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1 Welcome to the June edition of Compton Allotment News. Articles, pictures, photographs, open days, recipes, news, advice on growing, etc... Please send to Sue Day at Take Care Tics are on our allotment, but not all are infected:- If a tick bites an animal carrying the bacteria that cause Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), the tick can also become infected. The tick can then transfer the bacteria to a human by biting them. Ticks can be found in any areas with deep or overgrown vegetation where they have access to animals to feed on. They're common in woodland and heath areas, but can also be found in gardens or parks. Ticks don't jump or fly, but climb on to your clothes or skin if you brush against something they're on. They then bite into the skin and start to feed on your blood. Generally, you're more likely to become infected if the tick remains attached to your skin for more than 24 hours. But ticks are very small and their bites are not painful, so you may not realise you have one attached to your skin. If you find a tick on your skin, remove it by gently gripping it as close to the skin as possible. Use a pair of tweezers that won't squash the tick (such as fine-tipped tweezers), or use a tick removal tool (available from pet shops or vets). Pull steadily away from the skin without twisting or crushing the tick. Wash your skin with water and soap afterwards, and apply an antiseptic cream to the skin around the bite. Don't use a lit cigarette end, a match head or substances such as alcohol or petroleum jelly to force the tick out. Many people with early-stage Lyme disease develop a distinctive circular rash at the site of the tick bite, usually around three to 30 days after being bitten. This is known as erythema migrans. The size of the rash can vary significantly and it may expand over several days or weeks. Typically it's around 15cm (6 inches) across, but it can be much larger or smaller than this. Some people may developseveralrashes in different parts of their body. However, around one in three people with Lyme disease won't develop this rash. Some people with Lyme disease also experience flue-like symptoms in the early stages, such as tiredness (fatigue), muscle pain, joint pain, headaches, a high temperature (fever), chills and neck stiffness. If you suspect you have been bitten, please visit your GP and get a blood test if you think you may have been infected.

2 As I seem to be on a Health and Safety theme this month and with quite a few new plot holders on the allotment since earlier issues. The post codesfor the allotment, should an emergencyarise are:- Withies Lane GU3 1JA These are printed on the noticeboards at each end of the allotment. Polsted Lane GU3 1JE For those of you who are not resident in the Compton Parish. Please be aware that there is a defibrillator available should the need arise. It is sited on the outer wall of the village hall (next to the Harrow/Lemongrass) facing the road, vehicle access is normally very easy unless there is an event on. Welcome to The Surrey Hills Plein Air Painters who are visiting the allotment on Friday 23rd June. Approximately 10 in total, starting at 10 am. They will be parking up at the Withies end of the allotment. Another new in the newsletter this month. This will continue until I run out of. Thanks to David Blyth for taking the first leap of faith Hope you enjoy the first edition, the questions are the same each month. We are full A Waiting List will now be produced for any potential New Plot Holders. As always, anyone living in the Compton Parish will get priority. A mid-17 th century rhyme about bees:- (all will become apparent on page 3). a swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon; but a swarm in July is not worth a fly. The meaning behind this, it is believed, is that the later in the year it is, the less time there will be for bees to collect pollen from flowers in blossom. Strawberries going missing? The squirrels are getting to the crop before us again this year. Thank you to all those who bought a copy of of the Allotments in Compton,. There are still copies available and as there has been a lot of interest from people who live in the area and others with close association to the allotments the sales are continuing. As you know the profits from the sale of the booklet come directly to the allotments so we benefit from every sale. If you haven't got round to buying your copy or for a gift please do so quickly. The amount raised will be available in a future newsletter. Many thanks for your support. Anyone shopping at Please pick up Lego tokens. If you are not keeping them for yourself, I know of two Plot Holders collecting them for grandchildren. Please put by shed on Plot No. 18B. - Many Thanks.

3 A swarm of bees have taking a liking to our allotment They were bedraggled and cold from clustering in an apple tree for a few too many days until spotted. It is a very small swarm and it is thought that the queen bee had not mated. Susan Kimber, ably assisted by Graham, collected the swarm in a skep before transferring it into a hive. The bees were then given some candy to help them regain their strength. Many thanks to Ann Gooding for fencing off the temporary bee home. We are hoping that the queen bee may have ventured out and has now mated. The sign of this will become apparent over the next few weeks if the bees are taking in pollen. An up-date next month. Fingers crossed for a happy outcome.

