New Tomatoes From Suttons

I have four New varieties of tomato coming from Suttons to add to my tomato seed collection and to trial next year. 

Tomato 'Vivacious' F1 - 8 Seeds - £3.99 a pack

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• Perhaps the healthiest tomato there is!
• 40% of your Vitamin A in one fruit!
• Up to 70 fruits per plant

 

Tomato 'Fraise' - 6 Seeds - £2.99 a pack

Heart-shaped tomato delights

Incredible shelf life after harvest

• Resists cracking and fruit drop

Tomato 'Toddler' F1 - 8 Seeds - £3.99 a pack

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• Exceptionally sweet
• Cocktail tomato
• Good resistance to late blight

 

Tomato 'Tiny Temptations Mixed' - 6 Seeds - £4.99

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• Trailing/basket type
• Brightly coloured super-sweet fruit
• Good disease resistance

New Tomatoes From Organic Gardening

I have two New varieties of tomato coming from Organic Gardening to add to my seed collection and to trial next year. 

Tomato 'Ormato' (Organic) - 5 Seeds - £3.99

High yielding with trusses often branching

Plum-shaped orange fruits

Sweet and firm

Tomato 'Fraise' - 6 Seeds - £2.99

Heart-shaped tomato delights

Incredible shelf life after harvest

Resists cracking and fruit drop

New French Dwarf & Climbing Beans

Suttons Seeds have kindly sent me two packs of French Beans one Dwarf and the other a Climbing variety that they have added to their catalogue and range for 2025 to trial in my Climbing Frame Greenhouse.

Climbing French Bean 'Vine' - 40 Seeds - £3.99 

• From the same breeder as 'Cobra'
• Same quality and flavour as Cobra
• But extended cropping period for even bigger harvests!

Dwarf French Bean 'Quartz' - 120 Seeds - £2.49

• Superb heat tolerance
• Good for areas with warm summers
• High yielding

Organic Gardening have sent me a new variety added to their 2025 catalogue 

Dwarf French Bean 'Faraday' (Organic) - 200 Seeds - £2.99

New dwarf variety

Popular with professional growers

Excellent disease resistance

Dalek Storage Solution

A question that comes up on Gardening Forums on a regular basis is regarding tools on the plot. Either a new user who has not yet acquired a shed, or someone who has a shed and it has been broken into and the tools stolen, and is now thinking of humping tools backwards and forwards to the plot and is asking for suggestions how as they don't have a car, or someone on an allotment where sheds are not allowed.

here is my solution to the problem. Dig a hole and bury half a blue barrel, B&Q builders bucket or bottom of a kitchen swing bin in the ground, then place a plastic Dalek over making sure there is enough height from the bottom of the blue barrel, builders bucket or kitchen bin and the lid of the Dalek to drop in the rake and long handled gardening tools.

Place hand tools in a B&Q builder bucket and lower into the Dalek, even better if the diameter of the container in the ground is a smaller diameter than the bottom of the Plastic Dalek, and you can offset the two slightly, then you have a shelf you can place the hand tools in the bucket on.

No body is going to look in a Dalek for tools on your allotment, especially if you have three or four Daleks in a row and it will save you humping gardening tools backwards and forwards to your plot each visit.

It's Going To Be A Cold October

As the cost of energy has increased and the pensioners winter heating allowance is being removed, it is reported that Low pressure from the Atlantic is set to arrive on October 11 and into the weekend bringing areas of cold rain.

The weekend of October 12 to 13 is forecast to see "a mixture of unsettled showery spells and longer periods of rain is most likely", however, there will be "some brighter spells with the driest weather in the south", which is good for me. I don't mind cold and dry, but I can't get on with much on the allotment if its wet. 

WXCHARTS predicts that large areas of Scotland will see the worst of the freezing conditions on October 13 with thermometers to drop as low as -2C to -4C in many areas.

It's been noticeably colder the last couple of days and this morning my central heating turned itself on.  

Planning and Reviewing October in Previous Years

 Reviewing the diary over the last twelve years for October 

2012 - 19th October I took my first allotment on at Mill Green Plot 1, and got my key to the gate. I started this blog and recorded the state of the allotment before I touched it and then the progress made on the first day trying the clear the plot.

