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!