Page 59 - Simply Veg 3.21

Westmorland
& North
Lancashire DA
As I write this on the 3rd of May it is bitterly cold and raining, a complete contrast to the first lockdown in 2020. We did have
a prolonged dry spell here in the South Lakes this year but with below average temperatures and some really sharp frosts, so the rain is very welcome.
Things are starting to move in the garden now after a slow start, even the weeds are late this year with just hairy bittercress and
a few dandelions to keep me occupied. Up to now! My peas are just starting to come through, I think the rain has helped. After sowing I cover the rows with chicken wire to keep off my neighbour’s cats until I get the supports in. I use woody shrub pruning’s such as Buddleja for support if I have enough, but otherwise pea and bean netting over canes. Parsnips are also just showing through, also the Orla potatoes. No sign of Kestrel or Amour yet. This year I’m growing potatoes solely for the kitchen, so apart from 10 Ulster Sceptre growing in compost bags for an early crop they are all growing in the garden soil.
I lost most of my large shallots last year owing to botrytis but one of our members very kindly gave me some stock. These were planted later than usual but are looking really well despite some being knocked over by said cats. The bed was surrounded by pea netting attached to stakes but they either climbed through or jumped over it. Cats do appreciate a fine tilth! It’s now surrounded
by holly branches which seem to have done the trick. I’m also growing pickling shallots
in window boxes. When the shallots are up to size and harvested, I will sow salad leaves
in the boxes using the same compost. They are doing well in multipurpose compost from a well-known D.I.Y. Retailer. (Starts with B and ends with Q). Brassicas are growing well in large cell trays, the ground is prepared, I’m just waiting for the rain to stop to plant them out.
Two of our members, Fred and Mary Barnes celebrated their golden wedding on the 28th April. Fred, a former National Rose Champion who will be 85 in July still grows, shows and judges roses. He also grows and shows vegetables, winning every show he entered in 2019 with his Toughball onions including one best in show. This year he is growing 60 Toughball onions in deep rose pots in his 8’x6’ greenhouse plus 20 Hative de Niort shallots and 8 large tubs of Rocket potatoes, 3 tubers per tub. The potatoes are lifted out each day to allow access
for watering. The Toughball stand in trays
Freds packed greenhouse
Pricking out cauliflowers
and are watered and fed from below with Maxicrop and are looking really healthy. Although there is now light at the end
of the tunnel there is still uncertainty as to what restrictions might remain in place after lockdown ends. With this in mind we have booked speakers for the early part of 2022 and are hoping to be able to complete and publish a programme for the Autumn in due course. When completed, details will be published in Simply Vegetables, on the N.V.S. Website and our Westmorland & North.Lancs. D.A. Facebook page.
Our meeting day has now changed to Monday so we will now meet at 7.30pm on the second Monday of each month, October to April at the Club Inn, Main St. Endmoor, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 0EU. Further details; Jim Robinson 015395 61053 / jim.robinson45@hotmail.co.uk
Jim Robinson
Fred and Mary Barnes’ Golden Wedding anniversary
Freds toughball onions
Cat protection
Simply Vegetables 59