The purpose of the blog was to record my progress and perhaps get some feedback and comments on what I was doing right and wrong and to remind me how much I had actually achieved when I really didn't really feel like I was getting anywhere or moving as fast as I wished. This blog has grown into so much more than my original scope and reason for starting. 

I purchased my first three Allotment books, of many that were to follow, and got my first packs of seeds with two of the books I bought.   

2013 - By the end of September and the start of October this year I had eight beds in place and was still clearing weeds and putting in an infrastructure of paths and beds in place. I created a portable chicken wire hoop frame to stop the site foxes from digging up the beds as I was creating them. 

I had manged to source a number of paving slabs off freecycle. The first formal plan of how the plot was going to ultimately going to be laid out was drawn, and as I worked nearby most dry lunch hours were spent on the plot doing little and often.

I harvested Cabbages and Cauliflowers, Tomatoes and Potatoes and I had real peppers growing in the blow-away greenhouse erected next to the shed and on the 9th of October the company I was working for informed me that my job was at risk and I was on the Redundancy list!.

The end of October was very wet and I recall being very frustrated  that I would not be able to get on with building the infrastructure.  

2014 - September this year had been the driest on record, and I started October by harvesting Marrows for the first time, other harvests included courgettes, Onions, Spring Onions, Carrots, cucumbers then on the 4th & 5th October and we had the first frosts. Continued to harvest runner beans, beetroots and peppers from the greenhouse. Picking up leaves from the pavements and at the end of the month picking Brussel Sprouts and I came up with a neew design for the slug traps.    

2015 - Due to the developments around Mill Green I had taken on an additional plot on Spencer Road Allotment and was working on clearance and infrastructure as well as working on Mill Green Allotment during the start of the month because of the dry and mild weather.  Tomato plants still growing in the greenhouse, Cabbage seeds in modules. 

Keith dropped off loads of Strawberry runners, Cutting down Mustard green manure on plot 1A. Clearing 23B and marking the boundary and the first two beds weeded and installed.    

Harvesting carrots and beetroots and planting cabbage.

2016 - Saving Tomato seeds, Infrastructure works progressing on Spencer Road plot 23B. cutting weed membrane for paths, beds and planting membrane sheets. All the tomatoes in flower buckets in the back garden removed, Green tomatoes in the Space Saver waiting to go red. harvesting King Edward spuds, first frost 8th October and lost some squash to it. Rest of the squash harvested and stored in the shed. Runner Beans cut off at the bottom so those left on the plant can die and dry out and be harvested for seeds. 

Additional beds created at Spencer Road, Break-in's and damage by vandals every other night for a week. then rain stopped their and our play on site. Following a committee meeting we tried to get everyone's email address and set up a Spencer Road Facebook group so we can let people know when we see shed doors open or polytunnels burnt.

Over wintering onion sets in modules, Horse muck delivered  and barrowed to the plot laid on beds and in Daleks to rot down more as too fresh.          

2017 -  I started doing my seed storage box audit and producing lists here on the blog. During the first week of October Redrow finally did the work to create the drop off and pick up area that I managed to negotiate with them. I had made the decision that I was going to keep on Spencer Road long enough to get everything I needed for plot 1 on Mill Green moved over including the Dalek, Shed and bed frames etc. 

My son-In-law helped me remove items from Spencer Road and bring them to Mill Green. 

Clearing beds on Mill Green Plot 1 and putting them to bed. Gross miss management of allotment plots 138 plots that could have been occupied and bringing in revenue.  

I worked out how much weed membrane I was going to need to cover the plot and ordered it off ebay. 

Pumpkins for carving were picked up from Spencer Road and the kerb stones I had transported over were laid on flat along the bottom of plot I defining the boundary. The 29th October was a full day of clearing and burning debris from Mill Green plot 1 

The plan layout for my new kingdom was drafted out in CAD based on the vision I had in my head at the time of taking over the plot.  

2018 -  Not a lot on the allotment front actually happened in October 2018. Three weeks of rain and my brother-in-law Keith who was more like a brother to me was seriously ill and we didn't know it at the time but terminally ill, in hospital during this month so days spent visiting him rather than the allotment. 

2019 -  Woodchips for the paths dropped off, Daughters Wedding stopped allotment play followed by bad and wet weather meant that sorting out seeds and planning next year took place for a week and a half during the middle of the month.  

