The Poultry Keeper

NannyP · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject: Blight?

My potato leaves began to go brown and die, so during the week on one of my better days, we harvested them all.
They're early's, but were pretty big due to large amounts of rainfall.
I'm assuming the foliage was blighted, so I'm pleased we lifted the crop when we did.
Am I right, that the foliage etc should be burnt? Mark is burning them at the moment, along with my tomato plants that had also began to get ? blight Sad

Plus Mange Tout, which had done really badly also, are rotting from the bottom up Rolling Eyes

All I have left, is harvested potatoes, a crate full. Loads of very vigorous looking pumpkins, and runner beans which are looking quite healthy. 3 pepper plants and some sweet potaotes.

All the soft fruit raspberries and loganberries are really prolific, seemingly unpreterbed by wet weather.
The blackberry bushes look absolutley full of fruit, so there will be tons of jam, chutney, liquer and wine this autumn.

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Sorry, dunno Nanny, but apparently we are all going to decend on you in the Autumn for blackberry liquer and Raspberry wine

Or was it pumkin wine and pepper liquer ! Confused

Lisa · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:32 pm Post subject:

Yes, burn the blight. A compost heap might get hot enough to kill the spores, so I wouldn't risk it.

PS When exactly is this party at NannyPs then?! Got to put the right date on the calendar Wink

NannyP · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

T'is burnt.

Oh, hadn't thought of pumpkin wine, what a good idea.

What's this, "apparently" then George, and whose we Shocked

Of course, I could find room in the garden for tents, but you might get a little wet or cold, I have no idea what the weather will be like this Autumn.
Very Happy

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Oh I wasn't suggesting they stay over,

but it would be great fun watching them staggering down the road after a thimble full of the liquer ! Razz

NannyP · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject:

It's bloody long way to come and not stay over Laughing

tuzo2k · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 179 Location: charente sw france

Most of my early potatoes were ruined with blight, also some of the tomatoes. The later potatoes seem ok but am keeeping a wary eye on them. We also have three hundred or so grape vines which can also be affected so am keeping the bordeau mixture at the ready!! Called botrytis on grapes I think. After all the hard work fighting off the weeds etc the weather can be the biggest problem - either too dry, too wet, too humid and so it goes on.

mcleod-girls · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:19 pm Post subject:

if its blight I wouldnt plant there again next year if you can avoid it. also, have heard that your should avoid picking soft fruit when its damp as they soon go mouldy (a few hours)

sorry you are not having much luck, we are in the same boat, very little doing, too cold and damp Sad

NannyP · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 11:17 pm Post subject:

Soft fruit is going straight into freezer, so thats not a problem.

I may not plant the veg garden next year...I'm going to cover and kill weeds, and may decide to do it for a year to be sure. The weeds have had a riot in this weather...and I have had times when I have not been able to do anything about them. next time I will be prepared.

mojo · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 2:55 pm Post subject:

tricia (the worker) has laid memrane and planted thro it ..............but all the toms are dead and just about everything else except yellow beans........and cant even burn the offending blight as fires illegal till end sept.............and after a super trip for her to come home to this...............bet toms will be dear too to buy

NannyP · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:36 pm Post subject:

We had a bonfire last week Mojo....we reckoned (well I did, it wouldn't occur to Mark) that is was so wet, we were hardly likely to set fire to France Laughing

Poor Trica...and yes, fruit and veg will be much more expensive.

mojo · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject:

the law doesnt take notice of the weather round here

NannyP · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:10 pm Post subject:

Probably not here either!!