Lifting Some Onion & Garlic plus a Vivaldi Potato Reveal

Join me as I lift some lovely crisp onions and aromatic garlic from my thriving allotment garden plot, and harvest another crop of early (new) potatoes from my raised beds.
Let's dig in and enjoy the abundance together!
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Lifting Some Onion & Garlic plus a Vivaldi Potato Reveal
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[@lizhodge3537]

I was watching another KZbin channel and the bloke had a tub of potatoes amongst his other tubs and he reckond the spots on the leaves was early blight, interesting to see you didn't seem bothered and just treated it as the potatoes had come to the natural end of their growing. I have grown potatoes for the last 6years and never had blight ( hope I'm not tempting fate) but I was a bit concerned, thinking how do you know if uts early blight or just the end of the lifespan of the potatoes, if I'm confused how must a newbie grower feel. I'm only growing first earlies which are just starting to flower and main crop pink fir apple and they have been flowering for a few weeks now, both lots were planted just days apart.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Hi Liz. Three big clues that it is not blight. First off, early potato blight is very scarce in the UK. Many claim to have it but it is something else (more later). Blight needs two conditions to infect plants: over two consecutive days, the air temperature must be over 10°C and the relative humidity of that air must be over 90%. Secondly, blight causes the haulms (stems) of the potato plant to go black as the disease travels down from the leaves and into the tubers. Thirdly, early potatoes grow so fast 10-14 weeks that are harvested before blight is prevalent. What is common is a fungus called Septoria Leaf Spot (Google it). This is treatable if spotted early (LOL) and if one thinks it will be a problem. It is most likely what my potatoes had and the ones in the ground still have, but I will not try to get the extra few days out of them For me, early potatoes are new potatoes, small and tasty! Personally, I remove potato flowers as research has shown in trials that taking them off can sometimes increase yield but leaving them on will never increase yield (hope that makes sense!) No sense in the plant putting energy into growing seeds when we want tubers. I hope this helps, Liz. Anything else, just ask.

[@lizhodge3537]

@@DigwellGreenfingers Thanks Steve, I did have my doubts about it being early blight because I have read about it not being prevalent in the UK. I'm also on blight watch and they have not issued any warnings about the Hutton period being around so blight is unlikely. I actually felt a bit angry at the you tuber saying what he said, it seemed like scaremongering. I remember the first year I grew potatoes and I saw the leaves get brown blotches on first earlies and I panicked in case it was blight, I knew very little then and didn't know where to look for information. I asked another plot holder and he wasn't sure, he had never actually seen it for real but said wait a few days and see what happens. Nothing happened and a few weeks later I got a perfect harvest. I just remember that fear because you hear so much about blight, and see so many people jumping to conclusions. I hate the idea of anyone being scared because they saw something on KZbin and I was pleased you didn't mention blight. As you say it spreads to the stems before reaching the tubers so if we see blemishes on the leaves a few days wait will either confirm it's blight and we can act, but the way the bloke acted he would put the fear of god in anyone who doesn't know. He also told people to not use the soil/compost again but I was told blight was airborne and didn't live on dead material so the soil could be used again but don't plant tomatoes in it as they are the same family.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

@@lizhodge3537 You hit the nail on the head there Liz. For every piece of sound advice on KZbin there are probably 4 videos offering the wrong advice on the same subject. Any many of those are from gardeners who should know better. I watched a lady in the USA (100k+ subscribers) saying not to plant spuds or tomatoes there again for 5 years and to spray the ground with a certain fungicide. Needless to say, I stopped following her. Being a bit wiser these days I realised that the above is true with many gardening websites as well. The only ones I trust now are the professional ones (RHS/Farmers Weekly types). The ones that you see plastered with advert after advert are only in it for the money and quite often they just lift info from another site verbatim. I get my blight warnings from Syngenta, pretty good as they send an email weekly or when there is an alert. Aimed more for the farmer with their acres of spud but still good. Here's the link: www.syngenta.co.uk/blightcast

[@gretasgarden]

Wild for me that you're harvesting those veg so early. Such different climates! Lovely potatoes Steve 🥔 😊

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

I know Greta and you are only one degree further North than me - gotta love the Gulf Stream keeping me warm LOL

[@SuffolkSusie]

Such an enjoyable video. Great harvest. I’m worried about my potatoes. I hope I get a harvest. Enjoy the potato salad 👍I say YES to the watering can!!

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Spuds are amazing things. As long as they are kept damp and have a bit of food they will grow! Determined little beggars LOL

[@nickthegardener.1120]

Lovely haul there Steve, not just me having hard/soft neck issues. Lots of potato issues too for lots.👍🏻🤠💗🙏🥔

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

No excuse for bad planning - just to crap supplier! LOL

[@adysveggarden]

Nice demonstration with the water can Steve.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Thanks Ady👍 It is surprising how quickly people water with a hose!

