How Does Your Allotment Grow?

Rachel_Scope

It's Allotments week! Are you lucky enough to have one?

They became popular during the World Wars to grow fruit and veg. In the Second World War, the 'Dig for Victory' campaign saw 1.3 million tonnes of food being produced from 1.5 million allotments! As houses began to be built with their own gardens, the demand for allotments declined.

The comeback

From the 1990s onwards, the demand has risen again as the world becomes more conscious of global warming and interested in organic food. They are so popular that waiting lists can be years long!

Benefits

Allotments can be a place to socialise, they can help save money on your shopping bill, and they provide healthy food. Allotments can also be a place to show some creative flair. Here's a couple of pictures of an allotment near me that like to show their creativity!

Which is your favourite? I love Postman Pat, but I appreciate the effort that's gone into making Wallace and Gromit.

Bigger = Better

There are competitions across the country that have prizes for the biggest vegetable and allotments are the perfect place to grow them. It's a huge (😉) challenge and the grower must be very dedicated to their veg. Have you watched Wallace and Gromit: Cure of the Were-Rabbit? That shows how precious people are over their mega veg! Here's a picture from the 1930s of a record-breaking pumpkin. What would you make with it? Pumpkin pie? Curry? Soup? You could probably eat from it for a whole year!

The future

Sustainability has become a hot topic and growing your own veg is a great way to become somewhat self-sustained. It reduces plastic waste from the supermarket, and the fuel used by cars and planes to transport the food. Allotment owners are also now composting their waste which feeds nutrients back into the soil, which means happy worms!

So, are you lucky enough to have an allotment? If so, share a picture! We'd love to see pictures of veg patches in your gardens too 😊

Would you like an allotment? What would you grow?

If you were going to break a world-record for veg growing, what vegetable would you choose?

Happy growing! 🥒🍅🥕

Sandy_123

I would of loved one but I couldn't manage it now

I did grow veg and fruit in the garden but not any more. The allotments near me have veggy sales a couple of times a year .

Rachel_Scope

I'm the same @Sandy_123. What fruit and veg did you grow? I'm wondering now if my local allotments do a veggie sale. Very local produce!

Albus_Scope

A friend was lucky enough to get her mums old allotment. She's gone from a heavy drinking punk, to a happy, sober punk who loves talking about their veg. It's been lovely to see. 😊

I've got a raised veg patch, not exactly an allotment. 😆 Just harvested my first 5 cucumbers.

Sandy_123

I bet they do @Rachel_Scope

Ive grown onions, lettuce, cauliflower, strawberries, raspberries, coriander, cress, mint, rhubarb which is still there as it refuses not to grow.

Rachel_Scope

Oh wow @Sandy_123 you grew a variety of things. I'm hoping you like rhubarb 😂

How big were your cucumbers @Albus_Scope? That's an impressive haul. Love that your punk friend turned off alcohol and onto veg. The power of an allotment!

Albus_Scope

Yeah I was pretty excited for them, it's good they found the joys of nature. 😁

Currently they're only around 5 inches or so, but I had one last night and for something that's 90% water, they were really delicious. And cooling, which is the most important bit. 😆

GerryofCumbria

We have outdoor raised beds for veg. Strangely the beds produce nothing like grown in the hot greenhouse, except for pumpkins.

Rachel_Scope

I've never grown veg. Do things grow bigger in the greenhouse? I don't have a garden but wish I did!

GerryofCumbria

In the greenhouse…YES. U dun need a garden. Grow things on yr sunny window sill. Like tomatoes, herbs. Toms fresh are awesome.

Albus_Scope

Agreed, you cant beat home grown tomatoes. ❤️

Rachel_Scope

The issue is @GerryofCumbria is that I have 2 cats and they like to eat things they shouldn't. Even bouquets of flowers!

GerryofCumbria

HA HA yes. My cats eat daffodil flowers.

They eat, or destroy, every thing for fun …jus dun tell them off, they're sensitive and just as sentiant as humans, much more than most silly humans. Cats and their antics are a pleasure of life.