When the early new potatoes had been dug at the beginning of June, some chitted Maris Bard seed potatoes were planted in their place.
MBard2
These late planted early potatoes have just been dug. The potato haulm has
remained healthy, but they went through a very dry period, and some of
the tubers have suffered from corky scab.
In spite of this, they have yielded a substantial 2 kilos from one root.
These Maris Bard potatoes have been in the ground for about 12 weeks.
The other Maris Bard were planted as second earlies in late February.
Corky Scab is caused by bacteria Streptomyces scabies. It is
particularly severe in dry periods. Affected potato tubers get scab
lesions, which are quite variable, giving a raised corky area, or a pit.
*To control corky scab:*
* Keep potatoes well watered, especially during tuber set
* Aim for a soil pH of 5 or 5.2, by using acid producing
fertilisers, such as ammonium sulphate. Do not lime or add manure
before potatoes
* Grow resistant varieties
* Buy scab-free seed
* Rotate crops and have at least 4 clear years between potato crops
on the same soil
last-broad-beans
We have just had the final lot of Broad Beans in the Vegetable Garden. They
have been marvellous.
The first lot of Broad Beans were sown in November. The third and final
planting was at the end of March which spread the harvest well.
broad-bean-boiling
Picking started on 26 June from those planted in November. So we have been harvesting
broad beans from the vegetable garden for 8 weeks. The French Beans are
now producing well, and make a pleasant change. At least French Beans do
not need podding and can be thrown straight into the pan.
The challenge to make a vegetable face came from the GreatBigVegetableChallenge
Their collection of vegetable faces was amazing – and inspiring, so this
is the effort from TopVeg.
veg-face
The artwork is built round a beetroot and comprises chives, carrot,
runner bean, and broad bean.
celtic-cabbage
The F1
The F1Celtic winter cabbage, planted out in June, is growing fast. The Celtic cabbage produces a rock hard ball which is capable of standing for months without splitting. This is important when growing in the garden for a family, because it is difficult to have a
harvesting programme which gives fresh veg every day.
celtic-cabbage-under-enviro
The cabbage plants have been covered with a tunnel of enviromesh, which
has kept the aphids and cabbage white butterflies off the cabbage, so
they have remained clean.
senescence-potatoes
The Edward potatoes which have been grown as a main crop for storage over the winter, have started to senesce.
Senescence is when the green leaves and stalks of potatoes, known as the haulm, starts to die down at the end of the season. The potato tubers stop growing and the skins start to set.
The skins have to be set before the potatoes can be lifted for storage.
potato-senescing
The potato haulm can be left to die back naturally, and the potato skins will set about two or three weeks after the haulm has died. Or the haulm can be cut off, which will force the skins to start setting. This will mean that the skin will start to set earlier and the potatoes can
be lifted earlier. This is possibly a way of ensuring that the soil is dry when the potatoes are lifted. Wet potatoes do not store well.
When the maincrop potatoes start to senesce it is time toprepare the winter store.
Mid-July and August is a good time to sow Spring Cabbage in the
vegetable garden for harvest next April or May.
Spring Cabbage seed should be planted 0.5cm deep in a seed bed or trays of seed compost. The seed bed should be kept moist.
In 5 or 6 weeks the spring cabbage plants will be strong enough to
transplant to their final positions. Cabbages like a deeply dug, well cultivated soil.
Firm the plants well into the ground and water well until they are established.
The Spring Cabbage will be produce good firm hearts ready for harvest in
April and May. The cabbages can also be cut as Spring Greens earlier in
the year.
TopVeg is growing the variety Offenham 2 – Flower of Spring.
