Big Tatties

Well I couldn't think of anything else to call it !

I finally got to lift my maincrop Spuds today (well, most of them anyway).

Two varieties Maxine (a new on for me) & Piccasso (about the 4th year of growing it on the lottie). They were [;amted in the last bit of untamed wilderness on the site & it kept supprisingly moist throughout the summer, due to the fact there used to be a spring fed pond somewhere near my plot but it was filled in many moons ago. Anyway the results - there was a bit of slug damage (mainly due to the plot next to mine lying fallow for many years) so i've got about 2 carrier bags full so far that are damaged, but the Maxine seemed to be affected worse than Piccasso. As to Yeild, well the Maxine were about average I guess, not suree if I will grow this one again or if I'll go back to Desiree. Picasso on the other hand was a triumph. Not as much slug damage but I must have got 5-6lbs of spuds per root!! And some of them but weigh nearly 2lbs on there own!!! I hope they are a good chipper as I think they are too big for baking unless 2 pople want them to share !!

I'll have to get a couple of them cleaned up & post some piccies.

Also, I was discussing my thoughts for erecting a poly tunnel on the plot with my friend, John, as he "loans" a bit of the plot for growing some of the long term crops (leeks & spuds) at them moment. I have to say, the arrangement has worked well & I think it will continue for some time. I've know John for more years than I care to remember & he was my best man when I got married. and we work well together especially as he supplies the biscuits for the tea breaks!!

The Piccy as promised. 3 Piccasso at random out of the bag. There are some bigger in there!!
For reference, the pot is 2.75" sqare to that gives some idea of scale

On Saturday I was mostly....

At our local Chrysanth & Dahlia society club early show. As a grower of these two Autumnal beauties one tries to strive for perfection .....unfotunately I'm crap so didn't bother this year ! Not strictly true, various things conspired against me so I've (hopefully) kept the stock going for next year when we will have an all out assault ...I live in hope.
Anyway enough of me & time for some flowers.

You can't have a show without Judges & here's ours.

Left to Right :
Dave Bates (Dahlia's),
Peter White (Chrysanths) &
Peter Coles (Chrysanths).

I think they were discussing how long it would take before they needed Tea

Now some more general photo's of the show.

These are views of the Chrysanth's. As you can see they can be had in a range of colours including Yellow & White !!

And These are the Dahlia's.

As the show was late in the year we struggled to find entries but two stalwarts Mr Tom Upton & Mr Neil Gadsby did us proud & managed 30 vases of flowers between
them.

All in all a good day & we'll do it all again in November with the late Show.....

First of Many

Well I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. This, hopefully will be a memory jogger for me but maybe of interst to some of you as well

Off to plan how it will look now.

Mancetter 2nd Annual show part 2

Well having covered the flowers here are a few pictures of the Vegetables .......

........ & a stunning peice of Sugar craft.

Mancetter 2nd Annual show

Right then, bang up to date now. 3rd September was the 2nd Annual flower, veg & produce show at Mancetter. This year carried on with the same high standard as last year. The only down side to this years show was the absence of Mr George Freestone who was in Hospital & so couldn't judge the flowers section. His place was ably taken by Mr Dave Bates who is not only a national dahlia judge but also writes the column on Dahlia's for garden news. This didn't hinder him though as the best vase of flowers in the show was a vase of Peter Rowe, a beautiful yellow incurve & this one couldn't have been better!

The standard of the dahlia's was quite high although it had been a tough year with the extreme heat here are a few.

The last Vase is quite poignant as the man who bred the parent, Mr Eddie Durrant of Coventry, died earlier this year.

He has a Fitting memorial in Kiwi gloria & it's sports (this one is Trelyn Kiwi)