First there was WMD - Weapons of Mass Destruction [I was not at all happy about them]
Then we had WWMD - What Would Martha Do? [I was OK with that, on questions of home organisation - but then she went into prison, and I felt she was not a very nice person, and lost my enthusiasm]
But now I am at the stage of WWMDD - What Would Monty Don Do? - I watch Gardeners' World avidly, and find his cheerful manner, and self-deprecating honesty quite delightful. He makes me believe I can do this gardening lark!
I am still assiduously following Huw's book - but that is really basic, and I kid myself I am just a little beyond the babysteps now. Especially as friends and family have kindly donated extra plants which are growing in the green house and on the patio and not in that one bed.I am incredibly grateful to my brother, for lending me this book. It is lovely to just read through - but also full of useful tips and has a very comprehensive index. When a book has over 400 pages and you want to find quickly the thing you read in bed last week, a good index is a must! Definitely a ***** volume. We returned from 3 days away last week, and I discovered the potatoes had some leaves with brown spots and yellow patches. "Blight!" I yelled. I rushed inside to check WWMDD?
Answer - all is not lost, harvest promptly. OK, some of the spuds will not have grown to their full size, but cropping immediately mean they will not be utterly lost. I have over 6kg of new potatoes carefully stored in brown paper bags in a cool place. We will be eating them relatively soon - with chives and fresh mint from my herb collectionLiz was in a shop the other week, and realised the tall pleasant guy coming the other way down the aisle was MD. He smiled and they passed each other. I would have been so tempted to say something. But what??? "You are Monty Don, and I claim my free packet of seeds" "I do like the way you manage your raised beds" "Please will you come and advise me on my tomatoes?".
I suspect I'd have been rooted to the spot, in silent admiration [apologies for unintentional gardening pun]
Answer - all is not lost, harvest promptly. OK, some of the spuds will not have grown to their full size, but cropping immediately mean they will not be utterly lost. I have over 6kg of new potatoes carefully stored in brown paper bags in a cool place. We will be eating them relatively soon - with chives and fresh mint from my herb collection
I must look up Gardener's World and see if there are any episodes to watch online. I'm glad you were able to save your potato harvest! My garden looked nice and green when I checked on the plants mid-morning. Then, in the afternoon, our temperature rose to 98F. By the time I went out to water the garden at 7:00 p.m., the majority of my vegetable plants were withered. Not just wilted, but, withered and dead! Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI am in awe of anyone who gardens in such temperatures (but wish I could grow my own oranges!)
DeleteI love Monty! He is the Don! Lucky her to meet him. His voice is so soothing. I'd watch him just for that!
ReplyDeleteGlad your potatoes were ok. 6K is amazing!
Thank you (guessing you are Kezzie??)
DeleteThose first new potatoes are just so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThey are delicious. I'm seriously considering your suggestion about tubs on the patio for next year.
DeleteGarden ers World is available here in US through Prime, which I don't have but a friend does. It's always an enjoyable watch together.
ReplyDeleteAlways fun to watch with a friend
DeleteI'm glad Monty came to the rescue :-)
ReplyDeleteIf blight strikes I tend to cut off all the foliage and then leave the potatoes in the soil for a couple of days. This 'sets' the skins and means the spuds will store a bit better, but as yours are new potatoes this doesn't really matter too much does it ... and of course home grown potatoes get eaten so much quicker anyway. :-)
Thanks for this tip, Sue
ReplyDeleteYou had blight and became a cropper.
ReplyDeleteYou have at least had a go at the potatoes. I hope that they are wonderfully tasty!
ReplyDeleteWe used to talk about our old cats having WMD - weapons of mouse destruction. I'll get my coat
ReplyDelete😸😺😼🐀🐁🐀
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