Bits and bobs No12

[oldherbaceous]

Fair play to the old boy, i think a few tusks would just bring it to life though.

[glallotments]

Steady rain now - blight conditions?

[alan refail]

Hi Glallotments

I suspect it has been

Have look at Smith periods HERE

A full Smith Period has occurred if, on each of 2 consecutive days:
the minimum air temperature was at least 10oC, and
there were a minimum of 11 hours with a relative humidity of at least 90%


I can guess what your temperatures were in W Yorks; it was probably as humid as most other places. Time to keep a watch at least.

[glallotments]

Yes it has been warm and humid.

[donedigging]

No Blight here yet....
Lost loads last year though...

[oldherbaceous]

I don't think we will get much blight at all this year, now thats putting my head on the chopping block.

[glallotments]

OH
Why?

I really hope that you are correct!!

[oldherbaceous]

Dear glalloments, i'm afraid my reasoning has no scientific substance, it's just that with nature, you often get a problem for a few years, then she seems to just put it right all by herself.

[Clive.]

For instance no Downy Mildew on my overwintered Onions this year but had been mighty bad for the last two years...

..but I am still watching the tateys though.. It has been dry but talk of some wet today.

..so best I go and finish planting the Broccoli....have just taken out the V trenches...
Dad has his organisational eye on the row postioning and is carrying his tape measure for accuracy.
Mum is battling through some jam making

..er,...and I am sat at a keyboard... ....

must go planting...

Clive.

[oldherbaceous]

And not a flea beetle in sight this year, typical since i have not grown row upon row of Wallflowers.

Sounds like an all round family effort Clive.

[Clive.]

Yes,...Flea beetle was absent from my assorted work Radish rows..Turnip tops free too...and both have done better than recent years.
Although they have shown up in the last couple of weeks....so perhaps they were saving themselves for a feast on the Wallflower seed bed row here.

Broccoli planted....fly collars on.....wire rolls need looking at now to cover from the Wood Pigeons..which have seen an increase in the last few years

It's coffee time now..so am ok being sat here..

Clive.

[snooky]

Called in at the allotment after work and although we"ve had rain most of the night and heavy showers this morning the ground was still dry.Dave was was rotavating dust!
Bob the Laypreacher let me pick some of his redcurrants and I picked 12 lbs from one bush.They will make a few jars of jelly.

[Clive.]

Another isolated shower moving East over the back field....looks like there could be another pot of gold.
The 3rd dose of irrigation for this crop....and next doors lawn this morning

Clive.

[oldherbaceous]

Morning Clive, just to let you know the Radio (Radeo) peas are doing absolutely marvelous this year, and as sweet as ever, thank-you again.

[Clive.]

Hello Old H',

That's good to hear..

We have just started using ours at home....whilst at work one row is in use and the second is to follow on...being sown a fraction later..in fact just as the first row were coming through..

The other day one of the builders who are working on the Applestore was looking with amazement at the height of the Pea row. I told him the story of them ....and said they were originally from Well Hall near Alford...That's a place I know well, he said... It turned out that his father was gardener there 1975 to 1992...long after the origin of the Radio(eo).?..

I asked if his father was working at Well when the BBC series Nanny was filmed there...Yes, he said..and added that as a little lad he was dressed up as an extra for the filming...
He also recalled the Pride and Prejudice filming...1979/80?? Faye Weldon version..with Elizabeth Garvie
That was done at Well and also at my work location, it being used as Lady Catherine de Burghs? house...with the Hall "moved" into the Well Parkland..which is weird when I watch it knowing the real locations..

The Aga oil tank got to star in it too.. it appeared behind Mr Whickam? in a scene shot on the main lawn..


Meanwhile, from chatting since with mum & dad I have discovered that dads godmother married a Well Hall gardener...I suspect that would have been 1920s??

So a chance conversation has added some further interest....All the builder came over to ask was for me to trim a few shrubs so they could get to do more pointing up. ..

All the best,
Clive.