The member’s shop will go back to opening 10am – 12pm from the first Sunday in October (4 October). We are continually listening to government guidelines so please observe a social distance when you visit the shop to keep everyone safe.

The autumn onion sets, shallots, garlic, tulip bulbs and daffodils will be available from 4 October 2020 at the BALGA Members’ Shop.

We have two new varieties of onion sets this year called ‘Senshyu Yellow’ (yellow onion with white flesh) and ‘Red Winter’ (red onion). Senshyu onions are a large round onion with a white flesh inside with a mild flavour that would go nicely in a salad. Which? Gardening magazine rated Senshyu onion as number one autumn planted onion during their testing because the onion had one of highest average onion weight and good resistance to bolting, pests and diseases. They gave it an overall rating of five stars. Equally recommended by Which? Magazine was the red onion called Red Winter because it came third best onion and the best red onion. Red Winter is a good quality large onion that can taste quite sweet. Red onion sets are prone to bolting but this particular variety has excellent resistance to bolting and pests and diseases. We also have one variety of shallots called ‘Jermor’ that has a shiny brown skin with a pinkish flesh. This is a good sweet variety to try.

We will have two varieties of garlic called ‘Cristo’ and ‘Vigor’. Cristo is a softneck variety that produces large white bulbs with a strong flavour. Vigor is also a softneck variety and it produces a large white skin with purple bands and huge number of cloves per bulb. We also have a limited number of garlic bulbs that have been grown by an allotment holder in Baldock for over 40 years, and since garlic adapts to suit the soil it is grown in, it is now quite at home.

Unfortunately we have had several reports of different vegetables being taken from tenants’ plots over the past few days at North Road allotment site. We are taking measures to improve the security where there are wooden straining bars. However, please be extra vigilant at both allotment sites and report any suspicious behaviour to your site representative. Please make sure you lock the gate and scramble the code at North Road allotment site and close all gates at Clothall Road.