Pests on the Allotment and in the Poly-tunnel

Dealing with pests on the allotment

I have been somewhat concerned lately about a very persistent and very destructive red-ant nest in my poly-tunnel. Normally, I prefer to live-and-let-live. I have known about these ants in my tunnel since it was first erected and I was aware that the odd early potato failed to grow as the ants had moved into its ridge to make their home. This year, however, they really have become quite destructive. Of the 16 potatoes I planted, 3 have failed because of the ants’ nest in that area. Worse still, plants I was growing in pots for our Community Garden project to sell have been invaded by the ants, where they have even set up a crèche for their babies ! the cheek! have keeled over and died – very quickly.

Something more permanent had to be done.

Now, last year I had bought a garden insect killer which I understand is acceptable for organic growers as it uses natural pyrethrins, called Py. I am open to contradiction on this. [I had been informed that this compound had replaced Derris, now, no longer available.] Care must be taken near water as it is toxic to aquatic organisms and can be harmful to bees. The carton says that it kills ants but, only on contact. Yes, it does kill ants on contact and while I regret having to do it, I hope I will have no more problems with them.

Last year, at this time I was stressing about asparagus beetle. My asparagus is a particularly early variety and, this year, I have been eating it since late March. This is the first year I have been able to eat it. It has now been on my plot for three years – the time recommended to allow the crowns to establish. I have even had enough to give bundles away to friends. As I am eating it instead of allowing the spears to grow into ferns, I have not had to worry about the dreaded beetle..... yet!

Over winter, I have disturbed the ground around the plants as much as I’ve dared in the hope of exposing the adults to frost. I’ve also ensured there have been no weeds or debris around the plants where the adults might hide to overwinter. But, really I know, this is not enough. As soon as I stop harvesting and allow the ferns to grow up, the beetles will be there. The beetles themselves don’t do any harm to the plants but, they lay eggs which hatch into nasty little larvae. Those are the creatures which will devastate your plants. Unfortunately, if left to do their thing, you will have no crop next year.

Start early on the beetles themselves... pick them off and squash them. If you can see the eggs [they are only about a millimetre long] squash those too. You will always miss some which will hatch. Squash the larvae. If you can, check and do it daily. I really recommend wearing rubber or nitrile gloves !

Now the really spectacularly magic cure-all is SB Plant Invigorator [ and here you will think I have shares in the company – I don’t!]. It is non-toxic [you can eat plants you spray it on within a few hours – do read the instructions!], environmentally friendly, biodegradeable. It also acts as a pesticide, mildewcide and a foliar nutrient – I quote the blurb here.

It is, unfortunately, only available on-line [do check different sources for the best prices and think of the postage costs].

I have used this stuff for the last two years in my poly-tunnel and outdoors. Anyone, who has ever had a red-spider-mite problem will know how very difficult it is to control or eradicate. To my surprise SB Plant Invigorator succeeded. It did require spraying every-other day for several weeks [ the regular misting of the plants might also have contributed to its success].

Over the last few years I have had an overwhelming problem with whitefly on my brassicas. I can’t claim that the product removed the problem entirely but, certainly the fly problem was much reduced and the plants were amazingly healthy and strong.

Of course, slugs and snails are a perennial problem though, as I continue to till my ground, I find that the damage they cause is greatly reduced. I usually only use slug pellets on my seed beds, my poly-tunnel and around newly planted out brassicas – but, I do hate it when I bring home strong healthy heads of cauliflower to find them full of slugs.

Many of my plot neighbours use beer traps for slugs and snails and even brew their own beer for this purpose [it is so much cheaper]. In my garden at home I have not found this even slightly effective – loads of slug damage on my plants but, no slugs in the beer traps. However, I might try it again on my plot this year – more later!

Of course, at home the pests can be slightly different. I am surprised that any self respecting rat or mouse would come within a mile of my house, there are so many cats in this area and I have four of them. Not that three of my cats would pose any kind of threat to any creature. Being male they are too lazy and have no hunting skills. However, my very beautiful queen - Missy - makes up for all of them. She is a killer par excellence! This morning, while it was still murky, as I walked into my sitting-room, I stepped on somthing squishy! Closer inspection disclosed a large gutted dead mouse [perhaps a small rat - I didn't inspect it too closely]. It's mate was lying not too far away.

More on pests and problems later!

Late April on the Allotment

Late April on the Allotment

I’m pleased to see the rain, yes, really I am and, of course it is April, when we expect a bit of rain. I’m sure farmers and commercial growers are very relieved as water is needed on crops especially when they are trying to get them established. But! I really do wish it was a bit warmer and with a bit more sunshine between showers. The birds, nesting now, are desperate for food and my robins are waiting for me each time I come to the plot. They can be quite in my face!

I have had a nasty little, flu’ like virus for a couple of weeks and I feel it has put me somewhat on the back foot as far as my allotment work has gone, especially planting my main-crop potatoes. I have now managed to get my Sarpo Mira seed in the ground [ after several years of experimenting with different varieties, I’m really taken with these. They have an excellent balance of disease and pest resistance and good flavour... and... they keep well. I only finished my crop from last year in mid February and they were still good].  I bought all of my seed potatoes from Thompson and Morgan. While I have whinged, in the past, about T&M delivering seed potatoes far too late to chit properly, this year the service has been excellent. And, they do have an excellent selection. This year I have found it particularly difficult and wearisome planting the potatoes. I’m hoping this is just because I’m been a bit under the weather and not because I’m getting past it!  However, I was chatting to a fellow plotter in the last few days who has told me that he doesn’t dig ridges for his potatoes any more – he uses a large bulb planter instead. Now that might be a method worth trying next year – at least for some of them, as a trial.

My 1^st early potatoes in the polytunnel [Vales Emerald] are already putting on flower buds so, perhaps in a few weeks I will be able to start harvesting. I see the outdoor sown Vales Emerald are also well up – still under a protective layer of fleece to protect them from the frost. I have never tried this variety before – I had become quite fond of Accent as my 1^st early but, this year I was unable to get them. The Vales Emerald are not, at the moment inspiring me, they certainly don’t seem to be as robust as Accent and a couple of the plants have failed to grow or have died back though, I wonder if this is due to red-ant nests which are in the vicinity. I would prefer to live with the ants but, poly-tunnel space is precious and perhaps I need to be a bit more jealous of this space.

I moved most of my young tomato plants, and a few chilli plants to my polytunnel about three weeks ago [although I can propagate them at home, I can’t provide the young plants with enough light]. I covered them with fleece until they had settled in then took the fleece off. Unfortunately, on the same day I took the fleece off we had a really hard frost. The surprising part was that the chillies were fine, tomato F1 Fantasio was fine but, Alicanti was seriously hit by the frost. That said, I won’t resow as most of the affected plants have put out side shoots which will still be way ahead of any new sowing I would make.

I have now moved lots of my seedlings, including my first batch of sweetcorn, [F1 Earlibird from Dobies] to my ploy-tunnel but, am careful to keep them covered with fleece until this cold spell has passed. I hope the weather will have warmed up by the beginning of May and I can plant my first batch of sweetcorn out. I do have another variety F1 Rising Sun [ also from Dobies] which I will leave for another week before sowing. If they all germinate as well as the Earlibird and produce good crops I will have far too much sweetcorn. But, in the past I’ve been disappointed by some crops so I’m spreading my bets. Last year I tried an experimental plot of Butcher’s Blood [a red seeded variety]. I found germination rate poor but, those seeds which did germinate, grew into tall strong plants. Unfortunately, I found the cobs tough and rather tasteless. But you have to keep trying new stuff, you never know when you will come up with something magic.

Now, at last, I have found a courgette which I actually like – F1 Orelia [ Dobies seed]. It has a golden skin and the flesh is dryer and denser than the more common zucchini. Unfortunately, last year I only had one seed germinate and this year- so far – I have had three but, guess what, I’ve broken one ! It still survives and might just make it but, I’ve resown just in case. However, I’m losing faith in my ability to germinate them... they should be easy. What am I doing wrong? Is my propagator too warm? Perhaps too cool? Should I just try them on the window sill? Any ideas would be gratefully received. Perhaps I should just get my daughter to grow them for me!

Last year I had real difficulties germinating peppers and chillies. This year, of the three varieties I’ve sown, I seem to have about 100% germination and can give them away. I think last year, the temperature of my propagator may have been too hot. Any thoughts?

My daughter loves all the different varieties of chillies she grows each year. However she lost the label on one plant she gave me. It produced purple fruit about 2cm [1 inch] long which turned red when properly ripe. Of course I dried the chillies for use over the winter. These babies are absolutely lethal! I scrunched a little one up into a curry I was making and, of course, washed my hands well afterwards. An hour later I was working on my computer and rested my chin in my hands. My face started to burn so, I rubbed it again and the burning spread to everywhere I touched. This pain lasted for quite some time! Gosh I will never learn!

So far this year I have sown two different varieties of peas. On 6^th March I sowed 4 packets of Little Marvel, an early variety. I covered them with fleece, as much to protect them from predators as from frost. They are now about 15cm high [6inches] and I have staked them already. I also sowed Hurst Green Shaft on 20^th March. They are still under a layer of environmesh but in the coming week I will remove this also and stake them. They are looking good.

Following advice I was given a couple of years ago on growing a pea crop – I sow lots of seed into each trench. My plot is about 5 metres wide. I will create three trenches about 3 – 4 cm deep [1½ inches]. I have divided 4 packets among the 3 trenches which is really fairly dense sowing. However, compared with the advice often given on sowing pea seed, this method has had spectacularly successful results. Let’s face it, the seed is not so expensive that we need to be precious about each seed. My crop last year filled a complete drawer of my freezer with bags of frozen peas. I am just coming to the end of them now.

Easter Holiday Activities - Westonbirt

Easter Holiday Activities – Westonbirt, the National Arboretum and Malmesbury

Well, we have now had our much longed-for rain and Easter weekend was definitely not seaside kind of weather. I believe we are now back to more seasonal temperatures though, I think possibly those people who have had to deal with heavy snowfalls would disagree with that.

The ground on my allotment is now diggable again after the long hot dry spell and I must plant the rest of my maincrop potatoes in the coming week.

On Good Friday morning I picked my daughter and her partner up from the station in Bristol and we headed out onto the M4 with the intention of visiting Westonbirt. Although we have lived in the Westcountry for nearly a quarter of a century neither my daughter nor her partner had ever visited the Arboretum before. My fault, I’m sure. My younger daughter and I are fairly frequent visitors. That said, I still managed to miss the correct exit from the motorway [the Bath turnoff] and drove on to the next one. I then couldn’t understand why I didn’t recognise any of the little Wiltshire villages we drove through. However, my daughter, expressing her disgust at my lack of direction and organisation, whipped out her trusty Smartphone and directed me back in the direction of Westonbirt.

We drove slowly through the town of Malmesbury, partly because the streets are narrow and partly because we were fascinated by the place. Although I have heard of it, I had never visited the town before. Situated in Wiltshire at the South end of the Cotswolds and between the banks of two different rivers Avon it has been built around Malmesbury Abbey which was established in the 7^th century A.D. Part of the Abbey is now in ruins but I gathered the main part of it is still in use. The town itself goes back to the 9^th century and was awarded its charter by Alfred the Great. Although the town has around 400 listed buildings, I don’t think any of them go back that far – the Abbey excepted. However, enchanting though it was, the purpose of the day’s trip was to explore the Arboretum not Wiltshire towns. It will have to keep for another occasion.

For me to get to the Arboretum [ the quickest route!] is to leave the M4 at junction18, also signposted for Bath but heading north on the A46. After a few miles take a right hand fork onto the A433. Westonbirt itself is a few miles further on and is clearly signed. A few miles further on you would come to the small town of Tetbury, another of the quaint and ancient Cotswolds towns.

The Arboretum is situated in Gloucestershire and was established by the Holford family on land in the village of Weston Birt in the first half of the 19^th century. It was taken over by the Forestry Commission in 1956. The Arboretum covers an area of approximately 600 acres [ 2.4km²] and has about 17 miles of safe walks through various areas. It is said to have one of the best tree collections in the world, collected from many countries with temperate climates around the globe.

Probably the most popular times to visit are the spring time when many trees are on flower – the exquisite magnolias and cherry trees and the gorgeous rhododendrons. But, the autumn provided colour of the different type when the leaves of the trees [mostly the huge range of acers] provide a startling display from rich crimsons, bright oranges, sienna and ochre, dazzling yellows and sombre browns.

There is always lots for young families to do– various activities are arranged to keep them entertained while they learn to love the environment, fresh air and freedom. Dogs are welcomed too and in some of the more remote walks many of the owners allow them off their leads to snuffle among fallen leaves and bracken for traces of wild animals and other interesting smells. I have been disappointed to see that some owners don’t bother to clear up the toileting activities of their pets, in spite of clear requests to do so.

In the main reception area the range of food available at the cafe is fresh and tasty if not exactly cordon blue but it is very welcome when you have spent several hours tramping around among trees. The toilet facilities are clean, plentiful and well looked after.

