by Terry Walton
enjoyment of 144, 147
experimenting with new crops and varieties 232–44
gives up father’s plots and takes over Joe Vickery’s plot 188–91, 156
goes organic 165, 167–8, 171, 179–82, 185
greenhouse on 202
growing of pumpkins 246–52
growing and selling of flowers 90–2
growing and selling of produce 82–9, 118, 119–20, 122, 142, 151
growing of vegetables all year round 205–7
installing a pond 234
journey to 142–3
layout 120–1
making up compost 172
moves to single plot 156
reduction in number of plots 150–1, 152
as secretary of allotment committee 158, 192
social life on 211–27
stops delivering produce 152
takes on more allotments 84–5
takes on own allotment at eleven 43–4, 77, 80–4
use of alternatives to chemical insecticides and feeds 167–8
use of insecticides and chemical fertilizers initially 161, 162–4
vegetables grown on 6–7
watering of plants 190
allotments (Rhondda Valley)
allocation of plots and change in seniority rule 192–3
annual exhibition show 68
applying for 80
bartering and exchange system 224–6
change as gradual process on 136–7
communal shed/shop 53, 193–4
competition (2005) 200–1
decline in interest in and disappearing of 48, 84, 138–9, 140
financial outlay 61
help and cooperation on 13, 224
help from local council 219
hierarchical arrangement of 44
increase in popularity and demand for 181, 218, 220
management of by committee 44–5, 80, 192
and poultry 48–9
relaxing of rules 191–2, 193
rent 61
rules 45, 54–5, 80
school plot 21
seed-ordering system 194
social life on 212–27
as source of food 21, 53, 59
statutory status of 41–2
swapping of vegetables between plotholders 222–4
threat of eviction 140
time spent on 45–50
vegetables grown on 51–3, 83, 218
waiting list 193
watering and water pipes 46, 47
and women 43, 271
aphids 235
April, tip for 92–4
asparagus 243
August
spreading of blight during 198
tip for 182–3
bean canes 72
beans 67, 68, 218
watering of 190
see also broad beans; French beans; runner beans
bees 236, 236–7
beetroot 223
jelly 33
varieties of 237
Big Dig, The 250–1, 270–2
birds 228
scaring off 8
blight, potato 198, 241, 242
blood, fish and bone 171
Bobath 247
Borg Warner 130
Bosch 130
bracchis 99–100
bracken 61–2
brassicas 166, 178
liming soil 167, 252–3
looking after 252–3
pest control 159, 170, 182–3, 253
use of rhubarb soup on 170, 182–3
see also cabbages
broad beans 51, 199, 206
Brussels sprouts 51, 60, 182, 205–6
cabbage fly 253
cabbage white butterfly 159, 182–3
cabbages 51, 83, 87–8, 178, 182, 206, 218
varieties 52–3, 85
winter 205
see also brassicas
Cae Cae Farm 40
canker 206
Carl 220, 271
carrot root fly 159, 201, 233, 234
carrots 51, 83, 177, 190
erecting fleece ‘corrals’ around 159
growing in large bins above the ground 234
varieties of 237
caterpillars 170
cauliflowers 60
Charles and Camilla 265
chemical fertilizers 150–1, 159, 161–2, 163, 165–6, 171, 179, 181
chickens 41, 48–9
Christmas vegetables 204–5
chrysanthemums 67
Churchill, Winston 14
chutney
gooseberry 160
green tomato 277
climate change 273–4
cloches 201
clover 177
clubroot 166, 167, 178, 253
coal 38–9, 40
deliveries of 38–9
coal mines 12–13, 19, 37–8, 84, 129, 138
Cockbain, Brent 270
coffee bars 99–100
cold frames 67
companion planting 233–4
compost 172
and bracken 61–2
making 172, 174–5
mushroom 176, 243–4, 245
see also manure
Coney Beach 29
Conservative Clubs 30–1
copper sulphate 198
courgette(s) 245–6
loaf 133–4
cucumber(s) 67, 233, 239
and tomato relish 183–4
varieties 238
Cullen, Bob 45
cwtch 39–40
dahlias 91
dance halls 100–1
Daniel, Alf 24, 44
DDT 162, 163, 165
December, tip for 276
Dickson-Wright, Clarissa 266
digging 195–6
Doherty, Jimmy 236
double-cropping 121, 199, 200, 201
eating habits 50–1, 98
changes in 151–2
Elmer, Charles 123
Evans, Mish 267
Evans, William 36
farmers’ markets 191
February, tip for 55–6
fertilizers 53, 60–1
chemical 150–1, 159, 161–2, 163, 165–6, 171, 179, 181
organic 72, 159, 171, 172
‘fixers’ 176–7
fleece
covering plants with 159, 201
fleece cloches 201
flowers 90–2
foxes 236
Frams 129
French beans 112–13
frogs 169, 228, 234
feeding 235
garden centres 186, 187
