To be or not to be – that is the question
The Organic question at least.
I’ve been somewhat troubled down the plot recently.
For example, what is it with the blackflies this year? I whipped my broad beans out really early, in fact almost before I’d had the first crop, because the flies were depressing me, but now the runner beans have got it bad. Since when have runner beans suffered with black fly?
I’ve tried soapy water but they appear to be sticking two fingers up at me.
Then there are the tomatoes. Watering is a bit of an issue at the moment. I just can’t get to the plot more than twice a week and that is just not enough for under cover, grow bag enclosed tomatoes. I went last week and had to perform assorted resuscitation techniques on some very withered plants and then went to the garden centre in search of life support machines for neglected crops.
I came back with a battery operated timer system, which, so far so good, seems to be performing the necessary miracles. Its linked up to my sprinkler system and saturates the greenhouse for 30 minutes every 24 hours. Perfect antidote to my neglect but also provides the ideal conditions for proliferation of Phytophthora infestans or Blight of the dreaded variety.
I’m going through the same thought process as allotment blogger who is wondering whether to go for a prophylactic spray with copper or sit still and remain principled.
I’m not sure how I feel about copper, it may well be your everyday sort of metal but how does it sit on a plateful of lettuce and tomato? It brings to mind plaques, fatty tangles and early onset dementia. Possibly best avoided.
Maybe bugs and fungi aren’t all that troublesome after all. I have a feeling that I may have ingested a pea complete with maggot on the plot this evening and to be fair, it was rather delish! Now if only I could stop picturing the pulsing grub I could remain fine and principled.
These peas that I mention were the much anticipated 10ft telegraph poles (or some such) and have proven to be a big let down. 4 plants out of maybe 50 seeds, sown on 3 separate occasions, grew to the giddy heights of 3 ft and produced merely a garnish of greenery for todays tea.
It might have been somewhat more impressive than a garnish if it had not been for the holes, and creepy crawlies emanating from said holes.
I don’t want to say too much for fear of Lynn reading this after I’ve fed her but the only gigantic thing about these peas were the maggots feeding upon it. I’ve never seen the like before. I had to squash one before relegating it to the bin and the effects were “medical” to put it politely.
I’ve always gone for the maxim: “one for me, one for the pigeons, another for the grubs, slugs and others”. Unfortunately the latter are having more than their fair share and I also have a few more mouths to feed.
Which leads me back to the original question, to be or not to be?
More pondering required.
We are having similar problems with Black fly. I have tried moving ladybirds to the most troubled spots but there are just not enough of them. I too have tried soapy water but its not working. I am afraid I am giving up and will be buying a spray at the garden centre. My theory is that non organic home grown is still better than supermarket produce and if I do nothing I’ll lose my crops and be back in the supermarket.
Blackfly – check. Maddening. All over my French beans. Unheard of.
Bordeaux mixture – check. I do use it, because losing the potato crop to blight is unthinkable. Let’s face it, spuds are an allotmenteer’s most valuable crop (both financially and gastronomically), so it makes sense to protect your investment…
As a vegetarian and organic gardener, I long ago decided on eating arugula with holes in the leaves and strawberries with ant holes. I also know that any organic gardener does end up eating some bugs, worms or what have you. I just remove the ones I can find and chew my food to take care of the rest!
Hi Earthwoman,
I really like your blog and would very much like to include it in an article I’m putting together.
Do you have a contact email I can use to discuss this further?
Cheers
Ian
Ooh, thanks for the name-check. We eventually decided not to go with the spray option, and instead we cut back the tops of the early potatoes to stop blight ‘getting in’ and then threw up our hands and accepted the loss of our entire on plot tomato crop. We do have more tomatoes in the greenhouse though, and they are happily vigorous. It’s a real problem, knowing what to do for the best, isn’t it?
Nice blog. Enjoyed going through it. keep it up the good work. Cheers