Today 
Tomorrow
Allotments
Summer's here!
Posted by: Jane Moore, 02 August 2007, 09.56AM
This week it's looking like summer at last! I think we're all getting some sun and, boy, is it a welcome sight. I can almost see the plants shaking themselves off like damp dogs and settling down for a good sunbathe.
Well it's certainly good to know I'm not alone with my carrot problems as several of you seem to be experiencing the same. Thanks for the helpful suggestions, such as sowing them in pots - which does always work well, I know. It's just that I didn't think I was going to need that as back up. Remember what April was like?
I've been madly busy hoiking out all the early potatoes, which definitely have more than a touch of blight, which as Pippa has spotted is already rife this year. Once it's on someone else's plot, there's no stopping it spreading, however careful you are. Some of the spuds are complete yucky mush, while others look deceptively okay until you give them a gentle squeeze and all the rot oozes out. I've found 'Red Duke of York' is much more dodgy than good old 'Charlotte'. She is such a good 'doer' - I can't remember ever having a bad crop and I've grown 'Charlotte' for years now. (Spud-heads should check out The British Potato Council.
I spent yesterday sitting in the sun, carefully checking each spud before storing them. One rotten apple spoils the barrel and all that... I'm planning to lift the maincrops this weekend - I know it's early but I just can't face losing them all. It's going to leave me with a few beds empty earlier in the season than I thought so I'm toying with the idea of bunging in a few extra winter and spring crops such as purple sprouting broccoli, kale and cabbage. And I'd like a few fairly quick croppers to see me through late summer and autumn, but I can't think of anything other than kohl rabi that'll do the business. There must be other tasty quick growers. Mind you, I don't think I've ever eaten a kohl rabi. Let alone prepared one. Help!
Comments
L Stacey
02 August 2007, 11.47AM
TopVeg
02 August 2007, 07.53PM
Lynn
04 August 2007, 08.23AM
Inski
05 August 2007, 02.49PM
Sam Gee, Hertfordshire.
15 August 2007, 01.22PM
Thank you for your comment
Thank you for your comments. All comments will be looked at by a moderator, however, due to the numbers of comments we receive, we can't promise that all will be posted on the site.