Veg Talk – September 2024

Whitefly Infestation

If all plants are still growing don’t worry, as once the temperature drops the whitefly will disappear.

Some will be eaten by ladybirds and hoverfly larvae. Hoverfly larvae are transparent so can be left to eat the whitefly; green caterpillars are best removed.

Older leaves on sprouts can be removed.

Whitefly can also be sprayed off with water – make an organic spray with garlic and water (see internet for guidance) or buy a chemical spray from Amazon, garden centres etc.

Yellow sticky sheets could also work but will trap other insects that may be useful around the plot

Veg Talk – June 2024

Blight

Once you have it you must either remove the affected leaves if not too bad, or cut down the haulms (tops, stems and foliage of the potato plant) if the stems have been affected.

If cutting off the haulms then leave the potatoes for two weeks before lifting – you will then know if they are edible or not! The cut-off haulms must be removed from the site. DO NOT put them on your plot compost heaps, take them home and put in your brown garden waste bin, or your general waste bin.

If you don’t have any signs then you can take some preventative measures. Spray a copper based fungicide available at Smith’s Garden Centre, or Chadwell Allotment Shop. An organic method that has had some success in the south-west would be to spray with a mix of milk and water, unclear how successful this method of prevention would be.

Pink Fir Apple potatoes , a very late main crop, are notorious for getting blight so keep an eye on these if you grow them. A good main crop blight resistant potato is Sarpo Mira.

Possibly spraying a seaweed mixture on potatoes. This will add nutrients and make a healthier plant that may withstand the blight but will not prevent.

Veg Talk – March 2024

Question : Why are my second earlies were chitting more quickly than first earlies?

Answer : As they had been kept in the dark the chits had got long and leggy rather the short, stronger, green purplish chits that would grow if potatoes placed in a light position. They can be planted out early/now but be wary of ground frosts up to end May; it won’t kill the plants but will knock them back to a later and smaller crop. Pink Fir Apple potatoes have a long growing season, 26 weeks harvesting late September / October. They are prone to blight, but do store very well, don’t sprout as much as other main crop potatoes, do like a lot of water – if not you will get small individuals rather than larger spuds.

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Raspberry Canes Summer fruiting cut the canes that have fruited and turned brown. Autumn fruiting cut in autumn/winter when crop finished.

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Blackcurrant/Redcurrant if growing as cordons need to be started from scratch. Redcurrants should have new growth pruned to 2/3 buds in summer or November. Blackcurrants prune in winter taking one third of darkest wood out.

Veg Talk – February 2024

Broad beans can be sown in propagator or greenhouse, or if very mild straight into the ground but beware that if sown in Feb rather than October they are more likely to be attacked by blackfly and/or eaten by mice.

Potatoes – time to chit, place rose end upwards (egg boxes/trays) and keep in a light cool area. Will be ready when chits are top joint of thumb size, if longer they are not getting enough light and are unlikely to produce a good crop. Plant out March/April. Earlies can be left in the ground until needed.

Parsnips – are on sale as seedlings in Smiths in small pots/trays – not the best way to grow as if the root reaches the bottom it will fork. Can be planted out in February but will need protection, an expensive way to grow. Much cheaper to buy seeds – take 2 to 3 weeks to germinate. Mix parsnip seeds with radish seeds, these germinate very quickly and will act as a reminder where your parsnip seeds have been sown.

Onion sets – planted March, still available at garden centres such as Smiths, the Chadwell Allotment Shop has sold out. Also garlic and shallots. Good varieties are Stuttgart, Centurion or Sturon.

Tidy Up Time get your plot ready for the main growing season. Prune your apple and pear trees. Clean and tidy up your site and enjoy the next few months.

Happy growing!

Veg Talk – January 2024

Regarding the issue of the increased rainfall leaching out nutrients from soil, some options for plot holders include:

• Grow a green manure, cover with manure, cover with any form of mulch such as cardboard laid down and weighted, leave weeds in and double dig in Spring, or no dig is a an approach that is gathering popularity.

• It is never too late to mulch even if you start sowing in March.

Sweetcorn can be germinated in the ground, or put 2 seeds in a 3” pot in a cold frame end May, can expect an 80% germination rate; wind pollinated so best grown 18” apart in a block, NOT in rows! Will
need feeding with calcified seaweed, Tomorite, or comfrey liquid.

Deadly Nightshade

Hi All

Clive Robertson has reported having Deadly nightshade on his plot.

Please be aware not to eat the Black ‘smartie’ sized Berries they can be fatal..

It might be wise to remove this perennial if you find growing on your plot.

Attached an ident and info page on the plant

Happy gardening

Andrew

Chair

VEGGIE TALK – JUNE 2023

Comfrey liquid – be careful of strength used, needs to be diluted similarly to Tomorite. One part comfrey to 10 parts water (BBC Gardener World magazine)

Coddling Moth pheromone traps – now is the time to use these to reduce damage to apple crops. 60 – 80% effective, use one trap now and then replace in 5 weeks. A similar product is available for plum
trees. Can be bought as refills, or full kits with tent holder, from garden centres, online and Chadwell Allotment shed.

There are rabbits at Rosedale Road, but there is a fox and hedgehogs, plus other wildlife such as slow worms and grass snakes – none of which are dangerous to humans and all are beneficial to allotments – they must not be harmed in any way.

Jerusalem Artichokes grow – approximately 7 feet tall.

VEGGIE TALK – APRIL 2023

Potatoes, cabbage, onions all in.

It is too late to move rhubarb as now cropping.

You can use straw and manure to make ridges for potatoes; helps keep in moisture, useful if another dry year.

Try old seeds on damp tissue to check if still germinate.

Parsnip take 2+wks to germinate, old seed (1yr+) will not.

Intersperse radish seed with parsnip; radish seed germinates quickly and will mark the line.

GIVE UP SMOKING BONFIRES – APRIL 2023

VEGGIE TALK – FEBRUARY 2023

Celery and celeriac can be started in greenhouses. Reminder – don’t plant tender plants out until beginning of June.

Comfrey can be harvested and used for plant food – put into barrel, after 6 weeks can tap off the liquid, dilute that with water, as would with Tomorite. Do not mix comfrey with water when put into barrel, it
will smell awful very quickly. Do not use once comfrey that has started to flower. Alternatively can use nettles in same way. Both comfrey and nettles are very high in potassium. Good alternative to Tomorite, which itself is an excellent all-round fruit-bearing plant food. Remember to dilute.

Horseradish – the deeper you dig, the hotter the root. If growing on plot, or at home, use a deep container as invasive growth. Grate into jars, but make sure you do it outside, or in very well-ventilated
area – noxious fumes!