Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
just don't want to wait) you can carefully feel in the earth at the edges of the area
where you think the potatoes should be. If found, individual potatoes can be
gently removed without damaging the remainder of the plant.
First early potatoes do not store well, and to reduce the chance of problems
developing over time it is best to buy fresh, certified seed potatoes every winter.
However, for plants sown in August to eat late in the year you will need to keep
a few small, sound potatoes back from your early harvest.
Problems
Frost,
slugs
and
blight
. Since blight does not become active until July, early
potatoes planted in the spring should not be in danger, but plants grown in the
autumn are very susceptible.
Radish
Varieties:
'Pasque', 'Weiner Runder Kohlschwarzer'
Radish, especially salad radish, is probably the easiest and fastest tunnel crop
you can grow. Anywhere there's a gap, there's room for a radish or two.
Preparation
Radishes like light soils with lots of organic matter dug well in, but will tolerate
a very wide range of conditions, so long as there is adequate water available.
This makes them an ideal 'filler' plant whenever you have a bit of space going
free.
Sowing and growing
For a continuous harvest throughout the year, sow a few seeds at a time every
couple of weeks from mid-February right up to October - although for winter use
it may be better to plant a winter radish or 'daikon' (see page 96). Sow the seed
5mm to 1cm deep in light, stone-free earth and thin to 5cm apart, using the thin-
nings in salad. Don't sow too many at a time. Although radishes can be stored in
the fridge for a few days, they are best eaten absolutely fresh; small, frequent
sowings are the key.
Harvesting and storage
Given reasonable conditions, radishes are ready to pick roughly a month after
sowing, but can be ready in as little as three weeks. Because they are ready so