If you think it might be worth a visit do have a look on the Website for activities which are organised regularly throughout the year ‘Popular events include the Live Music concerts programme, Treefest and the Enchanted Christmas illuminated trail.’

On this occasion, we didn’t walk too far as we had decided we would have a photographic competition among ourselves. And what wonderful photographic opportunities there are.

London - Greenwich, Greenwich Park, Greenwich Market, Etc

Visiting London – Greenwich Park, Greenwich Penninsula, Cutty Sark and all that!

I love Bristol. I love living in this city with its culture, warmth, vibrancy and community spirit – and of course, its beauty. But there is nothing to beat regular trips to London to experience several levels up of a few of those sensations. The warmth of community may be missing – it is such a vast, multi cultural city but, there is a buzz of excitement, innovation, technology, development which is not apparent anywhere else in the country – even in these days of recession. Of course, the 2012 Olympics have a strong influence on that.

My daughter has just bought a new flat over-looking the Thames from the Thames barrier to the O2. I went to London to, ostensibly, help her to move house. I’m not sure I was much use but, it was wonderful to be there as part of this experience and to voice enraptured reflections on the view from her pent-house patio. I have already booked my bedroom! Years ago, when I lived in London, I would never have dreamt of visiting the East End. My life had been built around areas like Hampstead, Pimlico, Holland Park, Maida Vale and the West End and at that time it was where life was ‘happening’. But, today, the exciting life of London has moved East. I have been introduced to new areas and experiences in London I have never visited before and I hope I will experience a few more in the coming months and years. The new London Gondola Lift across the Thames from close to the O2 Centre on Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks close to the new 2012 Olympics main areas. This is still under construction but, a few days ago they have added the main cables and the gondolas should be added well in advance of the Olympics. It is planned for 1km of cable car line across the Thames to the site and is, I believe, the first cable car in the UK.

This morning, we decided, after a hearty breakfast, still in my daughter’s old flat, that we would catch a bus from the Millennium Village from Oval Square [don’t you just love that?] to Blackheath. This is an old and very expensive part of London just above Greenwich Park and overlooking the City of London, Canary Wharf, etc. Blackheath is in the Royal Borough of Greenwich which has a long history with royalty dating back to 1433. Henry VIII introduced deer there so that he could go hunting in the park and reportedly, some of them still remain in the park, although, today, I didn’t see any. Now, Greenwich Park is – and deservedly so, a World Heritage site.

As I had never before visited the east end of London, neither had I visited the Royal Observatory at Greenwich – famous for Greenwich Mean Time [GMT]. It was good to have visited it at last and, although interesting, ancient telescopes and chronometers are not really my thing. Though you can book personal time at their famous telescope, which could well be worth trying.

Greenwich Park will be used as part of the 2012 Olympic Games venue and part of the Park will be closed off for the events. If you are planning to visit this area, do Google for information on what is happening, transport and what areas will not be available without tickets. As I understand, of the 19 events which will be happening in this area there will be: Equestrian events and Paralympic equestrian events; jumping, dressage and eventing. Also Modern Pentathlon.

We wandered down through the park through Greenwich Market to the now reconstructed Cutty Sark. Although this site won’t be open again until late April 2012 it already looks exciting. I believe, the Cutty Sark had a lot of its superstructure removed prior to a major fire in 2007 which destroyed much of the remaining structure of this 18^th century clipper ship. It seems that the old masts and original visible superstructure will be original. Although still cloaked in scaffolding, the original masts and rigging have now been replaced and, although difficult to photograph, especially from a mobile camera, with its new glassed in walk way, it looks amazing and well worth a visit in the future.

We didn’t spend too long with the Cutty Sark as my favourite method of London travelling was approaching fast and we had to, in fact, run for the queue – the London Clippers. I just love them! If you visit London you should really try this method of river transport. The Clippers go from the Royal Arsenal at Woolrich Pier, through Greenwich and up the Thames, under the Tower Bridge to the City of London. This has to be my favourite method of transport through London though, it doesn’t give any explanation of the historic sites and events around London – for that, do look at other river trips – these are an excellent introduction to this wonderful and historic city.

Back in Bristol, some neighbours are holding a Sunday night barbeque party – noisy and scenting the night with wood smoke. It reminds me of how happy I am to return to Bristol and my home. Although evocative of other times, I must go to bed in preparation for some much needed attention to my allotment in the morning.