Spud store

So many gardening shops have closed lately that it's heartening to find this place. They sell seed potatoes - and other things - loose, by the kilo, so you don't have to buy a whole bag or packet, which can be expensive and wasteful.

Souped up

Unearthed a few potatoes and a beetroot from last season to accompany some leeks and celery in a soup.

Super spuds

Harvested the last of the Désirée potatoes and let them dry in the sun for a few hours before storing them in a paper sack - despite it being more difficult to buy paper sacks than it is to buy Désirée potatoes.

Self-sufficientish

Late earlies

Late to be harvesting early potatoes, but the cold start to the season held them back. Without watering them through the drought, they wouldn't have grown to this size. For once, no sign of wireworm or blemishes on any of them.

Spuds bounce back

The early potatoes have recovered from the cold shock of a couple of weeks ago and are putting on new growth.

The north wind doth blow

 

The dry spell continued for most of the month and then, just as the potatoes pushed through the soil, a cold snap blew in on a north wind and ruined them. Should have given them some protection, but the temperature wasn't supposed to drop so low - and hasn't done at this time of year for at least a dozen years. Just as well there are a few seed potatoes left over with which to have another try.

Harvest Supper

Crikey! September again and the accompanying panic and melancholia at the passing of the summer and shortening of the days. Still, plenty to harvest in reward for all the work months ago, when the days were lengthening. Trending (?) this week; sweetcorn, french beans, lettuce and windfall apples.

Pomme de Terre

After a cold spring and periods of drought and humidity, it hasn't been a great year for potatoes, but a crop of Desiree have done ok.

Autumn Collection

Beanfeast

Potato Salad

 

                                    Just add mayonnaise

Leek and potato

 

Late earlies

Bountiful

Spuds up

First of the new potatoes - late this year - and runner beans.



New season kale - early this year.

Between showers and office hours

Spuds progress

Some 'earth up' their spuds more than others and some remove the flowers to concentrate growth below soil level. Water helps more than either.

The Late Good Friday

Spud U Forgot

Making the most of some sunshine and clearing a patch of ground, I came across half a kilo of potatoes from last year which were perfectly edible and enough for a meal.