4 Thanks go again to all who took part in the Autumn and Spring Work Parties. You can now see the before and after, and what improvements you have achieved. Colin Venton

5 May was a busy month for all of us, with plenty of sowing and planting to have taken care of. We have had an excellent asparagus harvest over the last six weeks, but will now leave the spears Which brings us into June, when the risk of frost is minimal and we can start planting out all of the crops we have been growing from seed. We will be keeping an eye on our onions and garlic towards the end of the month and may make an planting out crops like squash that need a lot of room to grow or maybe a green manure that can be We have usually made a sowing of dwarf broad beans in late-may and these will be ready to plant out in June. There is always some space to be found between these and other plantings to make After trying for years to grow this versatile vegetable without success, it was a chance encounter with a gardener We did, and have had excellent crops ever since. Sow the seeds into weed-free soil that has been raked to a fine tilth. In dry weather, a good watering before sowing is recommended. Try stationing three or four seeds every ten to twelve inches, then eventually thinning out to leave the strongest seedling in each position. You should earth up the stems once they have started to swell to keep the roots firm and stop them from rocking in the wind. They will also need plenty of watering during dry periods to prevent them bolting. The fennel leaves can be harvested once the plant has been established and these can be added to soups and stews to give that distinctive Mediterranean anise flavour. The bulbs should be ready for harvesting in late-summer/early-autumn when they have reached the size of a small tennis balls. Drop us an if you have any questions (bill.fordham@gmail.com) or you are welcome to visit us on Plot 28D!

6 David Blythe answers questions How did your hear of the allotment? From my late father, George Blythe. How long have you been on the allotment? I took over from my father in I have been on the allotment now for 24 years and my Dad was here 22 years. What are your 3 favourite things to grow? Dahlia's, potatoes and runner beans. What has been your greatest growing success? What notable failure do you recall? Onions. Rot, stem and bulb eelworm. What tips for growing would you give to others? Anything you would like to grow, but our climate is against us? Okra, it is too cold. We go up to an Asian shop in Slough from time to time. Your favourite fruit and vegetables? Apples, black currants and runner beans. What are your earliest memories of being on an allotment? It was 1968 and a very hot summer, the stream was very low. There was no water on the allotments at that time and we all had to go to the stream. The stream was dammed by Don Warren, which caused a stand-off between Tom Clarke and Mr. Warren. The police were called. Mr. Fred King the PC arrived. No one would back-down, so the PC pulled the dam apart and left everyone to get on with it.

7 Discussions have taken place among quite a few plot holders and we think the problem with our onions is Stem and Bulb Eelworm Swollen, distorted foliage indicates an attack by this microscopic soil-living pest. Young plants are killed; older ones produce soft bulbs which cannot be stored. There are no pesticides available to home gardeners for dealing with stem and bulb eelworm. Stem and bulb eelworms are particularly difficult for gardeners to recognise as it lives inside the host tissues and is too small to be seen without the aid of a microscope. The infectious fourth stage juvenile enters emerging plant tissue below ground, but can crawl up stems in a film of water and enter shoots via buds. Once in the host plant, they destructively feed, molt into adults and produce eggs. The nematodes hatch from the egg as a second stage juvenile and continue to feed and molt into a third stage and later a fourth stage larvae while extensively macerating and distorting the plant tissue. In adverse conditions such as when the plant is destroyed or during winter the juveniles can enter an environmentally resistant fourth stage. This fourth stage juvenile can survive without a host plant for up to two years in soil. It can also remain viable and spread in seeds, bulbs and through the movement of soil, run-off water, wind or via human assistance (e.g. garden tools). Treatment:- Lift and burn infected plants. Do not compost. If the presence of stem and bulb eelworm has been found, dig out any plant material showing signs of damage and also other apparently healthy host plants within a one metre radius. Prevention:- If possible leave infested soil bare for 3 years and during this time continuously remove weeds that could be potential host plants. Do not grow onions, peas, beans or strawberries for the same period of time in this soil. As above, it would be a good idea to wash any garden tools clean after using in this area. Some information obtained from The RHS and The Vegetable Garden Expert

8 Flower Meadow This has just started to come into flower. Thank you for all the kind comments I have received. Seeds have been kindly donated from many plot holders. David Underdown should get a special mention for growing the Ox Eye Daisies. He has also just given me some small Cow Slip plants to grow on. Ben supplied the Yellow Rattle Seeds which have just come into flower. More Bugs! Here is a tip I heard from Bob Flowerdew on the radio for keeping asparagus beetle under control without chemical spray. At this time of the summer the black, white and red coloured beetle causes great damage to the asparagus fern and weakens the plants reducing the crop. As so many people grow asparagus on the allotments it is becoming a real pest. Take a screw topped jar and put a little water in the bottom of it. Hold the jar beneath the beetle and tap the stem so it drops into the jar. Replace the lid before going onto the next one as they are very quick. This process needs to be done regularly as they breed quickly. At home I do it daily. It really does make a difference. Carolyn Maslin