Watering Crops in Dry Weather

Watering Crops in Dry Weather

May was a wet cool month as everyone probably remembers – excellent for planting out, digging, weeding and working with the ground – when we could find a short spell when it stopped raining long enough for us to work our plots. But, growth was a bit slow, waiting for some sunshine and heat.

In June we have definitely had that. Growth is rampant, especially with soft fruit of all types that the birds have left alone. I have had to be away quite a lot lately and find, on my return, that my soft fruit crops are way ahead of my picking and using ability. My sugar-snap peas are almost too mature and my summer brassicas – Romanesco and purple cauliflower have headed up but without the water they needed to provide good heads. Most of a bed of Little Gem lettuces have just gone beyond looking their most attractive though I might still be able to salvage some.

I still have some beetroot and winter brassicas in pots waiting to be planted out but, the ground is now too hard and unworkable to plant them. I might have to water the ground well in the beds to be able to plant them out - then water well over days to ensure they have established.

I have a large plot and a poly-tunnel and find that I really must restrict the amount of watering I do. We are not allowed hose-pipes on our allotments but must carry water from fixed points throughout the fields. This can be demanding and very physical work. As I have a poly-tunnel, growing crops which do require water, it is important that this is my first priority. I could choose to water directly onto the root areas of the plants and leave the rest of the ground dry. However, red spider-mites can be a problem. These determined little pests don’t like moisture so I choose to water all of the surface and the paths to discourage the mites which do come in to my tunnel and can move from plant to plant unless discouraged.

If I had lots of energy and unlimited supplies of water I would slosh loads of water around my summer brassicas as they are hearting up and around my peas and runner beans and French beans as they are putting on their flowers and developing pods.

I am watering recently transplanted seedlings and my courgettes, cucumbers and winter pumpkins. The courgettes are now setting, the cucumbers are developing and the winter pumpkins are just putting up their first female flowers – some of them look as though they need some extra water.

I’m not too worried about my runner beans. This year I have planted them around tepees rather than in rows. I have found that, as my plot is on a slight slope, as the season progresses and the plants become heavier, my rows of canes start to lean determinedly downhill. I have chosen to plant them in my no-dig area which has had a good mulch of manure each year for several years. In the last few years I have followed my now naturalised flower bulbs with winter pumpkins, squashes and courgettes. I thought, this year,  it would be a good idea to have a change of crop. Well manured and composted ground will definitely hold onto moisture much longer than ground which lacks humus.

Suggestions:

·        It is important also, to keep weeds off the planted beds as the weeds will compete with your crops for the available water. Although it would seem that the weed cover is keeping the moisture from evaporating, really, those weeds which are probably more at home on your ground than the crops you plant, will take the best nutrients and moisture. Hoeing is good in dry weather, if you can get the hoe through the ground. The decomposing weeds will be a mulch to help keep the moisture in. In wet weather, hoeing is not so useful as the weeds move over and re-root

·        Lots of humus in the soil helps to hold onto the moisture in dry weather. Add manure, either as a mulch in autumn or early spring and dig in well or, in a no-dig bed, add in the autumn and let the worms take the humus into the soil. I have, in the past [and will probably continue to do so, put lots of well rotted manure around my fruit bushes, trees, canes etc. in autumn and early spring to feed them and to act as a mulch. However, I have found that birds – crows, magpies, blackbirds, robins, pigeons, remove it looking for insects and scatter it everywhere but under my bushes.

·        Do think about the response of the plant you are watering to the water you are putting on it.

·        Do think about the amount of energy you expend and water used watering plants which may not need watering.

·        Remember that watering encourages leaf, stem and flower growth, for root crops this is not necessarily what you want.

Water is one of the essentials to make plants grow and most gardeners assume that keeping vegetables well watered will pay dividends. In fact, this is not always the case and excess water can result in rotting, leaching of nutrients, poor taste and poor keeping qualities, especially in onions and garlic.

