Our next event is the Summer Show on Saturday 25th July in the village hall from 2pm to 4pm. Please come and support us and have convivial and social afternoon. We will also be judging the children’s potatoes in buckets competition.
We are now approaching the longest day and this year will be half spent.
All frost tender plants are now outside in their final positions.
Apart from a few downpours and a hail storm in mid May the year so far has been quite dry. I expect this to continue so watering is going to be a daily task. It is always best to use rain water where possible as this dissolves oxygen in its descent and when stored in water butts remains at the best temperature for use. Remember water straight from the tap or a well maybe on the cold side for watering in hot weather. So if no rain and no hose pipe ban , keep your water butts full from the hose.
Water either early in the morning or in the evening but not during the heat of the day as much will be lost to evaporation and an increase in humidity may encourage fungal disease. Always water at the base of the plant and try and keep the leaves dry to avoid encouraging disease. With containers always water round the edge to ensure that the plant uses all the available space.
With tomatoes, sweet peppers, chillies and aubergine apply a weekly liquid feed as soon as the fruit has set. Aubergines may need the help of a fingertip to ensure fertilisation. For tomatoes I strongly recommend a liquid seaweed based feed. Learned papers will exalt the value of seaweed for its trace elements, enhancement of growth and help with soil structure. However to me the great benefit of seaweed is , along with wood ash and horse manure, in the enhancement of flavour. After all tomatoes originate from the coastal regions of Peru and Chile and coastal communities have been aware of the value of seaweed for thousands of years, perhaps most notably in Jersey Royal potatoes.
The real enthusiast , perhaps with bored children or grandchildren , can collect seaweed from the beach a few days after an autumn gale. The washed up seaweed will have had the salt washed off by the rain and is free to collect and is even doing a service in cleaning the beach! Do not strip it from the rocks as this maybe illegal.
It is then best to shred it and place it on the ground where next year’s potatoes and tomatoes are to be grown. Any left over can be added to the compost heap.
Inside tomatoes will usually support six trusses whereas those outside just four.
Powdery mildew is prevalent on outside cucumbers, courgettes, marrows and squashes and is encouraged by wetting the leaves. An old fashioned remedy is to spray the leaves with a mixture of one part full cream milk with ten parts water. I have never tried it!
In the greenhouse cucumbers are prone to red spider mite and aubergine and peppers to aphids. Both can be discouraged by a nightly fine spray of water.
Remember to pick courgettes and cucumbers regularly as once the fruit matures and starts producing seed the plant has done its duty and will stop producing.
With early broad beans remove the growing tip as soon as the lower pods are forming to reduce the risk of black fly. The tips can be used as a green vegetable rather like spinach.
By the end of the month first early potatoes will be ready to be dug. Dig as required and then add a little garden compost and plant out the leeks. With a dibber make a hole so all but the top couple of inches are in the ground and then fill with water. It is often said that you should trim the top and roots before planting but I don’t think that this is necessary.
With greenhouse grapes allow one bunch per spur and stop it two leaves beyond the embryo bunch.
Check stone bearing fruit trees for any dead wood and tidy up as necessary.
Make sure strawberries are well netted against birds and the fruit is off the ground to prevent rot and to discourage slugs.
Don’t forget the Summer Show. Schedules are available at The Five Bells or from any committee member.
Good Gardening and perhaps a rain dance!
Peter Estcourt