At the end of March the plot was bare. Now there is fresh green growth sprouting in every section. Most obvious are the peas (Hurst Greenshaft). They were brought on in the greenhouse and, after tying-up, had reached the tops of their 2 foot canes.

The Federation of Edinburgh and District Allotments and Gardens Associations and the City of Edinburgh Council are pleased to announce this year's competition for allotment holders and allotment sites.
The categories are: Best Allotment Plot, Best Allotment Site, Waste Wise Award (for the site best demonstrating reduce, reuse and recycle principles) and Most Improved Allotment Site.
This year there will also be a school food growing competition.
To enter your plot, please download a copy of the entry form: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/4174/edinburgh_in_bloom_entry...
The deadline for entries is 3rd June 2011.
The judging will take place between 24th June and 15th July.
The winners will be awarded with their prizes at the Allotment Show on 11th September.

The Grow Your Own Working Group was established in November 2009 to take forward the actions on growing your own food which were identified in the Scottish Government’s Food and Drink Policy.

It has just published its report and you can download it here:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/917/0114173.pdf

This report complements, supports and underpins some of the actions identified in the report of the Grow Your Own Working Group which was presented to the Environment Minister in February 2011.

'Community Growing in Scotland - Towards a Framework for Action' reveals that community growing is happening all across Scotland. It is most vibrant in Edinburgh and Glasgow with the two cities between them accounting for over 40% of Scotland's allotments, as well as activity through community gardens and landshare.

Download the report here: http://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/upload/File/Community%20Growing%20i...

By the end of March the plot was empty. There are a few leeks temporarily heeled-in out of the way. But that doesn't mean that nothing has been happening. All four sections have been prepared for the new season. The two strips for the triple rows of carrots, in addition to earlier winter digging, have been turned over as has the strip for the parsnips. These two crops, along with the leeks, are the only ones to have seed sown directly into the ground. Carrots and parsnips have long tap roots that are very easily damaged if they are transplanted.

FEDAGA will again be organising various competitions to encourage a high standard of allotments in Edinburgh this summer.
There will be competitions for the Best Plot and Best Site. These will attract cash prizes of £100, £50 and £25 for first, second and third places. All FEDAGA-affiliated sites will be automatically entered and plotholders will have to apply for their plot to be judged. Watch this space for further details on how to get involved.

A new 21 plot allotment site at Mackenzie Place in the New Town looks as if it will go ahead. It went to the planning committee on the 9th of March with the recommendation that the application be granted.

In February the allotment is really getting going. There are still some leeks in the ground. The few remaining parsnips, beetroot and swedes have been lifted and stored. The last of the leeks will be lifted in March and heeled in. As the ground is cleared, it is dug. Double digging is finished and the cabbage patch has had its first application of limestone dust.

The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society will be running drop-in sessions and workshops aimed at new plot holders over the coming months.

Saturday 19 March: Preparing the Ground. Digging.
Composting
Saturday 16 April: Planting Potatoes, Onions, Carrots
Saturday 21 May: Sowing. Watering. Weeding
Saturday 18 June: Pests & Diseases

The City of Edinburgh Council and Bridgend Growing Communities have teamed up to bring you a hands-on course in allotment gardening aimed principally at new plot holders. The course was publicised in the January mailshot which goes out to all FEDAGA members and has already garnered sufficient paid-up support to allow it to proceed, most likely at Inverleith Allotments. There is still scope for it to be run at other sites if there are more interested parties.