All vegetables need water to start with, either from seed or when planted out. After this establishment phase is over, they usually grow very strongly and push roots wide and deep, 2 feet or more is common. This is usually early season when water is freely available in the soil and extra watering is totally unnecessary and can result in a weak root growth (with a poor subsequent performance) or the production of large amounts of something you don’t want – foliage on peas, for example. When the plant has grown, the onset of flower and seed formation, which is often the product you do want, means that the plant’s emphasis changes to the production of these and root formation stops. It is at this time that many plants need extra water and they respond very well if you apply it.

Watering technique is also important. Roots are usually deep and you need impractically large quantities of water to get enough down there. The only way to help the plant is to target the roots – light sprays over the foliage or wetting ground are useless. This targeting is assisted if you build in depressions in the soil around the plant (peas/beans) or bury a bottomless bottle next to the plant roots (tomatoes). Many will find the extra hassle of these measures not worth the effort [like me – I have 5 ridges of peas and three tepees of beans. I feel they must take their chances with the weather and, so far this policy has worked well]

See the table below for the optimum and necessary times for watering you crops:

Category 1  - Responds well to frequent watering

Category 2  - Water only at sensitive stages shown

Category 3 -  Not very responsive, water only as advised

 

Category 1 - Responds well to frequent watering

·        Aubergines, peppers and chillies – high maintenance plants which require lots of heat, moisture and food – water twice daily. [I wish! Mine are watered when it suits me, every day if possible though I do give them a good drenching when I do water].

·        Summer cabbage and calabrese – most efficient is one watering 2 weeks before cutting

·        Cauliflowers - most efficient is one watering 2 weeks before cutting.

·        Lettuces – throughout their life.

·        Courgettes and other curcurbits [cucumbers, pumpkins, melons, squash, gourds] – frequently once flowers and fruits form.

·        Spinach/ Swiss chard – frequently.

Category 2 - Water only at sensitive stages shown.

·        All beans – when flowering and throughout pod formation and development.

·        Peas - when flowering and throughout pod formation and development.

·        Potatoes – when flowers start to form and potatoes are the size of marbles – for many plot holders this can be a large area [ I never water my potatoes, whatever the weather].

·        Sweetcorn – at tassle and cob formation.

·        Tomatoes – when flowering and setting fruit, be careful to not over water as this will affect the flavour.

Category 3 - Not very responsive, water only as advised :

·        Beetroot – water before the soil gets too dry.

·        Broccoli [winter] – water well after transplanting to ensure the plants have established.

·        Brussels Sprouts - water well after transplanting to ensure the plants have established.

·        Carrots – before the soil gets too dry, just along the rows.

·        Curcurbits [ cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, courgettes, melons] – water well but slowly to allow the water to penetrate to the deep roots, perhaps once a week. Avoid water on the leaves to prevent disease. But frequently once the fruits form.

·        Garlic and onions – do not water in the later stages but, for spring onions water just along the rows.

·        Leeks – after transplanting to ensure they have established.

·        Parsnips – water just along the rows before the soil gets too dry.

·        Radishes – water just along the rows before the soil gets too dry.

Wonderful Floury Potatoes

Growing and Cooking Floury Potatoes

I have just started to harvest my 1^st Earlies [Epicure this year]. The plants are providing an abundance of smallish to medium sized delicious potatoes. As an Early potato they are really quite floury rather than waxy like most Early potatoes though, I shall not attempt to anything with them other than boil or steam them and serve with butter and a sprinkling of chopped parsley or mint.

All my potato growing life and my potato buying life [where I have had a choice] I have always chosen floury potatoes. My mother, who always cooked them in their jackets called them ‘laughing potatoes’.

Talking to a neighbour recently I was asked why the Irish loved floury potatoes. Of course a hundred years ago, [ goodness, is it really a hundred years ago!] when my Dad was a little lad he told me that the country people would grow their own potatoes, serve them with their own butter [most of which would be sold at the local market town] and buttermilk as a drink.

The main meal for a large family successful farm in those days [1912 – 1930] would be ‘tatties’ with dabitstil [dabbing the tatties in salt in the middle of the table] or ‘tatties and point’ – the potatoes would be put in the middle of the table, dunked in the salt and pointed towards the preserved pork/bacon joints hanging from the kitchen ceiling which were served on high days and holidays. During the hungry time the ‘tatties and point’ would be to the joint which used to be there.

My father was more interested in the animals on the farm, especially the horses and more especially the machinery which was being developed to work the land [he went on to become an engineer with the RAF]. Under his influence I still have a preference for Ferguson tractors or any offshoot of his company – Ford Ferguson, David Brown, Massey Harris, etc. – not that my little plot needs a tractor. As an aside, my favourite car ever was the iconic Jensen FF [no longer in production but, the FF stood for Ferguson Formulae 4 wheel drive – an amazing car in its day!]

 Many years ago, I remember my uncle, who was much more interested in growing, crops and farming, telling me that during WW11 the Ministry of Agriculture advised farmers that the peeling of the potatoes [deep peelings] as long as there was an eye with a good section of the potato could be planted and would grow on into excellent viable crops. This meant that the growers could, not only plant the normal set aside seed potatoes but, also use the peelings from those potatoes they would expect to eat. My uncle assured me that they had good crops from them.

Ancient memories aside, I do believe that floury potatoes give a much greater variety of useful dishes which can be devised from them.

I do understand the love of the early salad potatoes – Charlotte, Pink Fir Apple, etc. As early potatoes from the allotment, harvested and eaten on the same day they are supreme. Nothing more is needed for a meal than the potatoes, a knob of butter, salt and freshly ground black pepper and a handful of chopped mint or parsley. For the traditional potato salad, of course, these waxy potatoes are just brilliant and there is little nicer than a dishful of new, steamed potatoes with butter and chopped mint to serve with any meal in Spring or early Summer – roast lamb with mint sauce and the new fashion for ‘crushed’ potatoes with loads of butter and chopped herbs – yummy.

For me, all of these potato dishes are blissful but still can’t beat the range of dishes available with floury potatoes.

If you are interested in growing these or any other variety The British Potato Variety Database - www.varieties.potato.org.uk/  is an excellent source of information. This website is part of the Potato Council – www.potato.org.uk .

The database provides information on categories and classes, pests and diseases and details of hundreds of different varieties of potato. However, you might find an interesting variety you would like to try but not be able to find a source of the seeds.

In Ireland, Kerr’s Pink is probably the most popular Maincrop variety grown – it is a round to oval potato with pink skin and white flesh. A wonderful floury variety with superb flavour and excellent for mashed, baked, chipped, roasted potatoes.

Unfortunately it is reasonably susceptible to potato blight, dry rot, leaf roll virus and potato Virus Yo. Regardless of these possible problems I have ,at last, found a source of these seed potatoes and am growing them on my allotment for the first time in years.

In recent years the range of Sárpo potatoes [developed by a Hungarian family – Sárvári, now working at the Sárvári Research Trust in Wales] has been developed  which are Blight, Virus and drought resistant, high yielding potatoes which store well – they also have excellent flavour and are good for a wide range of culinary uses. Of these Sárpo Mira is definitely my favourite – a late maincrop, high yielding floury, flavoursome tuber.

Others include Sárpo Una – 2^nd Early,

                         Blue Danube, Sárpo Shona, Kifli – Early Maincrop

                         Sárpo Axona – Maincrop

Of course, the ultimate floury potato is Mayan Gold –

In spite of its name [The Mayans were from Mexico and Central America] Mayan Gold is originally from the Andes in Peru where its ancestors were once farmed by the Incas. Mayan Gold is a golden coloured tuber with a wonderful potato flavour. It is exception for mash, chips  and roast but, it is inadvisable to try to boil it as it will fall apart within minutes – for good mashed potato, steam the tubers but, not for too long. Mayan Gold Potato  Recipes Mayan Gold Roast Potatoes Ingredients:    peeled Mayan Gold potatoes,   olive oil,   sea salt ·         Cut the potatoes into even sized chunks and blanch in boiling water for 2 – 3 minutes. ·         Shake the chunks gently in a colander to roughen their surfaces. ·         Place the chunks on a roasting tin with high quality olive oil ( I heat the oil in the roasting tin, in the oven first, so that I am adding the potatoes to hot oil). ·         Shake some sea salt over and bake in a hot oven - 220°C, gas mark 7 for 30 or 40 minutes, turning them occasionally until golden and crispy. ·         (try also with chopped roughly chopped garlic and sprigs of rosemary). Spicy Mayan Gold Wedges Ingredients: 450g(1lb) fresh Mayan Gold potatoes 25g(1oz) butter and 3 tsp oil. 1 finely chopped onion 1 red chilli( de-seeded and sliced) 2 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp turmeric Little water Fresh coriander leaves ·         Melt the butter and the oil in a large pan. ·         Add the onion and cook over a medium heat until soft but, not coloured. ·         Add the chilli, coriander, turmeric and cumin. ·         Cut the potatoes into wedges (wash but don’t peel) and add these to the pan. ·         Toss well and fry for 2 minutes. ·         Add a splash of water and a sprinkle of sea salt. ·         Put in a hot oven - 200°C, gas mark 6 for 15 – 20 minutes, making sure all the water has evaporated. ·         Put in a hot serving dish and scatter with fresh coriander and lemon wedges. Mashed Mayan Gold Potatoes Ingredients:  450g(1lb) Mayan Gold potatoes 25g(1oz) butter,  a little milk, 1 – 2 Tblsp. ½ tsp. Wholegrain mustard Freshly crushed black pepper and sea salt to taste ·         Peel the potatoes, cut into chunks and steam the for 10 – 12 minutes ( this time can vary so do watch the potatoes to make sure they don’t overcook and disintegrate. ·         Heat the milk, then remove the potatoes from the heat and add the hot milk and butter. Mash well or put through a ricer. ·         Add the mustard, salt and pepper to taste and mix in well. (Don’t use too much mustard or seasoning  which might overpower the flavour of the potatoes). Champ – Mashed potatoes Irish style The main ingredient is potato and traditionally chives or chopped scallions(spring onions) are added, But, really, a great variety of ingredients can be added: ·         Peas,  Chopped Savoy cabbage – (my favourite), Parsley, Summer cabbage, Kale, Spinach, Broccoli. 1 kg (2 lb ) potatoes – preferably floury types – if they are very floury, try steaming them Milk – add as much as is need to give a soft mash Salt and pepper A large lump of butter Vegetables – as above Method ·         Boil or stem the potatoes until well cooked. ·         Chop the herbs or vegetables. ·          If using vegetables add them to the cooking potatoes 5 minutes before they have finished cooking. ·         Drain/ strain the potatoes and vegetables if using ·         If you are not using vegetables, mash until free of lumps or put through a ricer. If using vegetables, chop finely, then add. ·         Add enough milk to give a smooth soft mash. Add salt and pepper to taste and any vegetables you wish. ·         Serve in a large bowl and put a generous lump of butter into the centre of the mound. ·         This was traditionally served with a glass of buttermilk and often at Hallowe’en. This is an excellent way of encouraging children to eat vegetables – cook chopped carrots, swedes or or turnips, etc with the potatoes and mash them in. Cheesy Potato Cake Approx. 