
The Hatfield Peverel Allotment Association has been around for over a hundred years, below is an article written by David Goodey and makes good reading!
Read moreThe Hatfield Peverel Allotment Association has been around for over a hundred years, below is an article written by David Goodey and makes good reading!
Read moreRhubarb & custard cocktail
An elegant vodka-based drink that'll wow your guests - it's made with creamy advocaat iqueur and homemade fruit syrup
The Hatfield Peverel Allotment Association has been around for over a hundred years, below is an article written by David Goodey and makes good reading!
There are two main types of garlic; Hardneck and Softneck see below for the characteristics for both.
Hardneck garlic is a group of cultivars selected from Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon originating from climates with colder winters. It has the following characteristics:
Softneck garlic (Allium sativum) generally produces smaller, more tightly-packet cloves;
Garlic Varieties
Early Purple Wight Garlic
A robust early purple garlic that produces large bulbs as early as mid May
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Elephant Garlic
A fresh, juicy, mild sweet flavour. Ideal for baking and roasting. Each bulb is approx. 12.5-15cm (5-6") across. Not a true member of the garlic family, closer to leek.
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Lautrec Wight
Produces beautiful flowering twists on stems. A delicacy pickled or stir-fried. Attractive white-skinned garlic with deep purple cloves and a creamy smooth flavour.
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Picardy Wight Garlic
A strong flavoured garlic that has a distinct pink hue in appearance. Approx. 15 cloves per 2 bulb pack. Plant in the spring.
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Red Donetsk (Hardneck) Garlic
Red Donetsk Garlic is a hardneck variety which has a beautiful purple striped appearance which comes from south eastern Ukraine.
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Red Duke (Hardneck) Garlic
Red Duke Garlic is a hardneck variety with bright white skins with fierce and spicy flavours, which are the signatures of this exotic garlic from Czech Republic
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Solent Wight Garlic
An improved selection of Solent Wight, producing larger quality bulbs than many will have thought it not possible to grow. Long keeping to March and beyond next year.
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Tuscany Wight Garlic
This Large white garlic is a late type. Widely grown in Tuscany where is suits warm summers and cooler winters compared with Southern Italy. Widely used in Umbrian dishes and with chicken.
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Vallelado Garlic (softneck)
Originating from the north of Spain, this is a white garlic to be planted in the autumn or early spring. Unlike other Mediterranean white softnecks from Provence or southern Spain, it has excellent keeping qualities and is likely to do far better in our cooler climate.
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Provence Wight Garlic
Large white soft neck garlic that can produce bulbs that approach elephant garlic size. Sweet and substantial and will keep up to January.
http://www.hpaa.co.uk/joomla/images/vegetables/garlic_slider/provence-wight.jpg
Classic Rhubarb Crumble
Growing up this was my favourite dessert & seeing as only my dad and I liked it I always had a massive portion!
Usually the risk of frost has passed by now, and with longer days there comes more sunshine and time to be in your allotment. If the weather is dry, then water your seed drills well before sowing any seeds – this way the young plants will develop a good root system.
The soil is warm and the plants growing well. But watch out for a sneaky late frost.
We get a glimpse of the early signs of the arrival of Spring this month. The soil begins to warm up around the middle of February and we can see for the first time this year the buds beginning to swell on fruit trees and bushes. Overwintering vegetables begin to look less sorry for themselves and they start to produce new growth.