Blighted

Emergency on Sunday morning: What are all those brown spots that have suddenly appeared on the potato plants? Could it be blight? Yes, sirree. Despite a dry summer, despite choosing varieties with good blight resistance (Romano and Setanta), despite the ground looking like nothing but nettles had grown there for the past four years...

Those tell-tale spots

Time to chop and burn. Of course, it started to rain just as we had reached row 3 out of 10, but luckily we managed to burn almost everything last night, with the aid of some old window frames to keep the fire going.

 The bonfire pile

The scene of terrible devastation

Now the question is: When to harvest the potatoes? I've read and heard anything from five days to three weeks. Time enough to give the skins a chance to harden and time enough for the spores to die. Any advice welcome.

Who's been nibbling at my neeps?

As I lopped off the potato haulms I discovered that the swedes were looking worse for wear. Some animal, a vole or rabbit I suppose, had been taking bites out of about 10 plants, which I had to donate to the compost bin. At least now the access is good for the cats to do their business of rodent control. They'll get the guilty party for sure.

At least the purple kohlrabi was unharmed. Not long now

 This week we had our first red cabbage, first French beans and Japanese radish (this is seriously hot stuff, it must be what Wasabi is made of).

My German heart delights

The carrots and tomatoes are cropping very well. Fingers crossed that the outdoor tomatoes won't catch the blight.

Amusing carrot of the week

Inside, everything has been coming along nicely. I'm very proud of my little cantaloupe and the first little watermelons have appeared.

The prize cantaloupe

Aubergine flowers

California Wonder bell peppers

And I've even had a chance to clear out the greenhouse a bit. I've decided half of the tomato plants can finish off ripening on the patio.

 Cleaned-up greenhouse

The successional sowing is happening quite naturally now that there's space available. I've just popped in a few pea Douce Provence seeds where the broad beans had finished and have resown a whole bunch of salad leaves since the trusty Salad Bowl Red has decided to bolt after three months of excellent service.

Now we'll have to get working on our potato (and root veg) storage facilities. The plan is some plastic bins in the ground. Luckily we have the bins already, but there is a lot of digging to be done...