Blight has continued to do its worst this week. Some outdoor tomato plants have been wiped out and there are signs of it having infiltrated the plot greenhouse. In an attempt to prevent the potato tubers from being affected we have cut back all the haulms. Although Sarpo Mira potatoes have some signs of blight they are still growing well as are a bed of Golden Wonder potatoes on our neighbour’s plot.

In the plot greenhouse any signs of blight that appears on the tomato plants are being cut out to attempt to keep the disease at bay and hopefully preserve the ripening fruits.

Some crops have completed their growing cycle and have been removed to the compost heap. The vacated beds have been rotavated and prepared to receive their next crop. The broad bean bed has already been planted with salad crops. Lettuce – Little Gem, Balloon and Iceberg 2 – have been planted out, seeds of Yugoslavian Red Mustard, varieties of salad leaves, radish – Rainbow Mixed and Japanese radish – April Cross have been sown.

The bed that housed the winter onions has been made ready for winter brassicas.

Flat leaved parsley and sweet Williams that have been growing on in the cold frame have been planted out.

Straw has been removed from one of the strawberry beds to the compost heap, weeds have been removed and the old strawberry leaves have been cut back to allow new leaves to grow. Some gardeners use shears or even a strimmer to cut back the dead leaves but I prefer a more gentle touch to ensure that the newly emerging leaves are undamaged. It’s time consuming but will be worth it if we have a repeat of this year’s harvest.

Click here for after fruiting care of strawberries

Branches of the Oullins Gage tree are weighed down with these delicious plums so harvesting has begun. The race is now on to pick any ripe plums before the wasps move in. Some plums and apples have developed brown rot. Affected fruits are removed as soon as they are spotted in an attempt to control the spread; at least from those branches that can be reached. Gathering plums from the higher branches involves manipulating a long handled lopper and large fishing net!

This week’s harvest:

Vegetables

· Runner beans – Lady Di, Enorma & Desiree

· Tomatoes – Yellow Perfection, Amish Paste, Moneymaker, All Blacks and Gardeners’ Delight

· Courgettes, Floridor, Clarita & Zucchini

· Cabbage – Primo 2

· Cucumber – Burpless Tasty Green

· Cauliflower – Kaleidoscope Mixed (green ones)

· Broad beans – Witkeim Manita & Bunyards Exhibition

· Potatoes – Sarpo Mira

· Carrots – Ideal Red

· French Beans – Delinel

· Calabrese – Green Magic

· Radish – French Breakfast 3

· Spring Onions – Guardsman

· Various herbs

Fruit

· Plum – Oullins Gage

· Grapes – Himrod from the garden greenhouse.

· Apple – Discovery and a forgotten variety growing in the garden

· Blueberries and a tiny number of cranberries

· Blackberries

· Just a few raspberries – Joan J & Autumn Gold and strawberries – Flamenco (Just enough t compose our own fruit salad).

A plentiful supply of dahlias, sunflowers and sweet peas is keeping our vases well stocked; to ensure a continuation it is now necessary to keep dead heading. A gentle task for a hot summer’s day!

Adding to the colour are butterflies. I have spotted about eight different species so far including the ubiquitous whites. No red admirals yet though!

A surprise insect encounter was the accidental entrapment of a large dragonfly. The sound of flapping wings drew my attention to what I thought was a bird. Closer inspection revealed a large dragonfly trapped by netting covering a cherry bush. It eventually co-operated in its release and flew off unharmed.

Click here for photos of our insect visitors