Help MBE grow his dinner 2012

aliasojo

mrbadexample wrote: »

Do you need to?

I thought I did....until I read John's post.

I'm sure I saw something somewhere that said the soil couldn't be used if blight was present but perhaps I've misunderstood/read it wrongly or it was simply just wrong.

RedLass

mrbadexample wrote: »

Something I've learned is to get your stuff eaten. The longer you leave it in the ground the more chance that something else will have a nibble. I need to lift mine - they're about tennis-ball sized at the moment & they'll bolt if I'm not careful.

You were right. I went out to lift the beetroot this evening, and those that have made it to a good size all have a crater munched out of their shoulders! I couldn't see it beneath all the foliage, and at the back of the bed, didn't realise it was happening. We think it was caterpillars**, found a couple lurking as we pulled the beets. The long shaped ones didn't really grow very long, or very thick. Maybe they needed longer, or maybe the other variety just did better here. Those worth cooking have been washed and topped and I'll deal with them tomorrow night.

Also pulled up all the flopped over red onions. Really happy with these, didn't think they'd come to anything at all. Not exactly enormous show stoppers, but cheerfully round and worth eating.

The bed is slowly emptying out. Feels a bit sad to see it turning to bare soil again!

** Just googled a bit and given that the little blighter I picked up was pale, I think it was cutworm. Common problem?

RedLass

I was going to go see if any more beans are ready for picking. But we have sideways rain, so winter slippers and stew on the hob wins hands down!

annie123

kitcat80 wrote: »

And now I have an empty plot where my spuds were. Is there anything I can put in or should I give it a rest?

You could plant garlic in November, or google green manures, very good for improving soil.

aliasojo wrote: »

19 tomato plants, all blighted.

I've binned the worst ones and hacked back the ones that just have it starting in the hope the toms will get another few days to grow/ripen but I expect I'm wasting my time.
As they were in raised beds, heaven knows how I'm going to get rid of the soil, there's loads of it.

I've kept most of my blighted ones going by stripping off leaves daily, and the new ones growing at the top seem ok, shame some of the stems don't but it's long enough to get red toms.
As soon as one has a blush I've cut the bunch off and put in paper bags on the kitchen window and all the others on the bunch have turned red too. Keep on top of it and hopefully you'll get plenty too.
Re the soil; as some of mine are in the ground to there's no chance of me removing soil, spores or not, so the tubs will be emptied into the compost bin as usual and next year I'm growing blight resistance ones only. No greenhouse to provide cover for them so rather than fight it, seems easier to work with it.


I've either missed it or it's due soon so.....Happy golden wedding anniversary John:beer:

aliasojo

annie123 wrote: »

As soon as one has a blush I've cut the bunch off and put in paper bags on the kitchen window and all the others on the bunch have turned red too. Keep on top of it and hopefully you'll get plenty too.

I've either missed it or it's due soon so.....Happy golden wedding anniversary John:beer:

Thanks for the tip, I've got some that are beginning to ripen so I'll hunt down some bags and try that.

Ditto John. :beer:

Drea

I've been a bit MIA haven't I?

Hope everyone is ok

mrbadexample

Drea wrote: »

I've been a bit MIA haven't I?

Have you got a note?

mrbadexample

I pickled beetroot:



50/50 malt vinegar & white vinegar. 4 fatali chillies (pretty hot but not mental). One finely sliced onion. One stick of rosemary. Zest of one orange (I didn't have an orange so skipped this bit). Some pickling spices. 8oz sugar.

Cook & slice the beetroot. Layer slices in warm, freshly sterilised jar. Include onion and chillies. Boil the vinegar with the sugar & pickling spices. Pour over contents of jar and put the lid on.

I'll let you know if it's any good come Christmas.

mrbadexample

How much fruit has my pepper got?

aliasojo

More than you flipping well need. :rotfl:

Looking very healthy MBE. :beer: