A choc-full plot!
So I’m on my guard against pests that want to nibble my tasty crops
With July knocking on the door, I’m hopeful it’s going to be a lot kinder to us gardeners than June has been with its many weather frights. That said, most plants weathered the storms and put on a lot of growth. The plot is now choc-full and there’s scarcely a piece of bare earth in sight.
July is more of a relaxed month, with harvesting at the core of all activities. The hard work is behind us and the expectations of high summer beckon, with bright blue skies and warm, sunny days. There’s the weeding and feeding to contend with, and this fills the gap in between bountiful harvest gathering. It’s time to enjoy the month, gracefully whiling away the hours ‘potching’ among the plants, taking things at a leisurely pace. Our little patches are ready to reach the peak of perfection.
To me, this is ‘hunting’ time in the garden, as it’s not only us who are seeking tasty produce to feed on. The pests are looking for somewhere to house their families and have plenty of food at hand – a bit like us really.
Despite being a friendly guy, I’m not prepared to share the fruits of my labour with these unwanted guests! The aphids are everywhere and love to feed on the tender parts of plants. This is no more evident than on the tips of my beans and sweet peas.
At last, the early carrots I sowed what seems like an age ago, have made some lovely orange roots. These are now added as a new item I can please my wife with on my arrival home! They’re a great stop-gap until the plot starts with my long- term supply of later carrots.
My stalwart of winter, the swede, has finally made large enough plants to join my other brassicas under the net cage. At least these have made a decent size and will stay clear of flea beetle attack. They’re planted out the same way as my other brassicas, with lime lining the hole in which they’re planted to reduce club root attack, even though they’re a resistant type called ‘Invitation’.
They are, however, not collared against cabbage root fly, as swedes seem able to ward off any attack from this pest. So, I can sit back, let these grow and fill out until autumn.
This year was going to be a pumpkinfree year on my plot. But one of my neighbouring plot holders had one spare and gave it to me. No room on the plot, so the plastic covered compost heap was the only space available. I cut an ‘X’ into the plastic with a sharp knife and scoop out part of the compost underneath.underneath This was filled with multi-purpose compost and the pumpkin pushed into it to give it a good start in life. This will benefit from all the goodness of the heap – hopefully there’ll be a few unexpected pumpkins at the end!
Two crops that only thrive in warm, moist conditions – the fennel and pak choi – can now be sown without hindrance to their growth. I am sowing ‘Chu Choi’ as my pak choi variety and ‘Tauro’ for my fennel.