124 people out of the 429 people on the waiting list that a plot is just waiting for you to view and accept.

In terms of lost revenue as the vacant list are no longer shared I can be exact with figures as in previous years, but assuming the plots are a mix of 250m2 and 125m2 at one end and possibly 250m2 at the other the council is losing revenue of between £9,176 - £11,594 pa which would pay for an admin clerk.

Taking little man Finn down to the allotment to harvest Pumpkins for carving for Halloween Harvesting Mini White Cucumbers & Kiwano's 

2020 -  In My Seedbox series of post started so I could see what seeds I needed. Clearing the shed in prep for the wall to be demolished and replaced with a fence. Rebuilding the extension to the shed now the wall has been replaced with a fence. Winter Squash Harvest. So Much Foliage So Little Butternut Squash. Natural Grower Review. Coco Coir Litres to Volume. New Tomato Varieties from D.T.Brown. Research and Planning Square Foot gardening.  

2021 -  In My Seedbox undertaken during this month as not a lot of visits possible due to a lot of rain with Spencer Road Allotment flooded again, Last of the potatoes harvested, Onions, tomatoes and Raspberries    

2022 -  In My Seedbox undertaken, lots of wet weather and inability to get cover to look after Jen so mot many visits this month. Andy Emma and I hit the allotment and harvested Suttons Depurple Cauliflowers and Cabbages, runner beans

2023 -  In My Seedbox not started in October this year, as because of my mobility issues and the radiation therapy cancer treatment for five weeks started. I didn't have the energy to maintain this journal, I just posted to Facebook and around Christmas started to catch up with updating the journal based on the Facebook posts and the photos on my phone. Sowing Broad beans to over winter. Harvesting Three water melons, Potatoes in Buckets, Parsnips & Tomatoes from the greenhouse and my first and only Aubergine with Emma & Kelly and seeing a mouse in one of the beds.

  

October is normally the month for last harvesting and overwintering plus bonfires to clear the blighted foliage and if the weather holds infrastructure works and closing down beds for the Winter months.  

Mill Green - Plot 1

Re Add additional supporting timbers to the roof of the shed - TBD

• Greenhouse 1 - Modify the frame and door or replace with larger greenhouse 
• Infrastructure - Convert standard 2.4m x 1.2m beds to 2 number 1.2 x 0.9m Raised beds with a path between.
• Beer Traps - Set Up Beer Traps
• Potting Shed - If weather allows complete painting with V33 Woodstain 
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Mill Green - Plot 1A

Re Add additional supporting timbers to the roof of the shed - TBD

• Greenhouse 1A - Set up more Coffee to dry out - DONE
• Beer Traps - Set Up Beer Traps - Done some more needed  
• Bed Near Hotbin  - Clear Netting & Hoops and Vegetation into Hotbin
• Daleks - Add more Daleks along the path with plot 2A
• Main Crop Potatoes  - Harvest and store
• Onions - Harvest and dry out
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New Padlocks Fitted

 

Finally the new padlocks with a key replacing the old combination locks have been fitted to the outer timber gates and the inner metal gate on the allotment. 

It has to be said that the four digit combination locks proved to be a real pain in the arse, even the allotment officer spend 15minutes trying to get out of the allotment on a recent visit, not nice when its raining. 

The slider didn't like the water and getting wet and it became hard to adjust the combination and get all four digits lined up to enable you to get in or out. The figures on the tumblers weathered really badly and were getting hard to see. 

If you have an allotment, whatever you do, don't agree to going to combination locks, been there, done that, and never want to repeat it again!   

Infrastructure 2024 to 2025

 

Above is Avalon's (Plot 1 & 1A) layout for 2024, ignoring what was supposed to be planted in what bed if basically shows the bed layout and locations of Daleks etc. 

Below is what I'm aiming to achieve by March 2025

Below is what I'm aiming to achieve by March 2025. The tumbling and non uniform Daleks are to be replaced with standard green door less Daleks and more are to be added to the line of Daleks along the path between plots 1 & 1A and plot 2.

A Blueberry and Goji Berry area is to be added to the rear of the corner Climbing Frame Greenhouse. I'm also considering where to locate 3 new pixie grape plants, either down on the allotment or at home.  

Beds 12,13,14, 16 and 17 are to be formed from just above ground level framed 2.4m x 0.8m beds to 1.2m x 0.8m Raised beds approx. 400mm high at either end with a new path between.

