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Quick Visit

12/7/2015

A quick visit following the Working Party to drop off some kitchen and garden waste and tie up the tomatoes. My two 'Crimson Crush' plants occupy one end of my glassless greenhouse frame. One already has sizeable green tomatoes swelling. A few side shoots needed removing but they seem to be growing well on minimal attention.

While on the plot I removed some of the taller weeds growing alongside my Swiss Chard, mainly nettles which grow well on my plot.

A quick look at my row of peas persuaded me to pick enough for a meal as they are swelling nicely. They were small and sweet so I shall pick more for when my family return tomorrow. The grandkids will enjoy podding them, especially if they pick them with me.

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Potato and Tomato Blight

7/7/2015

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I had half expected a text and email from the Blightwatch website warning me that blight conditions had occurred in this area but have heard nothing.
Blight spreads when it is warm and humid for a 48 hour period, called a 'Smith Period'.
It has certainly been warm and humid recently but perhaps the humidity dropped below the required figure (80% I think). It definitely remained above 10 degrees C. for some time, even overnight!
I checked my registration with the website and confirmed I am still on the list to receive warnings for this area - but there is nothing to stop you registering if you wish to get the warnings direct. Just search 'Blightwatch' on the web.

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Tedious runner bean frame lashings

7/7/2015

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I spent a long time this afternoon tying lashings on the runner bean frame. Having struggled to tie each cane to the wooden frame, John, my neighbour and a retired fisherman, showed me a simple clove hitch and half-hitch lock was perfectly adequate.
I finished off the bracing canes in double quick time!
However, before I embarked on that task I had done some harvesting. The October sown Savoy cabbages are finally hearting up and, since I need space for my cauliflower succession, I am pulling them up. I gave away two to neighbours and received in return a treasure chest of goodies.
One neighbour gave me some young spinach, another some radishes. Then a third offered me eggs and some early runner beans! - and my beans are not even halfway up the canes!
I cut 3 small calabrese heads and 2 small cauliflowers as well as a large savoy so, all in all, was well loaded going home (dodging the police and fire engines heading for the big crash on Roeshot Hill!)

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Oh The Weeds!

6/7/2015

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For some time I have been watching the two rows of Peas and French Beans growing under netting and trying to find time to weed them. I finally got round to doing it and discovered why it is easier to keep on top of the weeding!
Unfortunately I did not net the Peas (Sugar Snap) when the first came through. There were lots of seedlings (I sow 2 packets into the 10' row) but the pigeons had a field day before I covered them. Never-the-less I left them to grow on - and didn't weed them. Big mistake!
It takes hours when the weeds are nearly a foot high.
I start by hoeing between the rows as close as I can to the plants without cutting them off as well. Then I continue by pulling the nettles and other tall weeds that I can recognise. That saves me getting stung every time I bend down over them.

Then it is just a matter of getting down and pulling weeds from between the plants. That is quite easy with the French Beans as they have thick, slightly purple stems that I can both feel and see. The peas, however, were impossible to differentiate from the chickweed and, since so few plants had survived the pigeon attack, I finished up hoeing the whole row out.
Now I have only to sort out the Swiss and Rhubarb Chard from the weeds!
Fortunately I started that task in good humour as I had just planted out my Melons under a polythene tunnel cloche. As always I am a tad late but I hope to have some grapefruit size melons to enjoy in September as last year. Having dealt with this patch of weeds I sowed another row of peas, Douce Provence, alongside the French Beans - and netted them straight away!
My Ambassador peas on the other side of my plot have grown well and are nearly ready for harvesting so will benefit from being watered. The row will get at least one whole watering can of 15 litres poured along the roots whenever I get the chance. It is not worth giving them less or spraying them unless I am prepared to visit daily and even then I would risk getting the leaves sunburnt and making the plants vulnerable to drying out as they would have developed roots very close to the surface to take up the sprayed water.
I only water very occasionally between sowing and harvest when conditions get very dry. That way the roots have gone down deep searching for the damp soil. Then when I do water I try to really soak the rows. I will have sown/planted almost everything in a shallow trench so the water goes where it is needed and doesn't just run over the surface and away.
I am following the advice of our President, Hugh Merret, who manages his plot very productively with very little water - almost all from his own water butts.

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Pumpkins, squashes and cucumbers

6/7/2015

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Pumpkin planted into the mulched patch.

Today I got down on the plot as early as I could - 10.30! - to avoid the heat of the day.
I immediately set about planting the seedling Squashes, Pumpkins and Cucumbers. For each I dig a hole and fill it with some of my super compost before heaping the soil on top and planting in the top of the mound. I then scoop a moat round the mound to retain the water. (Last year one of my courgettes rotted off where the stem met the ground, probably because I had watered the plant itself not the soil around the plant.)

Lovely moist soil contrasted with the dry stuff in the top left corner.

The Squashes are planted round my Sweet Corn so they grow into the shade of the taller Corn while the Corn has its roots shaded by the Squashes.

The Pumpkins and Cucumbers were planted in a patch I had left mulched with horse litter to keep down the weeds, however I was surprised at how moist the soil was under the mulch. The soil round the Sweet Corn was dust dry on top and still quite dry a foot down. The soil under the mulch was moist all the way down from the surface. I had scraped the mulch away to dig the holes but I will scrape it back once the thunderstorms rumbling away outside now have dumped some welcome rain.

Before going home I harvested some early potatoes; three plants gave enough for several days eating even with my visitors. I also picked a couple of savoy cabbages and gave one to my neighbour, receiving in exchange some lovely lettuces and three good size beetroot. Well worth the exchange!

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Finding time to post!

5/7/2015

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We currently have family staying so yesterday I only managed to get down to the plot at 11 o'clock. It was really far to late as it was starting to heat up.

I have lots of plants ready to plant out but realised that there was no way I would be able to plant all of them. I chose the courgettes as they will produce,I hope, very quickly. However, digging two holes and filling them with some of my lovely compost was a very hot task and sweat dripped off me. Rather stupidly, I stripped off my shirt. (I am suffering a touch of sunburn today!) I planted two yellow courgette plants to go alongside the striped green courgette/marrow plant I already had as I find the yellow courgettes have a more delicate skin and flavour but produce fewer fruits.

The rest of my plants, cucumbers, squashes and pumpkins will have to be planted out another day.

I pulled up a rather sparse row of peas that I planted last autumn and picked the rest of the pods on the plants. I then started uprooting a row of broad beans and extracted a couple of bags of beans.
I then harvested quite a few strawberries, though the crop is slowing down and I shall soon be reliant on the 'Pick Your Own'.
I forgot to cut a savoy cabbage or two (as they are very slow hearting up) as planned but they will be there next time I visit!

Why "Finding Time to Post"? - With these light evenings I struggle to sit down with the computer before 10 pm. and often just run out of time before the heavy eyelids force me to wend my way up to bed!

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Quick Visit

Potato and Tomato Blight

Tedious runner bean frame lashings

Oh The Weeds!

Pumpkins, squashes and cucumbers

Finding time to post!

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Quick Visit

Potato and Tomato Blight

Tedious runner bean frame lashings

Oh The Weeds!

Pumpkins, squashes and cucumbers

Finding time to post!

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