Growing in Capel St. Mary
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First Early, Second Early & Maincrop Seed Potatoes
Onion Sets
Continue winter digging, incorporating well-rotted manure or composted garden waste
Apply bone meal at 4oz per sq. yd
Sow peas and broad beans
Plant rhubarb; cover with strawy manure
Feed with sulphate of ammonia and cover crowns with boxes or buckets to encourage early growth
When weather prevents outdoor work, plan crop rotation for the coming season
Check seed packet sowing dates and group by month for easy reference
Harvest: broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, swede, carrots, celery, leeks, parsnips
Other jobs: empty compost bins
Apply a Winter Tree Wash to fruit trees and bushes to control overwintering pests
Order and plant trees and bushes with a dusting of bone meal
Feed trees grown in grass with nitrogen and potash
Prune soft fruit bushes:
Blackcurrants: remove up to one-third of old stems to ground level
Other currants & gooseberries: reduce side shoots to two buds and remove dead, diseased, or overcrowded branches
Empty greenhouse and wash down with Jeyes
Line with 1.5m wide bubble plastic
Check for whitefly and spray with a soap solution or suitable product from The Hut
Sow maincrop onions, leeks, lettuce, and sweet peas in pots
Sow broad beans in plugs; stand outside when 1" high
Plant early potatoes in pots
Water sparingly
Make a final sowing of carrots in a large pot
Wash pots and trays on a warm day
Tidy borders and mulch
Ventilate chrysanthemum stools in cold frames
Plunge dahlia stools into dry peat and protect from frost
Aerate badly drained areas
Lay turf in favourable weather
Clean and overhaul equipment
Repairs & Servicing:
Steve Blake – ???? 07813 814623
TGC Garden Machinery Services, Tattingstone – ???? 01473 327737
⚠️ Fuel Care Notice
Stale fuel over 4 weeks old can damage carburettors and cause poor starting.
Use fuel additives to keep fuel fresh.
All horticultural items are available to members from a range of quality products designed to meet basic gardening needs.
Membership: £5 per annum
Join at The Hut or download a form from www.capelallotments.co.uk
Existing members and plot holders should have received details of 2026 fees
Queries: memberships@capelallotments.co.uk
What can be better than growing your own vegetables—knowing exactly what has gone into them and enjoying fresh produce straight from your plot or garden? Gardening offers healthy exercise in pleasant surroundings, and our monthly column aims to help you do this while keeping costs to a minimum.
Many of our members do not have an allotment but still enjoy the benefits of bulk-buy prices and our seed scheme. The Hut endeavours to supply quality products at the lowest possible prices.
Saturday 10 January: 10:00am – 12:00 noon
New season opening: Saturday 7 February, 10:00am – 12:00 noon
Please contact Dennis for winter requirements while we are closed.
During winter months, please avoid taking vehicles onto the allotment site when ground conditions are poor. Damage can occur to tractor paths and grassed areas.
The Committee reserves the right to close the site to vehicles in extreme conditions.
We stock a wide range of wild bird feeds, including:
Wild Bird Seed
Black Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower Hearts
Dried Mealworms
Peanuts & Niger Seeds
Bulk bags also available.
Attractively priced salt available in 25kg or 5kg bags, suitable for de-icing paths and drives.
The Committee of the Capel Allotments Association wishes all members and readers a Happy & Healthy New Year.