I have been working on doing this at bed 16 in the last couple of months. 

I'm also considering moving the external potting bench behind the plot 1 greenhouse out against the wall by the potting shed and replacing the 1.8m x 1.2m (6ft x 4ft) greenhouse with a 1.8m x 2.4m (6ft x 8ft) entry level greenhouse with the door onto the main path from plot 1 to plot 1A. 

More Onions Harvested

Sunday morning on the allotment, only myself and John on the site today. Woodchip pile once again steaming on arrival, but it must have warmed up more than yesterday as it had stopped, when I came past it on my way home for lunch.

More onion bed weed clearing and onion harvesting and then trimming and cleaning before placing in potting shed to dry out. My little robin was not as interested in what I was doing today I heard him but didn't see him.

I harvested a last load in the container on the far right that still need trimming and cleaning before I came home, at least they will be out of the rain and will dry off.

I took the two square flower buckets full of woodchips out of the wheel barrow that was half full with water following the recent rain. Dig out between the main path and timber bed frame on plot 1A with my Kent and Stowe long handled trowel placing the soil on the paving slab at the end of the path between beds and filled the newly excavated mini trench with fresh woodchip.

Onion Harvesting

It was cooler this morning on the allotment, however the woodchip pile was nicely generating heat and letting off steam as I arrived and walked past it on the way in and it was still at it at 1:30 pm when I finally went home for lunch.

Debris Netting removed from the onion beds on plot 1 and two tugs of weeds pulled out and Red Baron Onions harvested.

I can't get down on my knees so I have to bed double to work the beds at ground level which is why I'm in the process of putting in raised beds.

I used the kneeling stool to lean on as I was harvesting the onions and weeding. Everything takes more time and effort that it used too before getting cancer and the associated arthritis last year.

I will not grow a single variety of onions again, I have been disappointed with the lack of growth of the onions some that were not much larger than the sets that went in have been dumped in with the weeds.

I do think the slugs and snails really hit the onion leaves and growth this year, and that could be a reason for the smaller diameter bulbs.

Those onion bulbs that are worth keeping had their roots twisted off or trimmed and the bulbs were wiped clean of mud with a cloth.

I had brought out the shower chair and was sitting just outside the plot 1 shed looking at the onion bed and watching one of my robins who came right to my feet to look at what I was dropping on the patio slabs. As always I talked to him telling him I'm not going to hurt him and encouraging him to get into the bed and find what he could to eat.

As always by time you get your phone and gloves off the little buggers have lost interest and you don't get a photo. He is there in the photo of the bed but can you find him?

It would have been easier for you to spot him if he was still looking at me and showing his red breast, but I'm glad that he trusts me enough to turn his back on me.

I take more rest periods when working the allotment these days and I'm gradually building up my stamina up. Trimming and cleaning the onions could be done sitting and just enjoying being out on the plot with the birdsong and my little companion.

Once cleaned I ended up putting the onions in the potting shed in some potato chitting trays to dry out a little before giving them to my daughter Emma. They my be small this year but they smell strong and will dry faster in the potting shed than the onion drying rack on the side of the shed.

Waiting Lists & Vacant Plots

 

Updated figures from Jane our idverde allotment officer, for the London Borough of Sutton as of 27th September 2024. 

The vacant allotments include those that are being given up by existing plot holders at the end of the month, and have had the good manners to let Jane know in advance that they will not be paying the rents that become due on the 1st October. 

There will be many that will never inform idverde that they don't want to continue to renting an allotment which will mean a possible delay of 3 months before the plot can be shown to someone on the top of the waiting list.  

The 2024/25 invoices are being sent out next week. The waiting list was updated today and the figures as always are a current snap shot in time. Plots are being shown and tenanted and being given up all year round, some plot holders will be  terminated over the next three months for non payment of rent. 

Currently there are 1302 people on the waiting list and 137 plots waiting to be seen by those on top of the waiting lists, and re-tenanted. 

There will be many that will not pay their invoices on receipt and will need chasing, they get one chasing reminder invoice sent via the post and if they have not paid within 28 days of the reminder being sent. They then sent a letter informing them  that they have been terminated as the plot holder. 

With some 1165 people on the waiting list plot holders cannot drag out paying for their plots as they have done in the past.