Joyce's Words of Wisdom
Decades of allotment know-how, distilled into a few simple ideas you can try on your own plot.
More of Joyce's Tips
Detailed make-your-own solutions for feeding your plot and keeping plants healthy. Products marked with a leaf are organic.
Liquid Nettles
Put leaves in a container with weight and lid on and cut holes so that the black liquid formed will drip out into another container. Dilute this and water on to plants. It is high in nitrogen which encourages greening up.
Liquid Comfrey
Put leaves in a container with weight and lid on and cut holes so that the black liquid formed will drip out into another container. Dilute this and water on to plants. It is high in potash which encourages flowering and fruiting.
Teabags
These are high in potash too. Mix in rainwater and water onto plants. This is especially good for ericaceous plants and hydrangeas.
Jeyes Fluid
Jeyes Fluid is a good disinfectant. Make a very weak solution to kill fungal diseases (eg black spot on roses, blight on tomatoes). Mix about a teaspoon in 2 gallons of water.
Watering tips
Never use tap water on your fruit and veg — always use water from the butt (or rainwater). The large container allows the chemicals to settle at the bottom and the chlorine to disappear into the air. Don't water onions at all, except when feeding. You'll notice you get a better and bigger crop.
Compost heaps
Make several to maximise the good compost you can produce to enrich your plot. Layer greens and browns, keep it damp but not wet, and turn it now and again.
What's in those buckets?
A full guide to the fertilisers and soil improvers available in the trading hut, and how to use each one.
See the guide