Ask Derek

[derekbrooks]

David has sent me a personal message about this and I have replied to him there

[Deleted]

Thanks Derek, it's a tricky one. Could be blight or any of the many other diseases/viruses/fungal condition that affect potatoes. I will take the precaution of cutting all the haulms off tomorrow. It's on every single plot so there's no escaping it now. I'll grow them in an area they've never been before next year and spray from the off. The long wet spell we had in June/July hasn't helped.

[Deleted]

Derek, do you know of any shows next weekend? I will have blooms but nowhere to show them till Edenfield! Not too far away if poss.

[derekbrooks]

No David, I don't know any. I am so disappointed that Edenfield have changed their date. I still have plenty of dahlias, and chrysanths and, like you have nowhere to show them. The week after , are you doing Culcheth or Edenfield , or both?

[Deleted]

Derek, do you know somewhere I can buy some winter pansies reasonably cheap? The ones I grew (over 100 plants) seem to have black spot thanks to all the damp weather. They may recover after I sprayed them, but really need to do the baskets now. My saved ivys(for trailers) and saved polyanthus are fine but like a bit of variation.

[derekbrooks]

Hi David
I get my winter pansies from Dobies or Suttons as plug plants , along with polyanthus, primroses, bellis and forget-me-nots in August or September and grow them on in cell trays. These are what I planted yesterday in my tubs. I still have my baskets to do so I have saved some for those. I can't think of anywhere you can get some from now apart from garden centres and shops like B&Q and B&M . I did some baskets for my daughter a few weeks ago . My own pansies that I had grown were a bit too small then but I got some from B&M at Swinton. I don't know if they have any left now though.

[Deleted]

Derek, for the 250g Onion class what do you recommend? Can any variety be used if lifted early? I grew Vento last year but some grow Toughball amongst others. Can decent Onions be grown from Setts?-I'm trying some Centurion setts this time as well to see how they turn out.

[derekbrooks]

Hi David
I know that most top onion growers grow toughball or vento. I grow mine from sets because they are a lot easier. I start them off in small pots in the greenhouse . This gets them growing earlier then they can be harvested earlier (in July)to give them longer to ripen before the shows . The variety I grow is "Fen early" from Marshalls .I have won many prizes with it. At Whitefield last year I won the bronze medal with it. By the way did you know that next Saturday is the last one at the hut till next February.

[Deleted]

Cheers Derek I'll have to decide which. I also had a look at 'Medwyns of Anglesey' site and they sell seed for some nice looking small onions. Currently picking out seed for Tomatoes, onions, Zinnias and African Marigolds plus some more shallot sets. Probably 'Jermor' from T and M. I have 30 saved Hative sets but they are about the size you were selling at the Hut, a bit on the small size. I'll grow them on regardless. Just odd things from here there and everywhere. May call in for some sulphur powder for the Dahlias.

[derekbrooks]

Might see you tomorrow then, David. Are you going to bring your Dobies order to the hut or are you sending it yourself?

[Deleted]

I'll order my things online such as it is cheers Derek. Lots of catalogues floating about the allotment at the moment. Kings seeds seems popular and cheap. Used DT Brown previously as their seeds consistently good and not expensive. Dobies have some F1 Toms I fancy and T+M for shallots. DT Brown for Onion seed. Get my Dahlias put away this week, put half of them in super dry wood shavings last year and they kept well.

[derekbrooks]

If you are ordering from Dobies on line, David, don't forget to quote the number on the order form to get the discount.

[Deleted]

Hello Derek, when you are re-stocking the hut this winter, can I make a suggestion? Can you stock some Potato specific granulated fertilizer? Only place I can get it is Ramsbottom horticultural. Its a bit dearer than Growmore but biased towards Potash on the PPK scale. I reckon it would be a good seller.

[derekbrooks]

Hi David
We are hoping to get a delivery of Sinclairs before Christmas but everything else will be coming in January. I will have a chat with Geoff about the potato fertiliser and let you know
Derek

[derekbrooks]

Hi David
Geoff does all the ordering for the hut . I wrote down the message you sent yesterday about potato fertiliser and took it to the allotments hoping that Geoff would come on. He did come on so I gave him the message and he said he would get a bag of it to see how well it sold.
Derek