Our next show is on Saturday 13th July in the village hall. Doors open at 2pm but better still why not enter? Schedules and entry forms are available from the Five Bells or any committee member. There is always help on hand to offer advice and guidance on exhibiting.
We are now passed the longest day so though temperatures continue to rise the amount of daylight begins to reduce. This produces very subtle changes in plant behaviour. For instance lettuces will produce a less dense heart and the transplanting of seedlings becomes more problematic.
However early July is not too late to plant for late autumn or early winter crops. Beetroot will produce small globes and dwarf French beans will provide a green bean though the seeds will not mature. Chard is well worth planting now as it will give a good return in late winter , spring and early summer of next year.
However the most important task in the vegetable and container garden is regular watering as described last month.
Aubergines, peppers , chillies benefit from a weekly feed. Courgettes will soon be in production. Harvest regularly to ensure continuing cropping since if they get large enough to produce seed the plant will think “ job done” and give up! Remember to keep the leaves dry to avoid mildew.
Stop indoor tomatoes at six trusses and those outside at four. The warm weather combined with rising humidity makes the perfect conditions for tomato blight. The spores initially infected the leaves especially after rain but then rapidly spreads to the stem and fruit. It is the same genus as potato blight so the two crops should not be grown in close proximity.
It is largely air spread though in theory spores can over winter in rotting infected plants from the previous year so it is essential to clear all infected crops at the end of the season but avoid composting it as the heat generated in a compost heap is not sufficient to kill the spores. Green waste is heated to a higher temperature which will sterile the compost. There are no chemical controls available to the amateur gardener so try and ensure good movement of air and perhaps try blight resistant varieties.
Another plague tormenting the vegetable grower is carrot fly. This can over winter in the soil either as a pupa or larva at a depth of up to 30cms. In May they lay their eggs and the maggots infect the adjacent carrot roots before maturing into a small fly and setting off for pastures new. There are therefore two main periods of peak infection in late May and June and August. Mesh will keep the fly out and prevent it from laying eggs so it is essential to ensure that the ground chosen for sowing carrots is disease free. There is no chemical help for the amateur gardener but there is a biological control available using nematodes which offers some help with the addition of a mesh covering.
At the end of the month keep a careful eye on the fig tree as with a warming climate figs are tending to ripen in August rather than early September. They will need protection against birds and here old tights and stockings make excellent little sacks to provide such protection.
Wisteria will be sending out lots of long wispy shoots and these need to cut back to maintain order.
Please remember our Summer Show
Good Gardening
Peter Estcourt