The Maris Bard potatoes have grown to a good size, in spit of the leaves being removed a couple of weeks ago because they were infected with blight.
The potatoes are lifted gently with a fork, starting at the edge of the row, to avoid stabbing the potatoes and damaging them.
34 votes have been cast in the lettuce tasting poll which has been going since the 18 July. The results are suprising with Cos and Romain coming out as a firm favourite.
The poll is in the left margin of this page, and there is still time to cast your vote!
lettuceIn spite of all efforts to keep the cabbage white butterflies off the brassicas some always get through.
Watch out for the tiny, green caterpillars on the underside of the brassica leaves.
The eggs and tiny caterpillars should be picked off the leaves as soon as they are seen, before they grow into bigger caterpillars.
The final lot of climbing French beans were planted out on 18 July. They were put into the broad bean patch when it had been cleared. The broad beans were cut off at ground level, to avoid disturbing the wet soil. The nitrogen rich nodules that formed on the broad bean roots will hopefully feed the french beans.
This is a photo of the planting hole next to the broad bean stump.
The french beans were planted in pots, and knocked out of the pot before planting.
Grey squirrels (Latin name: Sciurus carolinensis) are a pest in the vegetable garden. They steal the fruit and vegetables.
The squirrel in the photo has been feeding on the bird table. But a few weeks ago it was feasting on the strawberries, with the rest of the squirrel family.
A new lawn can be grown from seed or bought-in turf.
The beginning of August is a good time to sow grass seed. We usually get a downpour in August which will start the seed off, and the young grass will have time to get established before the winter. But it will take at least 12 months for the seed to become a thick lawn.
Turf is instant, being ordered one day and delivered the next. Turf should be laid the day it arrives.
Whether using seed or turf, soil preparation is the key to success. A good lawn needs a well prepared bed. Read More »
Downy mildew (latin name - Peronospora destructor) develops on leek (Allium porrum) when humidity is high and night temperatures are low. These conditions are usually seen in the autumn.
Downy mildew is characterized by pale–green, yellowish to brownish areas of irregular size and shape (oval to cylindrical) on infected leek leaves. Read More »
Growing carrots in containers is one way to avoid carrot fly.
Carrot fly travel close to the ground, and a barrier 2 foot high will interupt their flight path, forcing the fly to take another route. If carrots are planted in a container at least 2 foot off the ground, the carrot flies will just zoom past the side of the container, and not bother the carrots growing inside.
Choose carrots from the Nantes or Amsterdam groups for containers. Nantes are sweet, round carrots that grow to around 6 inches long. . Amsterdam carrots are small and thin, growing no more than 3 inches long. Read More »
Samphire is an edible wild plant found in coastal regions of Great Britain at this time of the year.
There are two types of samphire, marsh samphire & rock samphire:
Marsh samphire ( latin name - Salicornia europaea)
Rock samphire (latin name - Crithmum maritimum)
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