perfect for allotments - university of bristol...parsley raspberries squash rosemary redcurrant...
TRANSCRIPT
PERFECT FOR ALLOTMENTS
WHAT ARE INSECT POLLINATORS? Insects which visit fl owers and move pollen between plants, so the plants produce fruit and set seeds. Our wild plants and food crops are pollinated by many types of insects including bees and a wide range of fl ies, including hoverfl ies. Some wasps and beetles, as well as butterfl ies and moths, can also act as pollinators.
WHY ARE POLLINATORS IMPORTANT ON ALLOTMENTS? We rely on insect pollinators for the production of many crops including: beans, courgettes, squash, and fruit such as apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, raspberries.
WHAT CAN I GROW THAT IS PERFECT FOR POLLINATORS?The following plants have been specially suggested as suitable for allotments – they are a mix of native species and traditional allotment plants. They are either non-invasive, or easy to control and in many cases are edible.
As well as those listed, it is also worth noting that many salads and vegetables will be attractive to pollinating insects if allowed to ‘bolt’ or fl ower. This may take up valuable space in the allotment but allowing a small proportion to fl ower before removal, especially if the ground is not immediately required, is a good way to help pollinators. Examples include rocket, lettuce, parsnip, leek, onion and cabbage.
HERB PLOT (when in fl ower)
FRUIT PLOT VEG PLOT
Angelica Apple Broadbean
Borage Blackberry Cardoon
Chives Blackcurrant Courgette
Dill Blueberry *Cucumber
Fennel Cherry Globe Artichoke
Hyssop Medlar Marrow
Lavender Peach *Melon
Marjoram Pear Peas
Mint Plum Runner Bean
Parsley Raspberries Squash
Rosemary Redcurrant *Tomato
Sage Strawberry
Thyme
*Indicates plants not currently on RHS Perfect for Pollinator list but should be attractive to pollinators
GREEN MANURES AND COMFREYComfrey, Red Clover, Phacelia tanacetifolia, White Clover.
Pollinating insects are in decline and need more food, more shelter and more places to nest. With over 330,000 allotments in the UK, allotment holders can make a huge contribution to pollinator conservation.
Supported by Defra
www.getbristolbuzzing.org
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND ADVICE VISIT RHS AT:www.rhs.org.uk/perfectforpollinators
NATIONAL ALLOTMENT SOCIETY:www.nsalg.org.uk/allotment-info/hens-bees-and-other-animals-bees-and-other-pollinators
Photography: Nadine Mitschunas, Becky Belfin
FLOWERS FOR CUTTING AND INTER-PLANTING (single flowered forms only) Beware: Allotment holders should be aware that some commercially produced wildflower or pollinator friendly seed mixes contain plants that spread rapidly and can become weeds on cultivated ground. The plants on the list below have been selected as allotment friendly.
*Popular companion plants for inter-planting where pests are a problem
COMMON NAME LATIN NAME*Allium Allium
Baby’s Breath Gypsophila
Bergamot Monarda didyma
Blanket Flower Gaillardia
Butterfly Flower Clarkia
Canterbury Bells Campanula medium
China Aster Callistephus chinensis
Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum
Columbine Aquilegia
Cornflower Centaurea cyanus
Dahlia Dahlia
Dame’s violet Hesperis matronalis
Foxglove Digitalis
*French Marigold Tagetes patula
Hollyhock Alcea rosea
Honesty Lunaria annua
COMMON NAME LATIN NAMEHoneywort Cerinthe major
Iceplant Sedum spectabile
Larkspur Consolida
*Marigold Calendula
Mullein Verbascum
*Nasturtium Tropaeolum
Poached egg plant Limnanthes douglasii
Cone Flower Rudbeckia
Salvia Salvia
Scabious Knautia; Scabiosa
Snapdragon Antirrhinum
Spider Flower Cleome hassleriana
Sweet William Dianthus barbatus
Wallflower Cheiranthus
Zinnia Zinnia elegans
www.cleevenursery.co.uk/plants-bees