[@glawsgal]

I pulled some of my onions this morning too, not as big as last year but hey ho. Happy growing and keep smiling 🤗

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Many thanks! My mantra is "More out than in - Happy Chappy!" LOL

[@susanclair8623]

Thank you for sharing. Happy Sunday to you

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

You too - hope you have a great week!

[@vickyjones3196]

Thenks for your content Steve, I’m not much of a commenter but felt compelled to say compost mulch that keeps getting dug up probably has bone meal or blood fish and bone in it - magnet for foxes, badgers and my pesky dogs! Love your videos, thank you 😊

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Yes, foxes love BF&B. Never use the stuff myself. There must be something like that in the mulch even though it is made from grass. It has an N:P:K of 4.4-2.3-5.6. It actually states on the bag not to plant into it as it is too strong to be a compost. Weird but something likes it LOL Hope you have a great week!

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Steve, ive grown onions from seed this Year as i was fed up of the sets bolting and they are growing well. My garlic succumed to rust again this year, so Im going to grow in 30L pots next season as i have one tub of garlic as i had too many bulbs and they have grown well. Your onions & garlic look good. I harvested a tib of potatoes today too, Wilja, too early but the plant looked nearly dead, they werent bad though. Your potatoes look nice although they are early 👍 another great video and thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Overwintering onions never store for too long anyway Christine but the bolting does take a few weeks off them 😞 Don't forget that rust is airborne so it can hit the garlic in pots as well - bloody nightmare LOL

[@bethanskitchengarden]

Hi Steve, your onions look good. My potatoes are going over early too but you know me and potatoes, I just thought it was me. I usually water with a watering can too. Take care 😊

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Despite the haulms dying, Bethan, the spuds were great - hope you get a well deserved haul this year 😚

[@bethanskitchengarden]

@@DigwellGreenfingers Thanks Steve, so far I've been happy with them 😊

[@CoastalGardensNW]

Great video Steve I find it much quicker with the can, I just fill the big blue barrel and dunk the can in fills in seconds

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Same here Duncan - so glad that someone agrees!

[@imperia1999]

I’ve not bought seed spuds in a while , I normally use left over spud from the cupboard and plant them. Also Andy spuds that get left in the soil with out seeing them, you get a free spud harvest. Need to sort out garlic for next year, can’t use hose pipe on our plots we have to use watering cans unless filling water butts.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

My council plot was like that - can use a hose to fill a butt, but the hose had to be taken home. I tend to use seed potatoes as I exhibit a lot and I need the repeatability of quality but at the end of the day, they all taste great LOL

[@berkahmbf749]

very nice share video my friend👍👍

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Thanks for visiting - hope you have a great week!

[@ballysillanallotment-man5793]

I also prefer the watering can as you can get the water where its needed when using the hose a lot of water is wasted as it falls to far away from the plant and just evaporates before the plant gets the benefit of it and i tried making your pickled potatoes brilliant would never have thought of pickling potatoes really handy to use up the smaller ones when harvesting

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

WOW hope you like them! I tried a few (a bit early!) yesterday: sharp, tangy, but somehow sweet! Nice I honestly cannot get some people's mentality with watering the plot. Most of them spend longer in the shower!!!!

[@robertmeakings9774]

Hi Steve great harvest with your vegetables and love your potatoe tips

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Cheers buddy, have a great week!

[@jackdarren9210]

Greetings from Alabama USA. I enjoy your videos.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Glad you like them! Have a great week over there!

[@jackgreen1698]

It's possibly blackbirds digging in your mulch- it happens a lot in my garden

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Ah, could well be. Just annoying that they only do it with that one make of mulch as if there is something in the mulch they are looking for.

[@mygardenanddinosaurs]

Hiya Steve. I might also be experiencing some second early weirdness. I’m ignoring it for now but the leaves look a bit sadder than the rest. Still finding the sspc pots strange with their flowering. My onions are pretty rubbish but I will have a few ok sized ones. We are due heavy rain tonight after weeks of practically no rain - yes, I’m still in Scotland 😆. Probably won’t stop raining for the rest of the year !!! All the best. Mags

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Everyone has said their SSPCs are flowering - right or wrong? - but we are all in the same boat! I know that they are maincrops LOL Many get obsessed with the size of onions, only to use half of one, put the other half in the fridge, and then bin it a few days later! Sometimes, small is good 🙂

[@ann-zj9vn]

Nice harvest Steve.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

It sure is, Ann. Many thanks - hope you have a super week!

