The first week of spring with plenty of sun made both the allotments and their owners bloom. The opportunity was used to the full for digging, cleaning and scrubbing the greenhouses. The open ground near the open air theater De Donck in Someren was also not spared.
It is relatively quiet at the Volkstuintjesvereniging in Someren on Saturday, but the gardeners who are there work fanatically in the sun. Maria van den Broek (61) is busy cleaning the greenhouse she and her sister have. “My sister has green fingers, but I also have to brush, so I do that.”
The sisters’ soil is already in good shape. This is how the first snow peas and flowers have been planted. “I wish I had more time to spend in our garden, but there is also work to be done,” she says.
The two plots of land owned by Ralph van Eijk are in good condition. Together with his 12-year-old son Alexander and wife Katja, he is busy in the allotment garden. The ground is fanatically hoeed. “We have planted snow peas and the asparagus is already underground.”
Mohammed has also been busy. He has already sprouted the garden trees so that a plant grows out quickly. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s wonderful to finally be able to eat from your own garden.”
President of the Allotment Garden Association Hans van Maris (63) sees interest in gardening growing thanks to the corona pandemic. “We have 65 gardens that are all full and there are even people on the waiting list. More and more young people are also applying for an allotment garden.” This is a good thing for the chairman, who has been gardening in Someren for twelve years.
Nevertheless, Van Maris warns the avid gardeners because those who plant and sow too early can be unlucky. “It can still freeze, so if you plant potatoes, they can rot.”