Potato Harvest

This week began as I finished harvesting my pototoes. I grew Desiree in large and strong plastic bags - a sample of the harvest is pictured here.

They taste OK boiled, are firm, and beautifully clean potatoes. The leaves and stems were also clean and green (but I don't eat them of course). Growing potatoes in bags and containers seems to drastically reduce the impact of soil pests (e.g. no slugs), and probably reduces disease too.

But I was a bit disappointed at the yields (maximum 41 tubers from 4 plants in a bag). I'll do better next time. The work involved in container growing should not be underestimated. However, it is ideal for a yard situation.

FROST - FROST - FROST

In the north west of England we often get milder weather due to the maritime influence. So here you may have just missed any frost - that is up until this week.

The last few mornings have been white until midday. A blocking high pressure area is keeping the skys clear and blue.

Fall Gardening - Tidying Up

I tidied away the Runner Beans, Sweet Peas and outdoor Tomatoes.

I've already harvested sufficient over ripe pods for next year's seed. But, yesterday there was still about a handful of beans for the pot, and the leaves were green and unblemished. However, low light and temperatures have brought productivity to an end as evidenced by a few bean pods dying back or with wilted tips. So I cut the ties, removed the canes, and broke off the stems at ground level for composting. It's remarkable how swollen and fibrous the bean roots have become.

I also uprooted 2 outdoor tomatoe plants one with a nice fruit truss that will ripen indoors. The sweet peas - a little dissapointing this year - were also removed.

All this organic matter was piled together and chopped with the spade before putting on the compost heap and continuing with more chopping there.

Autumn Raspberries:
Autumn raspberries are a wonderful end to the gardening season. I'm growing the variety All Gold from Suttons Seeds - in U.K. - which has attractive gold coloured fruits.

These attractive autumn fruiting varieties produce fruit in the first year. At this time of year I can't expect loads but, they are a welcome addition to my breakfast cereal. But the season has lasted from 25 August pictured right to the 8 November (left) and still going.


On picking raspberries:
Most gardeners advise that the whole fruit be gently lifted off the central cone or hull when it's ready. But you may notice that the remaining cone shaped receptacle tissue stays fleshy and damp. Soon it begins to go brown. It seems like an open invitation to fungal infection. So after picking the fruit I cut these off with scissors. May be it's unnecessary. May be I'm too fussy. But fruit left too long on the cane or after picking can go creamy pale, soft and squashy. I haven't yet seen significant amounts of botrytis spores.