It is about this time of year that the leek moth caterpillars can start to atack your leeks. They can slaughter a whole bed if they get out of hand.
If your leeks have been attacked then you may notice marks like this ….. 
leading to damage like this ….. 
.
All is not lost – this is the result of a caterpillar which burrows down inside the leaves towards the crown – if you slice off all the leeks at ground level like this ….. 
and dispose of the foliage away from your plot ( No I don’t mean near someone else’s!) then you will also have removed the caterpillars. Within a week your leeks will sprout up again from below like this ….. 
and carry on maturing happily.
This little critter, Acrolepiopsis assectella, about 1cm long, is the culprit:-
Dave Walker.
To download a copy of the full city council newsletter:- NewsletterMay2010.pdf
Himalayan Balsam Wanted Poster 2.pdf
COURSES IN ALLOTMENT AND ORGANIC GARDENING IN BRISTOL 2010-11.pdf
to download the entry form for the City Council allotments competitions (this is not for our own AVAA plot competitions but for the city wide ones)
competitionform2010.pdf
The council gives this advice:-
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU GET THIS TO US BETWEEN JUNE AND WEDNESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER WITH EVIDENCE OF YOUR BENEFITS TO QUALIFY FOR A RENT REDUCTION. THE FORM MUST BE SENT TO: – ALLOTMENTS OFFICE, COLSTON 33, COLSTON AVENUE, BRISTOL BS1 4UA. LATE FORMS WILL BE DISALLOWED WITHOUT EXCEPTION AND THE FULL RENT WILL HAVE TO BE PAID FOR THE PLOT CONCERNED.
lowincome.pdf
We have recently received the following statement from the city council:-
Due to the ongoing problems with complaints about bonfire nuisance, we have consulted the Allotments Panel who have agreed to a ban on bonfires from April to October inclusive. This is a trial for the current year, based on the general opinion that most complaints are during the spring, summer and autumn when people are in their gardens or have windows open etc. The ban will start from 1st June this year. Any evidence of bonfires being lit on allotment plots will lead to enforcement against the tenant involved, including eviction for persistent offenders. We would ask all tenants to consider the following with regard to this issue: –
1] Do not bring material onto the site to burn, even in the winter months;
2] Compost as much material as possible;
3] Green waste that cannot be composted can be taken home and disposed of in your green waste bin. Even woody material will rot down if it is chopped up finely;
4] If you must have a fire, keep any material on your plot in a neat pile until the burning season of November to March;
5] Wait until the material is dry before setting light to it;
6] Even during the winter months, care should be taken not to burn damp, smouldering fires or allowing smoke to drift towards neighbouring properties. Enforcement action will still be taken during the winter months against tenants who cause bonfire nuisance or leave fires unattended.
Tinker & bloom, a local organisation delivering environmental participatory arts projects, has been given funding by Heritage Lottery to deliver a project that will celebrate Bristol’s allotment culture. Working along side the council’s allotment department and the New Museum of Bristol, tinker and bloom will be interviewing allotment gardeners about their experience of having an allotment. These interviews will make up part of a touring exhibition which aims to be platform to share top gardening tips and favourite recipes as well as raising awareness of the value of locally grown food and the role allotments play in people’s lives. Gardeners will also be invited to visit schools and share their knowledge and experience with younger generations. If you would like more information about the project or would be interested in talking to tinker & bloom about your experience of having an allotment, we would love to hear from you.
Please call Eileen on 0117 9078369
tinkerandbloom website
email: tinkerandbloom@blueyonder.co.uk