Page 30 - Real Rochdale Issue 22 Summer 2024
P. 30

GARDENING TIPS



                                    FOR SUMMER









                                                                                                                                In June we like to plant nasturtiums,
                                                    ABOUT THE WRITER                                                            always a favourite of ours, they spread
                                                    Roy Down is an engagement and development worker                            really well and make ideal companion
                                                    at Petrus as well as the chairman of Rochdale in Bloom.                     plants for our vegetable plots. It’s also
                                                    His role at Petrus is to help improve the mental health                     a great time to plant spring onions and
                                                    and wellbeing of volunteers through gardening, as well                      one of our new crops, pak choi. We
                                                    as those referred via NHS social prescribing.                               are going to give broccoli another try
                                                                                                                                this year, having had mixed results in
                                                                                                                                the past. One thing we did get right       We hope you all have a great summer, either in the
                  PIER is a community allotment and gardens located on Belfield Road (next to the Croft Shifa                   was curly kale, with bumper crops for      garden or the allotment. And if you do get chance
                  Medical Centre) in Rochdale, which belongs to homelessness charity Petrus. It is a                            months.                                    to visit the Tatton Show this year, please come and
                  beautiful, relaxing and therapeutic oasis that grows fruit and vegetables and is a member of                                                             say hello.
                  the wider Incredible Edibles network representing Rochdale. It is open to the public and                      July is a great time to plant out
                  people are welcome to visit and take a look around this award-winning garden.                                 courgettes and sweetcorn. We have          Good luck to all our fellow ‘In Bloomers’ who are
                  Petrus’ vision is to create kind, confident and connected communities through the power of                    been growing these in our polytun-         taking part in the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood
                  growing food. Here are some tips for this growing season.  Happy gardening!
                                                                                                                                nel and they will be ready to plant out    competition this summer.
                                                                                                                                in July. Cabbages can be planted out
                  Summer is a great time on the Petrus             the summer dries out our vegetable and                       ready for a good winter harvest.
                  allotment: the cold and frosty mornings          fruit beds, so we are adding more ways of                    Use any dry spells to keep hoeing out
                  seem so far away now. It’s always good to        collecting rainwater around the allotment.                   the weeds, rather than when the soil is
                  see our summer volunteers returning and                                                                       wet, as this can allow the weeds to root
                  new ones joining us. Despite all the wet         During the winter, we added more planters,                   again.
                  months during spring, we know how quickly        which means we can grow an ever-wider
                                                                   range of crops and engaging with more                        We always give our herbs a trim
                                                                   volunteers this year.                                        during August, which encourages new
                                                                                                                                growth before autumn and the onset
                                                                   We are trying some new crops, as J. Parkers                  of early frosts. Petrus seems to be the
                                                                   have donated lots of seeds for us to try. We                 ideal place for strawberries to thrive –
                                                                   cannot wait for all the different types of                   we have lots! – and we plant out all the
                                                                   peppers to start growing!                                    rooted runners in August.


                                                                   Watering and weeding may sound                               Watering and feeding sweetcorn regu-
                                                                   mundane, but on a large (or small) allotment,                larly will help produce a great crop. Try
                                                                   it is essential to keep your crops healthy and               using a bit of tomato feed. Main crop
                                                                   flourishing.                                                 potatoes will be ready for harvesting,
                                                                                                                                just wait until the leaves have started
                                                                   We also are on the lookout for pests, such as                to wilt and turn yellow. Garlic, shal-
                                                                   aphids and we react to this ASAP. Thankfully,                lots and onions – allotment favourites
                                                                   we seem to have lots of ladybirds on our                     with our volunteers – can be lifted and
                                                                   site; they certainly help keep the pests under               dried out.
                                                                   control.




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