ALLOTMENT GARDENING
THE British love talking about the weather. It's a national obsession.
But our interest in the sky – and more importantly what it periodically drops on us – has reached new heights these past few months. It's barely stopped raining, although the term sounds too tame for the deluges of almost Biblical proportions that have emptied themselves over the North East.
Few would dare argue that this summer has been a washout, and never more so than in the garden. The leaves are turning early, vegetables that should have been harvested weeks ago are still struggling to mature and it looks like green tomato chutney is going to be very much on the menu.
Some of nature's less welcome creations are thriving in the cool, damp conditions, however, most notably potato blight. It has unfortunately taken up residence in Gibside's walled kitchen garden and is feasting itself on the ready supply of potatoes available in the community allotments.
The Journal allotment has not escaped unscathed, but thanks to the quick reactions of Sue Adamson, Gibside's community kitchen gardener, a major disaster has been averted.
Potato blight is a fungus-like organism which flourishes in wet weather, attacking the foliage and tubers causing collapse and decay. It was the disease which caused the Irish Potato Famine of the late 1840s, devastating the nation's crop and the basic staple of the population's diet.
It is a serious ailment as far as potatoes and outdoor tomatoes are concerned, and will literally rot the tubers in the ground. While early attacks of blight may only appear to have affected the leaves, the potatoes will not store well and need to be used as soon as possible.
If you are lucky enough to identify blight early on, Sue says cutting the tops off may be enough to stop its spread. This prevents the spores being washed down into the soil and affecting the tubers.
On The Journal allotment Sue and volunteer gardener, Judy Summerson, have harvested the potatoes early. The rocket potatoes were harvested first and have thankfully escaped the worst of the blight. The Desiree was more badly affected with some tubers already beginning to rot.
Sue says it is imperative that any infected foliage should not be composted. “That way you stop the spread, especially if you are growing tomatoes outdoors. Tomatoes and potatoes are part of the same family, and can easily cross-infect.
“I am afraid this sort of blight is something gardeners have to live with. Some years, like this summer because it has been so wet, you get it very bad and others you don't.
“Operating a rotation system may help reduce the risk of infection, but even then the potatoes will probably succumb in the sort of wet weather we have had.”
Potatoes affected by blight are still safe to eat but must be used fairly quickly and stored properly. “The tubers need to be stored flat in an open tray so the air can circulate and you can easily keep an eye on them,” Sue explains. “Make sure you regularly check the tubers to see they are all right – any that aren't get rid of them immediately.
“I often get asked how you know a potato has got blight. Believe me, you'll know! You'll notice the smell first. It's pretty horrid.”
On a positive note, while carrot root fly has been a problem in the past in the walled garden, this year micromesh tunnels have protected the crops. The vegetable has done well in The Journal plot.