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Peas and broad beans are the mainstay of mid-summer supplies. The over-wintered mange-tout ‘Oregon Sugar Pod’ peas did not do well. Instead of ripping them out, broad beans were ‘stitched’ into the surviving peas. As they get different pests and diseases the ailing peas won’t affect beans as they would...
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At last allotment work is easing off and the plot is mostly up to date. I have to say I am relieved – it has been a bit hectic harvesting and replanting at the same time. With only six weeks or so of growing weather left, plants must not run short of nutrients. However everything looks mighty lush and...
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With record numbers of enquiries to the RHS gardening advisers about weedkiller damage to potatoes that often appear to be linked to manure contaminated with the pasture weedkiller aminopyralid , my heart has been in my mouth that I too might have bought dodgy muck. But so far so good – all looks well...
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Heavy rain has restored the allotment soil to full moisture. Winkling out spent winter crops revealed bone-dry powdery sand beneath, so it is certain that flowering broad beans and peas were suffering and would set fewer pods and potatoes would not initiate their full cropping potential. All that has...
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Will I have to water, won’t I have to water? Rain so far has usefully wetted the ground, but more is forecast and with luck it will top up the soil at just the right moment as seeds are emerging, lettuces hearting up, spuds initiating their tubers and peas and beans are in full flower. Enough rain now...
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At last the tide has turned and I can now sow at will in good weather and with warm moist soils – perfect. Carrots for winter harvest were sown this weekend. For rotational reasons they are not grown on my raised beds this year but in open ground. This sandy soil is ideal for carrots, but it is also...
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Wind and sun on Saturday dried the soil out just enough to work and make a seedbed for the peas and broad beans. Legumes are a very important crop for me – they are the best early summer veg and fill the freezer as well. The main sowing is made now as the earlier the sowing the heavier the crop. March...
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