gardening programmes 219
genetically modified seeds 181
ginger, rhubarb and ginger jam 94–5
Glamorgan Association of Allotments 53
Glamorgan Colliery 37, 42
glyphosate 167
Going to Seed 269–70
Good Morning Wales 272–4
gooseberry(ies) 157
chutney 160
fool 114–15
Grass Roots 268–9
Great Western mine 37
green manure 176–7, 178
green tomato chutney 277
greenhouse whiteflies 233
greenhouses 189
cleaning 32
constructing 212–13
growing crops in 238–9
Ground Force 218
Growmore 171, 181
Hamilton, Christine 266
Hands, Bob 78
Harris, Keith 3–4, 148–9, 149–50
herbicides 167
herbs 83, 128, 234
horse manure
and wood shavings 173, 263
HTV Wales 268
humus 172, 176
I Love Wales 267–8
insecticides 162, 164, 171, 181
detrimental effects of on wildlife 165
jam, rhubarb and ginger 94–5
James, Hywel 269, 270
January, tip for 32
&nbs
p; jelly
beetroot 33
rhubarb jelly special 75
Jeremy Vine Show 1–10, 219, 236, 246, 247, 255–68, 910
Jones, Phil 1, 5
Jones, Tom 101
July, tip for 159
June, tip for 132
keel slugs 242, 243
Keith and Jean 220
Kennedy, Bruce 268
labels, plastic 55–6
Lavis, Derek 192
leek(s) 52, 205, 206, 264
and onion and potato soup 56–7
tips for growing 208
lettuces 132, 201, 201–2
‘levels’ 38, 40
Lewis Merthyr mine 37
Liberty Bell 270
‘lifters’ 177
lime/liming 166–7, 244, 252–3
lindane 162, 163, 165
Llwynypia 36
manure 70, 171, 172–6, 245
animal 174–6, 177
and bracken 61
green 176–7, 178
horse 173, 263
pigeon 175
see also compost
March, tip for 73–4
marigolds 233
marrow(s) 245
rum 209
Martin, Dai 118
May, tip for 112–13
mealy bug 183
miners 12–13, 20, 37, 129
miners’ strike (1926) 13–14
mining industry see coal mines
moles 260–1
Mountfield tiller 120
mulching 195
mushroom compost 176, 243–4, 245
mushrooms 243–5
mustard 177
Mynydd Tyntyla 35
Myra 271
National Coal Board 42
National Growmore see Growmore
new potatoes 240–1
nitrate of soda 163
nitrogen 166
‘no dig’ gardening 195–6
November, tip for 252–3
October, tip for 228
Ode to the Allotment 279–80
onions 87, 179, 197
grown by Tommy Parr for showing 69, 71–2
leek, onion and potato soup 56–7
overwintered 242–3
varieties 53, 237
watering of 190
organic fertilizers 72, 159, 171, 172
organic produce 181
organic seeds 180–1
pak choi 243, 264, 264–5
Parr, Ray 156, 174
Parr, Tommy 68–72, 122, 156, 158, 174, 193
parsnips 51, 65, 87, 177, 190, 206
Partridge Road Allotments Society 54–5
peas 237
pencils 104–8
peppers 233, 238
Perkin, Richard 122–3
Perkin-Elmer 122–7, 131, 149
pest control
and brassicas 159, 170, 182–3, 253
carrots 159, 234
and companion planting 233–4
organic 159, 168–70, 233–5
and ponds 228, 234–5
rhubarb soup 170, 182–3
slug and snail control 168–9, 228, 234
pigeon manure 175
pigeons 205, 206
polystyrene cups 276
ponds 228, 234–5
Pop Factory 36
Port Talbot 28
Porth 11, 36
Porth Textiles 130
potash 69, 70, 166
potato blight 198, 241, 242
potatoes 51, 83, 85, 197, 199, 218
digging for 199
leek, onion and potato soup 56–7
new 240–1
as part of diet 50, 87
‘Sarpo’ variety 241–2
varieties grown 241
poultry 41, 48–9
pumpkin(s) 246–52
cake 253–4
growing tips 249–50
rabbit pellets 175
rabbits 170–1
recipes
beetroot jelly 33
courgette loaf 133–4
cucumber and tomato relish 183–4
gooseberry chutney 160
gooseberry fool 114–15
green tomato chutney 277
leek, onion and potato soup 56–7
marrow rum 209
pumpkin cake 253–4
rhubarb and ginger jam 94–5
rhubarb jelly special 75
tomato relish 229
recycling 276
red spider mite 189
Rees, John 78, 79, 81, 82, 118
relishes
cucumber and tomato 183–4
tomato 229
Rhondda valley 11–12, 36
character of 135, 136–7
see also Welsh valleys
rhubarb 218
and ginger jam 94–5
jelly special 75
soup 170, 182–3
Rhys 215, 271–2
Roger 201, 220–1, 269
root rot 197
roses 91–2, 151
rotation of crops 88, 197, 200
Royal Mint 128–9
Royal Sovereign 104–8, 112
runner beans 51, 52, 81–2, 83, 88, 113, 144, 182, 261–3
routine 196–7
sowing and transplanting 93–4
varieties 238
Russell (Nuts) 220, 222, 225–6, 269
rye grass 137, 177
salsify 243, 258–9
Satchell, Tommy 44–5
seedlings 202
thinning overcrowded 144–5
seeds
buying 52, 53, 61
genetically modified 181
organic 180–1
sowing of 63–4, 65, 73–4
