Friday, 13 September 2019
Setting the scene, crikey and cricket
Setting the scene
With all thoughts of a warm and sunny autumn fading, you may have already found yourself reaching towards the central heating “on” switch. “But it’s only September!”, I hear you wail. Whatever! I have to advise you that quick-off-the-mark members (those rare, optimistic souls) have been beating a path to the hut, in order to carry off the prize of next year’s harvest. Paper bags containing the holy grail of overwintering onions, shallots and garlic have been flying off the shelves, and other delights such as broad beans, peas and green manure are likewise generating much interest. Safe to say, though, that we have not yet sold out, and there should be plenty for everyone.
Onion info cobbled from internet:
Onions can be grown following on from potatoes.
Rake in general purpose fertiliser a week before planting.
Allegedly, onions prefer firm soil, so if yours is too well dug (ha ha), you could stomp up and down on it for a bit of exercise.
Sets should be planted 1” deep so that just the tip is showing. September, October or November.
The early bird can mistake onions for worms, so you can cut off the wormy bit, or just keep bunging them back in. Mind you, I swear that some of my onions spontaneously throw themselves out of the soil, as they have been found languishing on the surface when the birds have been carefully excluded.
ALLIUM LEAF MINERS are not to be messed with. These now appear to be commonplace across our area. The only defence seems to be careful covering of beds to stop the blighters getting in to lay their eggs on your onions in the first place. The egg laying period is reported as being the end of April, and October and November. Believe that if you will. I cover mine from beginning to end.
Crikey?
Well I’m afraid it’s that time again. THE POTATO etc ORDER FORM will shortly be available. As always, we recommend that you pre-order your preferred spuds to avoid disappointment in the spring and the order form will be appearing on our website, or can be collected from the hut.
Which brings me onto cricket.
Cricket?
Bet you’re stumped by this reference… Well, if the Cricket World Cup Final had you on the edge of your seats, you would have been bowled over to witness the Potato Bucket super over. Some competitors had already gone for an early tea when bad light had stopped play and their potato foliage had withered. Others managed a slightly longer innings. So, the crowds gathered on the slopes of Hagg Hill last weekend to watch the final ball of the match with baited breath, and the last bucket was unceremoniously tipped into the society wheelbarrow for scrutiny. An imaginary fanfare preceded the declaration of the winners:
Winner and Man of the Match (largest total weight) John McConnan 3.955kg
Winner and Man of the Match (heaviest single potato) Malcolm Lee 0.325kg
Congratulations and the firing of party poppers to them both!
Eagle-eyed members have been quick to point out that this is suspiciously similar to the results from last year, give or take the reversal of the titles. Honours even, then, and John, at least, has thrown down the gauntlet for best of three. Hmmmm.
And the variety? Well! Much speculation took place during the span of the competition. I would like to say that the variety was carefully chosen. Cough. Say no more… It was, in fact, King Edwards and I will leave this subject with a direct quote from the omnipresent internet.
“The key disadvantage to King Edward potatoes is that the crop is not one of the largest, although not one of the smallest either.” Ho hum.
Hope to see you soon – tea and cake still usually available!
Debbie
(on behalf of the volunteer team)
With all thoughts of a warm and sunny autumn fading, you may have already found yourself reaching towards the central heating “on” switch. “But it’s only September!”, I hear you wail. Whatever! I have to advise you that quick-off-the-mark members (those rare, optimistic souls) have been beating a path to the hut, in order to carry off the prize of next year’s harvest. Paper bags containing the holy grail of overwintering onions, shallots and garlic have been flying off the shelves, and other delights such as broad beans, peas and green manure are likewise generating much interest. Safe to say, though, that we have not yet sold out, and there should be plenty for everyone.
Onion info cobbled from internet:
Onions can be grown following on from potatoes.
Rake in general purpose fertiliser a week before planting.
Allegedly, onions prefer firm soil, so if yours is too well dug (ha ha), you could stomp up and down on it for a bit of exercise.
Sets should be planted 1” deep so that just the tip is showing. September, October or November.
The early bird can mistake onions for worms, so you can cut off the wormy bit, or just keep bunging them back in. Mind you, I swear that some of my onions spontaneously throw themselves out of the soil, as they have been found languishing on the surface when the birds have been carefully excluded.
ALLIUM LEAF MINERS are not to be messed with. These now appear to be commonplace across our area. The only defence seems to be careful covering of beds to stop the blighters getting in to lay their eggs on your onions in the first place. The egg laying period is reported as being the end of April, and October and November. Believe that if you will. I cover mine from beginning to end.
Crikey?
Well I’m afraid it’s that time again. THE POTATO etc ORDER FORM will shortly be available. As always, we recommend that you pre-order your preferred spuds to avoid disappointment in the spring and the order form will be appearing on our website, or can be collected from the hut.
Which brings me onto cricket.
Cricket?
Bet you’re stumped by this reference… Well, if the Cricket World Cup Final had you on the edge of your seats, you would have been bowled over to witness the Potato Bucket super over. Some competitors had already gone for an early tea when bad light had stopped play and their potato foliage had withered. Others managed a slightly longer innings. So, the crowds gathered on the slopes of Hagg Hill last weekend to watch the final ball of the match with baited breath, and the last bucket was unceremoniously tipped into the society wheelbarrow for scrutiny. An imaginary fanfare preceded the declaration of the winners:
Winner and Man of the Match (largest total weight) John McConnan 3.955kg
Winner and Man of the Match (heaviest single potato) Malcolm Lee 0.325kg
Congratulations and the firing of party poppers to them both!
Eagle-eyed members have been quick to point out that this is suspiciously similar to the results from last year, give or take the reversal of the titles. Honours even, then, and John, at least, has thrown down the gauntlet for best of three. Hmmmm.
And the variety? Well! Much speculation took place during the span of the competition. I would like to say that the variety was carefully chosen. Cough. Say no more… It was, in fact, King Edwards and I will leave this subject with a direct quote from the omnipresent internet.
“The key disadvantage to King Edward potatoes is that the crop is not one of the largest, although not one of the smallest either.” Ho hum.
Hope to see you soon – tea and cake still usually available!
Debbie
(on behalf of the volunteer team)
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