A number of Paignton allotment plots were reclaimed and handed over to new tenants in February.

They include plot 10b at Derrell Road, which was previously being managed by a local school.

Plot 10a is to be used for storage of allotment society property in a secure shed.

A plot at Oakleigh which has been dificult to let because of anti-social behaviour from nearby houses now has a new tenant who is aware of the history.

Plots 7, 29a and 37a have also been reallocated.

Another plot at the Derrell site may son become available and coould be divided in two, making way for two new plotholders.

There is also a possibility of two new half plots at Lower Penns.

The waiting list remains several years long - especially for plots at Lower Penns.

Torbay Council is working to create new plots at two sites in Paignton to ease pressure.

The Paignton Home Garden and Allotment Society currently has £41.67 in its current account, and £2,290.53 in its deposit account.
There was only one payment made in February - £10 for the talk on growing on showing, which it is understood has been donated to charity.

The Paignton allotment society is to hold a barbecue to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The event will be held on June 2 from 1pm at one of the sites and will be 'bring your own'.

All plotholders, friends and family are welcome.

More details will be available closer to the date.

The society has ordered 66 bags of chicken pellets to be sold on to plotholders.

Paignton Home Garden and Allotment Society has decided not to send out full copies of the tenancy agreement at the start of the new contract year in April for people who have already had one.

Each year the society sends out two copies of its tenancy agreement in April, with plotholders keeping one copy, signing the back page of the other and returning it with their rent for the year.

This year, plotholders who have already had an agreement will only receive the 'back page', which they will sign and return with payment.

This will cut down on postage, payment for return postage that doesn't cover the size of the package and paperwork.

Any plotholder who wants a copy of the agreement can request one, and anyone whose email address is registered with the society will receive an emailed version.

The agreement is also now posted on this website.

The pattern will continue in future years unless their is a change to the agreement.

The move was decided at the meeting of the society at the start of March.

_ONE of Devon's leading experts in growing vegetables for show gave a talk to allotment holders in Paignton planning to hold their own show later this year.

Dan Harvey is a vegetable show judge and Devon secretary of the National Vegetable Society, and has been growing vegetables for show since 1954.

A born farmer, Dan first entered a vegetable show at the age of 14 and won first prize with two lettuces.

At the time he was growing lettuces to sell at Newton Market, a business which eventually raised enough money to pay for a honeymoon in Margate - £14.

Dan revealed his decades of success at an open meeting of Paignton Home Garden and Allotment Society, which is considering relaunching an annual Paignton vegetable show.

Dan told the meeting that after his first success, he went on to win another first prize for lettuces and a highly commended for his onions the next year - and six years later won the most points of any grower in show.

With years of growing, showing, farming and judging experience Dan was the ideal man to tell Paignton allotment growers how it is done.

Alongside many anecdotes of his years of success - including one year when he entered 26 classes at shows across Devon and got first prize in 25 of them - coming sceond in the other - Dan had plenty of advice.

Dan revealed his 'secret', that good crops grow in good soil. He believed in digging deep, adding plenty of farmyard manure or compost and using a strong nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertiliser.

In terms of digging deep Dan revelaed that on his farm, where he has grown test beds for Sutton Seeds, he uses his tractor but firmly believes that all growers should dig as deep as possible for good crops.

He said farmyard manure is perfect for returning nutrition to the soil - but home compost is even better. In fact Dan said growers should compost as much home waste as possible and that it provides twice the nutritional value of manure.

Strong fertiliser is available from agricultural suppliers - and Dan reveals he prepares his soil well the autumn before a growing season rather than trying to feed plants as they grow.

Turning to specific crops, Dan started with onions and shallots - which he recommends planting into trenches right under the soil with any leaves snipped to avoid attracting birds - and revealed that whether growing from seeds or sets he chooses strains renowned for their size.

But he said size is only part of the formula for success when growing for show - and that crops must also be uniform, clean and presented well.

Each show will include a schedule detailing how crops should be presented, down to how many and whether to leave on leaves and roots.

Dan revealed his dislike for some of the 'supercrops' currently being taken to main show, extra large onions, leeks and other vegetables grown in industrial conditions with greenhouses, automatic watering and 20 hours of light a day.

Turning to beans and peas Dan recommended a trench with something in the bottom, such as hessian sacks, to retain water and compost closer to the surface.

Dan also talked about the important of covering beetroot to stop them being eaten by sparrows, the necessity of changing from clay pipes to cardboard tubes when forcing celery to avoid overheating and the use of garlic sprays to keep off rabbits.

Dan recommended a number of varities especially suited to show-quality veg, which are also detailed in the latest edition of the Edwin Tucker and Sonds Ltd Garden Seeds Catalogue - available from the Ashburton company on 01364 562233. http://www.edwintucker.com/

Dan finished his talk, which came complete with slides, by highlighting two important dates in this year's calendar.

On May 8 there is a talk on pests and diseases organised by the National Vegetable Society at the leisure centre in Kingskerswell. The talk will be given by a leading Dutch agronomist.

And on July 21 Dan recommended attending the Ipplepen show to see how vegetables are shown, and how a show is organised.

Full details of both events are available from the National Vegetable Society - which also has a wealth of articles on growing for show and other subjects on its website http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/index.php

PHGAS is now considering whether it will be able to host a vegetable show in Paignton this year.

ALLOTMENT holders are being reminded of the importance of keeping the society up to date with their latest contact details - which is vital to ensure you stay up to date with all developments regarding your plot.

In one recent instance a plotholder's shed was damaged in the high winds but the secretary was unable to contact him.

Plotholders who cannot be contacted could also find themselves losing their plots if, for example, they fail to respond to letters from the society or complete a new annual contract. Keeping the society updated with contact details is part of the tenancy agreement.
Details should be email to the society's secretary Jenny Board at paigntonallotments@gmail.com.

The Derrell Road allotment site currently has just one site rep, and needs two more to represent the interests of members on the site.

Anyone who would like to take up the posts, or find out more about what they involve, should contact Jenny Board at paigntonallotments@gmail.com

PAIGNTON could see the return of a vegetable show in 2012 thanks to Paignton Home Garden and Allotment Society and the society is preparing with an informative talk to be held at the start of the year.

The society used to hold annual events but has not done so for some time, and now hopes to bring the tradition back.

If there is enough interest and support the society is likely to hold the show on one of its sites in July.

And anyone who wants to know how to grow vegetables for show can find out in February.

Joe Wallis, the society's Vice President, has years of experience in vegetable shows and is working towards becoming a fully accredited judge.

He will give a detailed talk on how to grow vegetables to show standards.

The talk will be at the next open meeting of Paignton Home Garden and Allotment Society on Monday, February 6, at 7.30pm, at the RAOB Club in New Street, Paignton.

The next meeting of the Paignton Home Garden and Allotment Society committee will be on January 3, 2012.

The meeting will be held from 7.30pm in the RAOB club in New Street, Paignton.