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SAGA
Winter has finally arrived, some leaves are still clinging to trees but most have
succumbed and drifted to the ground.
The Stradbroke Allotment Association and the allotment holders have had a really
successful year, after a very slow start to the growing season everyone has been
staggered at the quantity and quality of what they have grown. We also enjoy a
number of informal get-togethers, we recently celebrated the end of the summer
with a large bonfire at the allotments, much mulled wine was enjoyed with barbequed sausages and home made cakes. On the 30th November at 7.30pm in the
community centre we will be having our quiz night, it's an opportunity to get together, test our brains, and raise money for future plans at the allotment site, tickets are
£5 in advance from the library and £6 on the night, this includes a delicious ploughman's
supper.
With Christmas coming up you may well be stuck for ideas for presents, something you not have considered is
the wonderfully designed allotment association T shirt, created by Max one of our allotment holders, it comes in
a number of sizes and colours and is £9 for adults and £7.50 for a child. Please contact Luke on tel: 01379
384778 if you would like to make someone's Christmas with this 'unique' gift. Also worth remembering is Judy
and Mary's Christmas Wreath workshop, it is on 30th November in the Courthouse from 10.30am-12.30 pm.
Helen has come up with these very helpful winter tips.
Gardening tips
Now that winter is close at hand, its time for preparing plants for next year. Put straw around artichokes to
protect them against frost. Add lots of rotted manure or compost around your rhubarb, it is a hungry plant and
needs lots of nutrients. You will be well rewarded next year! Now is also the time to collect up a bag of bonfire ash and keep it dry - Spread around root crops in the spring to ensure a bumper crop. Remember to also
cut down and mulch your asparagus. If you grow dahlias, dig up for storing in a frost free place over winter, or
eat them! Apparently they are similar to potatoes. Keep removing yellow leaves from your broccoli and
sprouts to help prevent diseases. Sprouts can now be picked off individually as needed, the top of the plant can
also be eaten as greens. Leeks, parsnips and swede can be left in the ground until needed, but are probably best
dug up and stored before the ground freezes making harvest impossible. Carrots are OK if protected from frost
with straw or a cloche. Happy gardening. Helen
I have been sent yet more courgette tips, normally I would not be putting recipes for courgettes in the magazine
in December, but believe in or not, I picked my last crop of courgettes in the middle of November, and I was