your site supervisor.
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What you can be doing now
I’m sure you are already getting excited and are planning what you are going to grow on your plot this year.
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What you can be doing now
I’m sure you are already getting excited and are planning what you are going to grow on your plot this year.
Many seed catalogues have already come through my letterbox and I feel I need to crack on, make a list and place an order soon, as seeds were in short supply last year. But first I should go through my box of seeds so I don’t double up on ones I already have. Some packets can have hundreds, or occasionally thousands of seeds, so why not share or swap them between fellow plot holders or put out a message on the WhatsApp group; the same can be done with seedlings. Don’t be afraid to try something new, either something you haven’t grown before or different varieties of fruit and vegetables that you enjoy eating. Why not dedicate a bed to cut flowers, a lot can be edible or create a wildlife area to attract pollinating insects, hedgehogs, frogs and toads to keep the slug population down. There is plenty of advice on the internet, YouTube, books and, of course, other plot holders.
Now is a good time to get those maintenance jobs done as once the growing season starts it’s difficult to keep on top of things. Clearing paths, mending raised beds & tool stores, cleaning greenhouses, cold frames and tools, removing rubbish, weeding, mulching and digging in manure are just a few jobs you could be doing now.
Seeds you can sow in the next few weeks.
Now is a good time to get those maintenance jobs done as once the growing season starts it’s difficult to keep on top of things. Clearing paths, mending raised beds & tool stores, cleaning greenhouses, cold frames and tools, removing rubbish, weeding, mulching and digging in manure are just a few jobs you could be doing now.
Seeds you can sow in the next few weeks.
You can start off peppers, chillies and aubergines on a sunny windowsill or, best of all, a heated propagator. Then transfer to a greenhouse or cold frame depending on the weather. Onions can be grown from seed and need a rough temperature of around 15°C. When they are about 15cm tall they can be planted out under fleece till the weather warms up.
Micro salad leaves, coriander and peas (for pea shoots) can also be grown on a windowsill and are a lovely addition to a salad.
Wishing you all the best for the coming year
Nathalie
Jim’s welcome leaflet
