In recent years some exceptionally virulent strains of blight have arisen and the conditions for blight to survive, warm and humid, have become more common. Blight is becoming the number one tomato problem in some wetter areas of the country.…
Cause of, Identification of, Prevention of and Treatment of Potato Blight – Phytophthora infestans Potato blight is the worst problem that the potato grower faces. Once it arrives it can devastate a crop in a day or two and when…
You’ll find a host of potential problems with tomatoes listed in the gardening books but in the real garden it does not seem to be so complicated. Many of the problems listed are more likely to be encountered by the…
There are quite a few things to factor in on a crop rotation plan. For example, how much room will each crop need, how long it will be in the ground for etc. Potatoes are a major crop and working…
Biodiversity. A little word that matters a great deal in the vegetable as well as the wider world. Biological diversity – or biodiversity – is the variety within and between species of plants, animals and micro-organisms. If the Irish had…
I’ve noticed many ordinary growers are confused by the term F1 hybrid and some have completely wrong ideas about what F1 hybrids are and what the advantages and drawbacks of F1 hybrids are. What Are F1 Hybrid Seeds? An F1…
Common diseases of raspberries & solutions There are some common diseases that can affect raspberries, but these can mostly be controlled if they appear. Raspberry Viruses Probably the worst and most difficult problem of raspberries as viral infections are incurable.…
Potatoes Small White Spots – Lenticels In wet years many growers are concerned when harvesting to find white spots on their potatoes. Often they fear that some disease has struck their potatoes and wonder if the crop is edible. Happily…
Growing tomatoes outdoors is a chancy business in Britain, even in the sunny south of the country. Tomatoes are very dependent on having enough warmth for enough time to grow and crop before the cold comes again. As if that…
Deciding how many seed potatoes to buy is not as simple as you might think at first. But a bit of thought and a little juggling will solve the problem. This article shows you a way to work out how…