using airing cupboard to propagate 202–3
September, tip for 208
shallots 64–5 see also onions slag heaps 37
slug pellets 168
slugs 168–9, 228, 234, 242
snails 168–9, 234
soil
improving fertility of with green manure crops 176–7, 178
liming of 166–7, 244, 252–3
pH of 252
and sowing of seeds 63–4, 74
soup
leek, onion and potato 56–7
Staedtler 112
strawberries 65, 197, 201
‘Honeoye’ variety 66
planting 66
Sullivan, Jim 221
sulphate of ammonia 69, 70, 72, 163, 164, 171, 179, 181
mixing with lime 166
superphosphate 166
swedes 51, 206
sweet peas 92, 145
sweet Williams 90–1
sweetcorn 239–40
Thomas & Evans 36
Thompson, Antony Worrall 266
thrushes 169
toads 228
tomatoes 67, 189, 222, 233
cucumber and tomato relish 183–4
green tomato chutney 277
relish 229
removing side shoots of 189–90
varieties 238
Tommy Scott and the Senators 101
Tonypandy 36
riots (1910) 14
Tonypandy Conservative Club 30–1
Tonyrefail 100
Trealaw 36
trenches 196
Tymawr Colliery 37
vegetable box schemes 151
vegetables
grown on allotments 51–3, 83, 218
showing of 68–71
size and flavour 72
storing of 51
see also individual types
Vickery, Joe 156, 157, 188, 189, 212–13
Vine, Jeremy 1–2, 6, 8, 9–10, 246–7, 257–8, 264, 265, 267
Walker, Ken 126
Walton, Andrew (son) 147, 155, 232
Walton, Anthea (wife) 109–11, 118, 141–2, 146, 148
Walton, Anthony (son) 146, 155, 232
Walton, Eric (brother) 19, 187–8
Walton, Megan Elizabeth (granddaughter) 266
Walton, T
erry
and allotment see allotment (Terry’s)
appearance on I Love Wales 267–8
apprentice years on father’s allotment 59–73
and The Big Dig 270–2
birth of granddaughter 266
birth of sons 146, 147
and children 155
contemplates gardening full-time 186–7
contributes to Good Morning Wales 272–4
and death of father 154
earning pocket money and paper round 77–9
and father’s allotment 25–6, 31, 43, 50, 59–60
and father’s farm 40–1
and father’s heart attack 152–3
garden at home 128, 141
and Going to Seed 269–70
and Grass Roots television broadcast 268–9
holiday camps 149–50
holidays taken and seaside visits during childhood 26–9
house in Tonyrefail 127, 145
and Jeremy Vine Show see Jeremy Vine Show
leaves pencil factory 112, 117
married and family life 145, 148
owning a car 89, 118–19
parental background 18–19
relationship with brother Eric 187–8
schooling 97, 101–4
social life whilst a teenager 99–101
takes over father’s plots after death 155
upbringing and childhood memories 15–17, 20–4, 30–1
wedding day 111
works at Royal Sovereign pencil factory 104–8
works for Perkin-Elmer 122–7, 131, 147, 149
Wayne 225
weeds 49–50, 64, 164
Welsh valleys 11, 13, 38, 207
attraction of new businesses to 128–30
coal mines 12–13, 19, 37–8, 84, 129, 138
community spirit and forging of solidarity 13–15
geography of 35
growth in female employment 13
regaining of past glory 207
Tonypandy riots (1910) 14
‘Westerwolds’ rye 177
white fly 183
Williams, Iolo 268
winter digging 64
winter vegetables 205
working men’s clubs 101
About the Author
Terry Walton was born in 1946 in the Rhondda, and has lived in South Wales all his life. He has gardened on the same allotment since the age of four. Most of Terry’s working life was spent with a local company, where he became managing director. Since then, a new career has beckoned in the media, starting in 2003 with the adoption of his allotment by the Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2. Terry gives regular updates live from his hillside plot every fortnight. He has also appeared on TV (The Big Dig, Grass Roots, Going to Seed, I Love Wales), his opinions are regularly sought by local radio stations and newspapers, and he gives many talks about his favourite topic: allotment gardening. This is his first book.
TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS
61–63 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA
A Random House Group Company
www.transworldbooks.co.uk
MY LIFE ON A HILLSIDE ALLOTMENT
A CORGI BOOK: 9780552155007
Version 1.0 Epub ISBN 9781407040592
First published in Great Britain
in 2007 by Bantam Press
a division of Transworld Publishers
Corgi edition published 2008