Veg Talk – November 2025

Clive has asked if Andrew could provide a simple quick guide to best planting conditions for the most popular crops. This was agreed to be impractical, although there were many other sources available i.e information online, tv programmes, seed packets, gardening books, experience through trial and error.  Andrew did say that he would answer any questions relating to growing crops if anyone wanted to ask via email (andyklecha@talktalk.net).

Beetroot need regular watering whilst growing then it should be able to stay in the ground until needed and not get woody.

Time to plant broad beans, garlic, overwintering Japanese onions. Cauliflower can be planted as seedlings now, if watered regularly and covered with net to protect from pigeons you could get a cauliflower in May.  However, it should be noted that cauliflowers are not an easy vegetable to grow!

Veg Talk – September 2025

It’s been a good year for tomatoes and courgettes with no blight! However, it may still get on potatoes – if this occurs, then cut off the tops and leave the potatoes for two weeks before lifting.

Q. When pears can be picked?

A. Pick them when not ripe as they are notorious for sudden ripening due to sogginess – hold and lift the individual fruit and if snaps off then it’s ready, if have to pull them, they’re not. If you want to ripen pears quickly, place next to bananas.

Veg Talk – June 2025

Bullace Tree is a wild plum/damson type fruiting tree. When ripe the fruits will be yellow/red/purple, this should be end of summer. They can be picked for stewing, jam making, or freezing. They can have a largish stone.

It’s not too late to plant out tomatoes, squash, runner or French beans.

Q. How do you stop apples falling off?

A. Reduce apples to two per spur; if you do not the tree will shed excess fruit, naturally discarding the weaker fruits. This is known as the June drop.

Veg Talk – May 2025

Ne’er cast a clout until May be out!

The weather warning in Spain is for hailstones etc. There is no rain, or frost forecast for at least a fortnight, but don’t take it for granted – only plant out hardened-off seedlings – protect with fleece, or mulch, or under cloches if frost threatens. Bull Meadow site is a frost pocket, so be extra aware if that is where you have a plot.

You can plant any seeds you want now – but keep them watered e.g. cauliflowers need a lot of regular watering to grow to a decent size.

Hedgehogs have been seen on Bull Meadow for the first time for a good while. None have been reported at Rosedale Road. Maybe now that slug pellets are organic and not poisonous, this may be good for more hedgehogs on site as they are good at keeping down slugs and snails. Other ways of trying to control slugs and snails include crushed egg shells, coffee grounds, and copper tape.

Veg Talk – April 2025

Potatoes, onion sets, broad beans, beetroot, carrots, kohl rahbi – all can now be planted

It’s currently warm weather and we’re in need of some rain. There’s been no frost for a couple of days and so hopefully we’ve seen the end of it, but just in case, don’t forget to protect delicate crops

Veg Talk – March 2025

As it is still cold at night, be wary of planting anything into the ground.

Potatoes should be chitting well by now.

Veg Talk – February 2025

Potatoes

If your seed potatoes are large, you can split in two.

Check where the chits are, cut so some on both halves, dab each cut section in ash or salt to seal and so get two regular sized seed potatoes for one large!

Parsnips

Why parsnips go brown at the top?

Online research suggested it was a fungal infection caused by water logged soil. Still edible once brown(ed) areas cut out.

Veg Talk – January 2025

Protect any tender crops by covering with fleece, mulch, or manure.

The birds are hungry and pigeons have been eating the tops out of plants – netting will help keep them away.

Now is the perfect time to get all the prep done on your plots for the start of the new growing season.

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.