The F1 Celtic 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.
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.
Knowing the right time to harvest aubergines (eggplants) is tricky.
The right time to harvest aubergines/eggplants is:
when the fruits change colour
swell to a reasonable size
the skin is still shiny.
Pick aubergines:
as soon as they reach a usable size
when the fruit is firm
when the skin is shiny
when the aubergine is fully coloured
in late August to September
Aubergines taste better when young and the skin is glossy. Do not leave the aubergines on the plant too long. Once the skin turns dull they are past their best.
To harvest aubergines/eggplants:
Cut the fruit off the stem with a sharp knife, to avoid damaging the plant.
Adequate light is vital for a successful aubergine crop.
Fruit production is dependent on light quality so dull summers usually mean a poor crop. To improve light penetration remove the leaves surrounding the fruits as they develop. This will improve their growth and help ripening.
One of the many advantages of vegetable gardening is watching the birds. This greater spotted woodpecker (latin name - Dendrocopos major) was busy on the bird table, whilst we were busy weeding in the vegetable garden.
Cabbage whitefly (latin name - Aleyrodes proletella) is a nuisance when it attacks brassicas in the vegetable garden, particularly brussel sprouts. But cabbage whitefly can be a problem on all leafy brassicas, including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, calabrese, brussel sprouts and kale.
The cabbage whitefly is different from the whitefly found in greenhouses. Cabbage whitefly only attacks brassicas.
The cabbage whitefly lay eggs on the underside of the brassica leaves. The eggs hatch into tiny, colourless nymphs which suck the sap from the underside of the leaf.
The whiteflies hatch out and are noticeable as clouds of small, flying, white flies when the leaves are disturbed.
The whiteflies & nymphs suck the sap from the leaves and excrete honeydew which is a sugary substance. This sugary excretion encourages black moulds to grow. So the leaves of the brassicas develop sooty spots under them. It is these sooty moulds which cause the problem, particularly on brussel sprout buttons. They can make the sprouts unusable when there is a severe attack. It is not so important in cabbages, when any sooty outside leaves can be peeled off before use.
Apart from the sooty moulds which appear on the brassicas as a consequence of the cabbage whitefly, the plants do not seem to be weakened by the cabbage whitefly.
Brussel sprout plants have grown so well that they have been staked to give them support. The large leaves become very heavy after a rain, and the plants can topple over in a wind. Any movement of the stalk will lift the roots and destroy some smaller root hairs.
So, loosely tying the stalks to a stake will reduce rocking of the leaf canopy, and preserve the root system underground. If the soil is loose, the roots can be firmed in by heeling it down. More soil can be put to them if necessary.
The brilliant, scarlet flowers of the runner bean plants, with the dark green background of the leaves, make a great picture in the vegetable garden.
They also make excellent patio plants when grown in containers because of the scarlet flowers, as well as the vegetables they produce.
Water in dry weather so the flowers are able to set fruit.
Keep the runner beans well picked. If beans are left on the vine to mature, flower production will be suppressed and no more runner beans will be produced.
Give the inevitable surplus beans away, so that more beans are produced
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.
Today is the start of National Allotment Week which runs from August 13th - 19th 2007. National Allotment Gardens Trust organisers of the event, say it is:
“A week to promote the awareness and availability of allotments both locally and nationally and to show the public and the local authorities the strength of support and interest for the heritage of allotment culture.”
The initiative will
promote the social benefits of allotment gardening, including benefits to health, education and community well-being.
highlight the benefits of allotment gardening to councils across the UK
promote gardening, vegetable-growing and consumption as a healthy pursuit and lifestyle.
Weeds have started to grow in the vegetable garden, and they have to be dealt with before they seed. This will pay dividends in the vegetable garden next year.
A weed-free vegetable garden is a healthy garden.
Air is able to circulate freely around the vegetables, which helps the battle against fungal diseases, such as blight and mildew.
Insects will not be able to hide on weeds, and the gardener is more in control of the plot if the crops are not obscured by weeds.
Water is used more efficiently if there are only crops, and no weeds to take up the water.
Handpulling weeds is sometimes easier than hoeing at this time of year. It depends on how loose the soil is.
Although this is the time for harvesting vegetables in the garden, it is well worth putting time aside to get rid of the weeds.
The F1 Celtic 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.
