Pottering, Tending Runner Beans, Jerusalem Artichokes And Courgettes
Dirty Nails is enjoying having time to potter around. There is a definite lull in the vegetable garden now that the rush of spring planting is over, and crops are harvestable all over the place. By sowing seeds of different crops a little and often, Dirty Nails has his lettuces, turnips, radishes, beetroot, kohlrabi and others at different stages of growth from seedling onwards. This succession-sowing avoids a wasteful glut and ensures that there is fresh veg in the ground ripening over the whole summer.
Runner beans
The runner beans have grown to the top of their supporting canes. This is the time to pinch the growing tip out, to concentrate the bean’s energy into flower production. Even if it has rained a lot they benefit from a good daily watering. Once in flower, add a splosh of nettle-and-comfrey concentrate to the watering can every couple or three days.
Jerusalem artichokes
Dirty Nails has cut about 1½ feet (45 cm) off the top of his Jerusalem artichokes. These have grown thick, tall, leafy tops since being planted early in the year. They are quite susceptible to wind damage during summer storms so reducing their height now will lessen the risk of snapping.
Courgettes
Dirty Nails’ courgettes are beginning to fruit and he has put a straw mulch around the plants. This has the dual purpose of conserving moisture, which courgettes suck up with great gusto, as well as keeping the rapidly forming and prolific fruits clean off the soil. The risk of blossom-end rot and slug damage is thus reduced.
Natural History In The Garden: House Martins
House martins
Similar to swifts, but smaller and more fluttery in flight, are house martins. Viewed from the ground they appear black and white in colour, with shorter wings and a distinctive V-tail. House martins fly fast too, wheeling and twisting, arching and curling in the air. They trawl the skies for food with their mouths wide open, resembling penguins diving for fish in another element.
These birds make their nests close to people, in an enclosed cup-shaped nest tucked under house eaves. Martins are top-notch builders and they construct their breeding chamber out of stuck-together balls of mud. However too much tidiness in the countryside and a dry spell in late spring can be disastrous for them because they need to locate mud of just the right texture from pond margins and dirty farmyards.
Any hot dry spell now sees Dirty Nails busy with his hoe. Fewer weeds means more space and goodness for the veg!
Vegetable Snippets: More About Weeds
A weed can be defined as a plant of any kind which is growing in the wrong place. There are many examples of this situation including chickweed smothering lettuces, moss in the lawn and last year’s spuds in amongst current crops such as leaf beet. All weeds compete with cultivated plants for the three essential requirements of life: water, nutrients, light.
Some have what is called ‘allelopathic’ (poisonous) tendencies. The roots of such species produce chemicals that inhibit either the germination, growth or development of their neighbours. This can include veggies. Allelopathic plants include creeping buttercup, couch grass (sometimes called twitch), creeping thistle and chickweed. Rhododendron is the classic poisonous plant. Introduced as cover for pheasants, it takes over large areas if left unchecked and is of poor wildlife value.
Pests and diseases can often be harboured on weeds. Fungal rust, an orangey powder that coats leaves, can affect garlic and leeks. It also thrives on groundsel, for instance. Fat hen (also known as Good King Henry) and dock frequently host vast armies of aphids which then home in on runner and broad bean crops.
