BALGA | Baldock Allotment Association

October 7, 2021October 7, 2021

Autumn onion sets, shallots and garlic October 2021

As all of the other harvests are coming to an end, it’s a good idea to start clearing your plot and planting some Autumn onion sets, shallots, garlic and flowering bulbs for a Spring display.

The BALGA Members’ Shop has the following varieties in stock as of 7 October 2021.

As you can see, we now have elephant garlic in stock at £0.70 per clove. Elephant garlic is ideal for roasting with potatoes and vegetables as it has a more subtle flavour than traditional garlic.

It’s a good idea to plant some tulips and daffodils now for a colourful display in Springtime. Why not come to the shop this Sunday (10 am-12 pm) to buy your Autumn planting bulbs, shallot and onion sets and garlic.

September 5, 2021

Best Kept Allotment Competition 2021

The final round of judging for this year’s Best Kept Allotment competition took place in early July. Two independent judges scored the 20 shortlisted plots for Best Plot Overall and the shortlisted 12 plots for Best Newcomer 2020 and Best Newcomer 2021. The judges had a difficult task this year as it was a closely fought contest.

Libby Finny (CR21) scored the most points at Clothall Road and is the Best Plot at Clothall Road. Jim Hennessey (NR12B and NR13B) scored the most points at North Road and is awarded the best plot at North Road. Both Libby and Jim scored equally and therefore joint winners of the Best Plot Overall. They will be awarded the Basil Byrant Cup at the 2022 AGM. Both site winners will each receive a £25 voucher for the Members’ Shop.

Your committee decided to separate the Best Newcomer to make it as fair as possible. Therefore, the winner of Best Newcomer 2020 is David Winn (CR7B) and Best Newcomer 2021 is Adrian Allen (NR61A).

Congratulations to the winners and all those shortlisted in what has been a challenging growing year.

August 5, 2021

BALGA Open Day 2021

Saturday 14^th August 2021

2pm – 4pm

Tapps Garden Centre, Wallington Road

Come along to meet the BALGA committee and get advice about growing your fruit and veg.

The new Kings Seeds’ catalogues will also be available for collection for members only. Taking advantage of buying seeds in the Kings Seeds’ catalogue is a great way to save money.

Neem oil will be available to buy for members only. This is an organic method to protect your crops from the allium leaf miner.

Refreshments are available at Tapps Garden Centre

July 10, 2021

Blight Warning July 2021

Blight warning

With the very wet and humid conditions of the past few weeks, the almost inevitable potato blight has struck very early on both sites. Potato leaves will discolour and stalks will die back in a matter of days with a distinctive odour about them. If the foliage is not quickly removed down to the ground level on those plants affected, the blight can spread to the underground tubers, which then become unusable. All affected foliage that has been removed should not be composted or placed in the brown bin, but instead burnt or put into general waste bins. Tomato plants can be similarly affected and should be pulled up and disposed of in the same way. Spores that cause the blight can remain in the soil or compost for a year or so. It is thus better to avoid planting potatoes and tomatoes next year in the ground that has been so affected this year.

There are now several varieties of blight resistant potatoes and tomatoes available, which are usually clearly labelled as such and which you may care to think about growing next year. Blight seems to be becoming more prevalent each year, but not usually this early in the season. Only once before have I known it this early in 40 years of allotment gardening although most years now it often presents itself by late August or September when most of the growing has been done and crops can be harvested successfully.

July 2, 2021

Christmas Potatoes 2021

I know it’s a little too early to think about Christmas but if you fancy serving new potatoes up with your Christmas dinner, now is a good time to plant seed potatoes. There is no need to chit the seed potatoes because they will grow rapidly in the warm soil. They will be ready from September/October but you can leave them in the ground until Christmas Day. Make sure you earth up in October after the first frosts to protect them from any further hard frosts. I tried it for the last couple of years with great success and I know Mick (Chairman) does it each year. It’s a great way to enjoy fresh potatoes on Christmas Day!

We have plenty of Markies available. Markies is a great variety for making chips with a yellow skin and flesh.

Seed potatoes are currently half price at £0.50 per kg. You may have pulled up onions and garlic and this a great way to fill the empty space. So why not come to the members’ shop this Sunday (10am-12pm) to take advantage of the half price seed potatoes?

May 29, 2021May 29, 2021

Best Kept Allotment Competition 2021

Yes, it’s that time of year again! We missed it last year due to COVID-19 restrictions. The annual judging for the Best Kept Allotment Competition will be taking place towards the end of June. The first-round judging for all plots on both sites will be during the week commencing 21st June and for finalists during the week commencing 12th July. Also resuming this year will be non-cultivation inspections, as part of our formal process, which will take place at the same time.

A small panel of committee members from each site will judge all the plots and select the best 10 plots from each site. These selected plots will then be put forward for final judging by an independent judge on 12 July who will determine the best plot on each site. Each site winner will receive a prize of a £25 voucher to be spent at the members’ shop. Of these two, the plot gaining the most points will be declared the overall winner and the tenant awarded the Basil Bryant Cup. In addition, a separate independently judged competition will select the Best Newcomer for a new tenant in their first year of cultivation. The winner will receive the Frank Conway cup.

Have a look at the 2019 winners for inspiration:

Best Overall Winner (2019)

Best Newcomer (2019)

April 29, 2021

Sunset at North Road Allotment Site

Have a look at this lovely picture of a sun setting at North Road allotment site. We’ve had such nice weather recently, so it’s a perfect opportunity to work on your plot. Enjoy the sun while you can because we are due some much needed rain.

April 19, 2021

John Gray

It is with great sadness we report the death of John Gray on 13 March, aged 90. Baldock born and bred John was involved in several community activities, not least our association for over 40 years as a plotholder throughout that time at North Road site and serving on the rota at the Members’ Shop. John’s wife Pat, with much support from him, has been greatly involved in Baldock Horticultural Society as a Chair and Show Secretary. Pat remains an Associate Member of BALGA.

John’s funeral was at towns St Mary’s church on 9 April and with only family flowers requested, the family have invited donations in his memory, to be divided between the Alzheimer’s Society and our association, such was his affection for it. A card and flowers on behalf of BALGA have been delivered to Pat in recognition of all that John did for us.

Mick Camp (Chairman)

April 8, 2021July 11, 2021

BALGA Members’ Shop Opening Date

The BALGA Members’ Shop will re-open on Sunday 18th April 2021 (10 am – 12 pm).

The BALGA Members’ Shop will open on Sunday 18 April 2021 and every Sunday thereafter until 21 November 2021 (subject to any future COVID restrictions). The Shop will be open from 10 am until 12 pm. Please observe a social distance.

The price list can be found by clicking here and clicking ‘BALGA Shop 2021 current price list March 2021’ button on the page.

March 19, 2021April 28, 2021

Potato and Onion Sets Availability March 2021

Potatoe sales have been very successful. We’ve sold over 90% of our potatoes. Potatoes are selling fast and it’s not too late to make an order, but it’s better to do it sooner rather than later. Members can click here to place an order for seed potatoes, onion and shallot sets.

We have sold out of even more varieties and we have limited stock with some of our main crop and second early potatoes. It is not too late to buy your potatoes or onion and shallot sets, but we are selling out fast and you may want to buy your favourite variety as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

You may want to try Premiere as your first early potato because the variety is resistant to blight and common scab and they are ideal for frying.

Did you forget to plant garlic in the Autumn? We have garlic that is bred for Spring planting. It would need planting straight away, but members can make an order by clicking here. Garlic is not on our pre-order form, but you can request it in the “Additional notes” or email our Trading Secretary by clicking here.