[@tonysgardensgizmos7164]

Odd year for earlies. My charlottes are giving up the ghost, but my casablancas are still going strong!

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Quite a few channels are saying this Tony. I wonder why?

[@turbostream7925]

We have baths by the water taps and a ban on hosepipes so it's watering cans only but agree with you that a watering can is superior for a decent soak at the roots. Your onions look lovely. I pulled my wintering onions this week. The red ones rotted or went to seed, and the senshu were riddled with leaf minor grubs. 😢 Don't think I will bother with onions again. Maybe spring onions at home but they never seem to do well either.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Cheers Adrian! Overwintering onions are always hit or miss. It only takes the slightest change in the weather to set them off into flowering mode!

[@sandram4526]

Great video Steve and thanks for spilling the beans. I have used a watering can at the allotment for over a year just treated myself to a hosepipe maybe I should have saved my 80 quid. I will take on board what you said and make sure I water properly at least it saves me on walking distance to and fro to the tap.😂 Thanks Steve and take care

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

On my old plot we were only allowed a hosepipe to top up a water butt. I took it one step further and used the hose to fill my watering can (well, it is a mini butt!) A lot less walking and the veg got a good dowsing! Have a great week San

[@sandram4526]

@DigwellGreenfingers Now there's a thought. Thanks Steve you have a great week too. 👍 😁

[@robsallotmentchannel9942]

Hi Steve Yet again a very informative video and clear. Great harvest again mate. I can't wait to get back from holidays to start harvesting. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Any more down time Rob and the veg will all be gone over LOL

[@robsallotmentchannel9942]

@@DigwellGreenfingers that is what I am dreading Still got 10 more days here in Cornwall

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

@@robsallotmentchannel9942 That is one long holiday LOL

[@robsallotmentchannel9942]

@@DigwellGreenfingers 4 1/2 weeks then 6 weeks October and November

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

@@robsallotmentchannel9942 Enjoy - and bring loads of seaweed home!

[@stevefromthegarden1135]

Storing potatoes harvested at this time of year is challenging unless you have a root cellar or have a deep hole in a heavy shaded area of the yard that you can set a container into. (Like a mini root cellar) my potatoes harvest are in mid to late Aug. I keep them in the basement until the temps cool down in mid Sept. Then I move them to the garage. They store until Feb unless I use them up 1st.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

The problem I have is not one of storing them to eat later, it is storing them so that they remain in exhibition quality. I have a small table top fridge that I use for this. It is set to 2°C (36°F) and this seems to work, but I've never had to keep them for 2 months before! Fingers crossed LOL

[@myrustygarden]

Pffft what will you melt if it rains 😂😂. That is how I look at harvesting it’s fresh and if I can eat it it’s a win 🥇. Oh I’ll have to look for hippopotamus 🦛 garlic. Nothing is normal anymore Steveo 🤷‍♀️. New normal is abnormal labelling is a iffy and bush is pole 🤦🏼‍♀️. Have a fantastic week hope Layla had a super birthday, Ali ☔️🌦️🇨🇦

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

We had a great day Ali, thanks! Fantastic company with food to match - what more can I ask for!

[@myrustygarden]

@@DigwellGreenfingers ❤️

[@billvalsallotments5915]

Hi steve that is wierd seconds going before first there a few on our site doing the same , some nice onoins there my friend can see you using in your recipes, winston potatoes are very nice had some yesterday,

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Yep strange! Winston are normally the first to go over for me, but they still have dark green haulms and growing well!

[@briansgardenandpolytunnel8172]

i have a pot of charlottes going over early. you are not alone steve...................brian

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Sad for you too Brian, but glad I am not alone LOL Have a great week mate

[@vanessawilkinson9855]

Hiya Steve…is it best to lift the onions that have gone to seed & leave the others until they fall over? I snipped a few early seed heads off but now getting a few more. I understand they don’t store as long? Cheers 👍🏻

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Yes, once they bolt the bulb gets softer as it uses energy to flower etc. They will not store for very long and possibly only the outer layers are worth using or freezing. Make sure to cut the flower stem off as it will carry on growing once lifted! Keep a close eye on the others as they will not be too far behind. Hope this helps Vanessa

[@vanessawilkinson9855]

@@DigwellGreenfingers thank very much 👍🏻

[@BrainStormAcres]

Ugh! Rust! Does that compost that gets moved about have any meat bits as part of the composting process? Rust or not, your veg looks really nice. Take care.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

I did check the bags of compost and there is no indication of any meaty thing. Also, I do not use blood, fish & bone fertiliser so it's not that. Weird.

[@bristolveggiebeds5310]

Strange year for growing

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Nothing surprises me any more Helen LOL

[@jeffreyroberts8981]

Promo`SM