
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
http://www.hpaa.co.uk/joomla/images/vegetables/garlic_slider/early_purple_wight.jpg
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.
http://www.hpaa.co.uk/joomla/images/vegetables/garlic_slider/elephant.jpg
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.
http://www.hpaa.co.uk/joomla/images/vegetables/garlic_slider/lautrec-wight.jpg
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.
http://www.hpaa.co.uk/joomla/images/vegetables/garlic_slider/picardy-wight.jpg
Red Donetsk (Hardneck) Garlic
Red Donetsk Garlic is a hardneck variety which has a beautiful purple striped appearance which comes from south eastern Ukraine.
http://www.hpaa.co.uk/joomla/images/vegetables/garlic_slider/red-donetsk.jpg
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
http://www.hpaa.co.uk/joomla/images/vegetables/garlic_slider/red-duke.jpg
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.
http://www.hpaa.co.uk/joomla/images/vegetables/garlic_slider/solent-wight.jpg
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.
http://www.hpaa.co.uk/joomla/images/vegetables/garlic_slider/tuscany-wight.jpg
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.
http://www.hpaa.co.uk/joomla/images/vegetables/garlic_slider/vallelado.jpg
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
Rhubarb & custard cocktail
An elegant vodka-based drink that'll wow your guests - it's made with creamy advocaat iqueur and homemade fruit syrup
The Growing Season varies in different parts of the United Kingdom, but in Hatfield Peverel we are blessed with a milder climate and enjoy a longer season than many parts of the country.
In this section of the web site I have tried to separate the season out into monthly sections to help and guide you through the most popular tasks and crops regularly grown on the allotment site, but if you would like a feature made of a particular vegetable or task, please get in touch and I will do my best to add it to the web site for you.
Hopefully by now we are now standing on the threshold of Spring and the new gardening season. The days are beginning to lengthen and although it may not feel like it at times the temperatures are slowly increasing day by day. More importantly the longer days are the real trigger to new growth and you will find that with the help of a little protection you can really go for those early sowings
Sow seed outdoors
Vegetable growing really takes off this month. Chit and plant out second early potatoes in the first half of the month, maincrop potatoes in the second half. It's also time to sow seed outdoors in well-prepared soil.