Search found 350 matches

by Barry
Wed Aug 17, 2016 3:51 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Plot holder worried by weedkiller
Replies: 11
Views: 6906

Re: Plot holder worried by weedkiller

No more than three litres of Roundup was used on an area of about 90 square metres.

The soil is heavy clay.

I'm guessing any trace would therefore be gone in - months?
by Barry
Wed Aug 17, 2016 12:22 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Plot holder worried by weedkiller
Replies: 11
Views: 6906

Plot holder worried by weedkiller

I wonder if you can help. A brand new plot holder who has never grown vegetables before says that she wants to grow organic vegetables. She only eats organic vegetables. However, on the plot she has just taken, we previously used Roundup given that the previous owner had used a rotavator to try and ...
by Barry
Tue Aug 09, 2016 9:54 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Black onion leaves
Replies: 0
Views: 7385

Black onion leaves

My onions, which are almost ready to be lifted, have all suddenly developped black upper leaves, although those below have remained green and the bulbs seem to be fine.

Could this be severe wind damage?
by Barry
Mon Aug 01, 2016 11:38 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Blight??
Replies: 60
Views: 20377

Re: Blight??

Yes, I could very well have early blight, since it is so slow moving on established plants, killing them at snail's pace, rather than over about three days, which is what usually happens. I'm a bit worried about the forecast for the next two days, with 90% hummity for around 48 hours forecast down h...
by Barry
Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:49 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Blight??
Replies: 60
Views: 20377

Re: Blight??

I have lost whole rows of potatoes, while tomatoes next to them have lost a few leaves, but are otherwise OK. I thought that once blight hit a plant that was it, but my tomatoes seem to be fighting back, which is odd, since none of them are anti-blight varieties. Blight this year was also weird; alt...
by Barry
Mon Jul 18, 2016 11:52 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Marestail to stop blight
Replies: 1
Views: 2436

Marestail to stop blight

Having just seen blight descend on our allotment and nuke virtually everything in site, I was wondering about something I have heard in respect of the French using marestail to counter this disease. From what I understand, the marestail is harvested, allowed to desicate and them mixed with water and...
by Barry
Mon Jul 18, 2016 11:44 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Blight??
Replies: 60
Views: 20377

Re: Blight??

It's odd, self-set tomatoes seem to be much more resistant to blight than conventionally sown ones. I wonder why that is?
by Barry
Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:30 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Repairing pear tree
Replies: 18
Views: 7352

Re: Repairing pear tree

Quite!
by Barry
Thu Jun 16, 2016 11:18 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Repairing pear tree
Replies: 18
Views: 7352

Re: Repairing pear tree

I have at least 3-4 shoots emerging on the three inches of trunk still attached to the graft union, suggesting that, if I leave the partially attached top half in place allowing the tree to pull in sun light, it should survive. And, if I am lucky, I should be able to cut off the failed top half at s...
by Barry
Fri Jun 10, 2016 10:40 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Repairing pear tree
Replies: 18
Views: 7352

Re: Repairing pear tree

Well, 10 days after my pear tree trunk split, the top half of the tree which is now lying on the floor remains extremely healthy. As per instructions above, I was going to attempt to splint the top half and support it with stakes, but I've been examining the remaining three inches of trunk above the...
by Barry
Thu Jun 02, 2016 12:14 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Repairing pear tree
Replies: 18
Views: 7352

Re: Repairing pear tree

Me, too with the low fixing, the top of the tree blows horribly in each direction. It may well encourage it to put down more roots, but the risk - as we have seen! - is that the heavier top will just snap off. Johnboy, in other circumstances, I would have cut my losses, but there are sentimental rea...
by Barry
Wed Jun 01, 2016 11:22 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Blight !
Replies: 13
Views: 3713

Re: Blight !

by Barry
Wed Jun 01, 2016 10:56 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Repairing pear tree
Replies: 18
Views: 7352

Re: Repairing pear tree

Spot on Geoff, I used the low angled stake method and became horrified by the amount of bending of the upper branches. Foolishly, given the heavy gales recently, I moved the strap as far up the trunk/support as I could and... snap! Had there been an upright stake, this would not have happened! Havin...
by Barry
Wed Jun 01, 2016 10:25 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Blight !
Replies: 13
Views: 3713

Re: Blight !

Blight notice here in Kent, too, although not in parts of the county closer to London. I remain dubious. The previous warning turned out not to be accurate, since despite very close conditions over a number of days, blight did not strike. Similarly, at the moment, we have relatively strong winds, wh...
by Barry
Tue May 31, 2016 5:34 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Repairing pear tree
Replies: 18
Views: 7352

Repairing pear tree

My one-year old pear tree became a victim of today's gales here in Kent. About three inches above the graft, the main trunk has splintered away and the entire upper section of the tree is now lying on the ground, although still attached to the remaining section of tree. Is there any way of repairing...