Â鶹ԼÅÄ

We have blight on the allotments…Whispers sweep around the allotment of the initiating plot(s), but no one knows for sure.Ìý All I can say is I will not be put up against the wall and shot as I am – thankfully - clear at the moment.Ìý But these are perfect conditions for that dreaded plague that everyone fears – mild, (certainly not hot here in the Highlands) and damp. ÌýIt has to be said that I did consider using ‘blight resistance’ potatoes but one of my good friends used such a strain and he’s got blight only on that crop; his others are blight free. ÌýSo it looks as if my suspicion that claims of blight resistance being difficult to sustain is correct. ÌýI will continue being vigilant and keep spraying. ÌýFor those who don’t know what blight looks like; you will find a picture in the gallery.

Ìý

So, what to do for those that have it.Ìý Well, if it has just started, I would suggest the first thing you do is remove all infected leaves carefully (so that you don’t contaminate any others), and put them in a bag to be taken away and burnt or disposed of well away from your garden or allotment. Some people do compost the leaves but I wouldn't risk it.Ìý Spray with Bordeaux mixture and cross your fingers. ÌýIf it starts to get a stronger hold and the pace of infection seems to accelerate, then the only real solution is to cut the leaves/shaws down to the ground to prevent any infection getting into the potatoes themselves. ÌýAgain, there are divided opinions over what to do with the potatoes. ÌýLift them or leave them?ÌýÌýSo long as I feel confident that the disease has got into the ground, I leave mine in situ as they will continue to swell if kept watered

Ìý

Enough of this depressing stuff! ÌýEverything else is in fine fettle and my harvest continues apace. ÌýI have a glut of calabrese so I’m freezing some for a later time. ÌýThe tomatoes continue to fruit so feeding is a must now to ensure a full bodied and flavoursome harvest. ÌýI don’t have soft fruits on my allotment but there are many plots that do. ÌýAnother friend of mine has some nice currant and gooseberry bushes that have been attacked by sawfly larvae. ÌýWhilst he has been away for a couple of weeks, I continued spraying his bushes with soapy water and that seems to have done the trick. Sometimes the simplest of things works wonders. ÌýIt’s easy to tell if you have an attack of the little critters – the leaves on your plants start to disappear very rapidly and the fruit is left untouched.

Ìý

Right now I really love going down to the allotments when we've had a lovely warm and still day.Ìý The route to the sweet pea section is a joy of scent.ÌýÌý I've grown some old heavily scented varieties amongst the newer more spectacular (but less scented) types and I've not been disappointed. ÌýSoon, the gladioli will be flowering and that should be a spectacular sight as I have planted quite a lot this year! ÌýOh, and finally, those broad beans lightly fried in butter for a couple of minutes are truly delicious!