450 – 500g [1 lb] cooked floury potatoes – mash well or put through a ricer 1 knob butter 75g [3 oz] grated cheese Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Little milk – avoid making the mixture too wet Good handful of chopped parsley Method ·         Add the butter, milk, seasoning, parsley and half of the cheese to the potatoes and mix in well. ·         Put the mixture into a small/medium dry non-stick pan and flatten down. ·         Cook over a hot flame until the base of the cake is browning [don’t let it burn] ·         Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and put under the grill until the top is golden brown. ·         Serve in wedges with roasted or fried meals. For variation add left-over cooked mashed vegetables – sprouts, cabbage, carrots, swede or cook carrots with the potatoes when steaming or boiling. Cooked or frozen peas or sweetcorn can also be added. Mustard Mash Potatoes 1 kg [2lb] potatoes – floury potatoes are best 3 good sized tsp whole grain mustard Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste 75gm [3oz] grated cheddar cheese 50 gm [2oz] butter 250ml [ ½pt] milk Method ·         Wash and peel the potatoes and cut into even sized pieces. If you are using floury potatoes, it is best to steam them or they will break apart. Cook until the potatoes are soft all the way through. ·         Mash or put through a potato ricer. ·         While still hot, add the cheese and butter and mix in until well melted. ·         Add the milk, mustard and seasoning and stir in well. Reheat over a low flame to ensure the potato is hot without overcooking the cheese. ·         Serve with a topping of finely chopped parsley. Sweetcorn and Potato Bake 8 oz [225g] sweetcorn kernels – fresh, frozen or tinned 2 lb [900gm] approx. potatoes – floury potatoes are best – washed and peeled 1 large red onion 1 medium sweet red pepper 2 fl oz [55ml] milk 2 oz [50g] butter or 2 Tblsp rape-seed oil Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 2 medium tomatoes 6 oz [175g] grated cheddar cheese Method ·         Prepare the potatoes, boil or steam them then mash with the salt, pepper and milk and half of the cheese. ·         Peel and finely chop the onion and seed, core and chop the red pepper. ·         Sweat the onions and pepper in the butter or oil until soft – don’t allow it to burn. ·         Add the sweetcorn and mix in well. [Most fresh sweetcorn is very tender and will cook quickly so doesn’t need prior cooking]. ·         Add the mashed potatoes and mix all the ingredients – check seasoning. ·         Put the mixture into a greased ovenproof dish. ·         Slice or section the tomatoes and arrange around the edges of the dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. ·         Bake in a moderately hot oven until the cheese is golden brown. ·         This is great as a lunch dish served with a crisp salad. Potato Bread – [a traditional Irish Bread] Ingredients 250g [ ½ lb ] approx. cooked potatoes ½ tsp salt 25g [ 1oz ] butter 50g [ 2oz ] plain flour Method ·         Mash the potatoes well while they are still hot – better still, put them through a ricer. ·         Melt the butter and add it with the salt to the potatoes. ·         Add enough of the flour to make a pliable paste – you may need a little more or less depending on the variety of the potatoes. ·         Put the ‘dough’ onto a floured surface and shape into a flat round. ·         Roll it out gently to about ½cm or ¼inch thick. [ If you have made a larger amount it is better to make two rounds.] ·         Cut into 6 or 8 ‘farls’ or use a large round cutter. ·         Grease a hot griddle or a heavy bottomed flat pan and bake the bread on boath sides until it is browned. ·         Potato bread  can be served hot with butter [and even jam, my favourite!] or it can be fried as part of a traditional Irish ‘fry-up’. Potato Salad - Irish Style As I was growing up, this is what I always understood was potato salad. I loved it and it was the only part of my mother’s version of ‘salad’ which I enjoyed – traditionally, lettuce, tomato, scallions, a boiled egg or perhaps a slice of cooked ham and the dreaded salad cream. I didn’t know that potato salad was boiled waxy potatoes with lots of mayonnaise, and a few herbs and a little seasoning – I prefer my mother’s version. Ingredients 1 kg (2lb) potatoes – preferably floury as you will need to mash them( leftover boiled                        potatoes are fine) A bunch of scallions (spring onions) Or 1 – 2 medium red onions Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 4 – 6 Tblsp vinegar ( a sharp vinegar is better so I use malt vinegar and add to my taste which is for a fairly sharp taste) Bunch chopped parsley Method ·         Allow the potatoes to cool or use leftover, cold boiled potatoes. ·         Mash the potatoes well. ·         Add salt and pepper to taste. ·         Chop the scallions or red onion finely and stir into the potatoes. ·         Chop the parsley finely and add to the mixture. ·         Add vinegar to give the level of sharpness you like. ·         Arrange in a suitable serving dish and garnish with herb – chervil, mint, basil. Note: - although I Iike parsley in this dish, I also enjoy chopped chervil, mint, coriander or basil. You might also like to try replacing the malt vinegar with balsamic vinegar, lime juice or lemon juice.