Peeves of the Plot

The annual bill for the rent of the allotment arrived yesterday along with the 'Allotment Newsletter Summer 2012.'  It's a fascinating read.

Surprisingly, I didn't win any of the prizes.  They all went to a man with the most perfect plot anyone has ever seen.  Positioned right by the front gate, all other allotments are judged against his and are found to be wanting.  The newsletter says, "he must have his own ray of sunshine on his plot enabling his veggies to thrive so early in the year."  Apart from the fact that he is ALWAYS there, it was nice early in the year.  It was lovely and sunny in April but as soon as mortals like me planted seed in May it rained and rained and rained and was cold and didn't rain and the seeds got confused.

The newsletter also says, "the allotment inspectors or "weed police", as I believe they are called by some tenants have been kept busy this year.A weedy plot is neither good nor clean.  Plots need not be immaculate but weeds must be kept under control."   Well that clears that up then!

When I went today I was really looking forward to picking my last four sweet corn cobs but they were gone. The newsletter told me that, "there have been a couple of incidents where 4 legged intruders with a fondness for sweet corn have been on the site.  I am told these are Muntjac Deer and a small amount of netting will protect your crops"  So frustrating.  Now if they liked huge courgettes or even beetroot I would be quite happy.

ASBO Bambi

Now, call me a grumpy old woman but I think if tenants have a duty to keep their plot 'good and clean' then the landlord has a duty to keep Muntjac Deer out.  "A small amount of netting" will not protect our crop.

The Royal Horticultural Society has this advice on protecting crops from Muntjac Deer:

Deer can be excluded from gardens with netting or fences but these need to be robust and relatively tall to be effective. Deer can squeeze through small gaps under fencing or leap over barriers that are too low.

Wire mesh fencing should be 1.5m (5ft) tall for muntjac and 1.8m (6ft) for other deer, and a heavy duty type of wire like that used to fence sheep or pigs should be used in the lower half. The bottom edge should be pegged to the ground to stop deer lifting the wire and squeezing underneath. The maximum mesh size should be 20 x 15cm (8 x 6in) for most deer but 7.5 x 7.5cm (3 x 3in) where muntjac are a problem.

Entrances to the garden need deer-proof gates. An electric fence, as used to confine farm livestock, is often ineffective against deer and may be damaged if deer are startled and try to run through it. Horizontal strands of plain or barbed wire are unlikely to be effective as roe deer can squeeze through gaps of 30cm (1ft).

Allotment forums on the web have some information on this problem.  Most people think they should be culled because they have sharp tusks and can be dangerous to dogs.  Once they are on a site they are almost impossible to get rid of and their numbers grow quite quickly as they stay in one area to breed.  One allotment holder describes how he protected his sweet corn by making 8ft tall cages with galvanised 10cm square wire fencing.  His sweet corn plots are 4m square and he has put a door in so that he can get in to dig.  Not exactly a small amount of netting!

I can think of a much better solution. http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/content/articles/2008/04/22/east_road_kill_recipes_s13_w9_feature.shtml

My potato crop is finally all in and I do have enough potatoes to last me the year but another annual frustration is the affinity my potatoes always have with the fork.