Monday was one of those days when the weather forecast was wrong. Yes it was milder, reaching 14.4°C the highest of the month, and cloudier as forecast but the heavy rain for early morning through to lunchtime just never turned up. The days total came to just 0.6mm so hopefully the ground down the plot might still be diggable. I've a feeling that it will only take one more good downpour to render it just too wet and claggy.
As it wasn't too bad in the afternoon I decided to harvest our sweet potatoes Beauregard which have been growing in pots over summer. It’s our first attempt to grow them so I was interested to see how they have performed. The plants have been sending long vine like runners all around the greenhouse.
Above is a little potted history of the plants and how they were performing at a few different stages through the summer. The all important results are of course the harvest and that is very disappointing. Certainly there’s none of those large roots sold in the greengrocers. The tubers in the tub weighed in at 0.98kg but I'm not convinced that they are large enough for culinary use. Perhaps I should replant them next year to grow on a bit!
I might need some convincing to give them growing space in the greenhouse next year.
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What a shame they weren't bigger. Maybe that's one of the crops that it's just easier to buy. Might be worth one more go though...
ReplyDeleteMight be tempted to give them a go in a potato bag to give them a bit more space and they would be easier to keep well watered.
DeleteThat's such a shame. I want to harvest all mine but they are still growing as we have only had one small frost. They need lots of water & feed throughout the summer & as long a time as possible. I thought that was the type I bought but mine look nothing like yours so I will have to check. You can't just replant them next year like potatoes unfortunately but you can suspend them with water & cut off the slips that grow from them.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I gave them enough tlc through summer. They looked to be growing okay so I just watered them. I think a bigger container with more space, food and water must be what I need to do. Thanks for the advice on the slips - I might try that.
DeleteWow... you planted sweet potatoes on containers and really do well.
ReplyDeleteOur sweet potatoes were in containers but didn't grow too well. It was our first attempt. I think I will try again next year to see if I can do any better.
DeleteDefinition of stubborn - This is it.
ReplyDeleteGiven that you monitor the local temperature it can be no surprise to discover that we don't have a tropical climate? I've stretched things by growing tomatoes, cucumbers and even sweetcorn out of doors, but I know when to draw the line. Clearly you don't, Martyn.
Having said that, my reaction to failing to grow celeriac has been to try, try and try again. But at least I'm in the right temperature zone...
I'd like to think of it as optimistic, pushing the boundaries, experimental, leading edge, rather than stubborn. I'm sure it must be approaching sub tropical if not tropical in the greenhouse.
DeleteAnd one of our plot neighbours manages to grow them too so there is always some hope!
DeleteWell I guess people used to think you couldn't grow garlic in the UK. I applaud your innovation. (But will not be trying to grow these - I'm trying outdoor sweetcorn for a second year!)
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