Rain on the way at long last.

Never heard that one before,I must try it. Thanks for sharing that.

Well we are sharing our rain now. We are expecting A good day on Thursday.

never heard that either, BUT will head out now to try it.....

Hi Diane, if you are going to get rain, are we going to get some of your sunshine, we certainly haven't had much this summer, Derek.

The threatening low clouds came, but no rain. Despite
me saying to them " Come on, lets be 'aving ya" .

Thanks for that tip Diane. We tend to grow earlies and this year found that we didn't have much of a crop. Not really sure why... :o(

Potatoes need a 3 year crop rotation plan. They should not be planted on the same ground every year, or on limed soil, which produces scab.

Where you are going to plant them next year, dig in plenty of manure or compost this autumn. (Not when you are planting them or they will be ruined by Thrips.)
I plant them in old soot, in trenches, this breaks up the ground, and stops them working their way to the surface too soon.

You do not dig potatoes, you lift them. Using a large fork if you have one, place it well away from the stalk as the crop is on the roots which have spread. Insert it, pull it back, at the same time pulling on the stalks with the other hand. This will lift the potatoes without damaging them. Put any damaged ones in a seperate bucket to use first as they only keep a month.

When you are absolutely sure you have picked them all up, leave the area for a week. Then go back and fork it over, and you will get another bucket full !