Seasonal Tips for Summer - Potatoes and Root Crops

Continue to harvest potatoes, carrots, radish, beetroot and other root vegetables as they mature. Where possible remove alternate plants to leave plenty of room for the remaining plants to develop.

Protect young vegetable plants from slugs and snails. Use Slug Buster for fast effective control or a barrier of Slug Blocker to prevent these pests from reaching your vulnerable plants.
Keep the vegetable patch well weeded so that the weeds do not compete with your plants for vital moisture and nutrients.
Keep plants well watered while they are cropping to ensure that the crops develop and swell properly, this is particularly important for potatoes and root crops.
Feed developing plants using an appropriate, quality fertiliser. For potatoes and root crops choose organic Chicken Manure Pellets. These are made from composted chicken manure, which is very rich in nutrients; they are dried and then pressed into compact pellets for easy handling and use. Whenever you want to boost a particular crop or apply a general fertiliser simply scatter the pellets and either work them into moist soil with a fork or allow the action of the rain to break them down into the soil.
organic Chicken Manure Pellets are an excellent choice for vegetable gardens as they also contain vital trace elements that are often removed from the soil by heavy feeding crops. The pellets also contain high levels of organic matter that will enrich the soil and improve its moisture holding properties, naturally.
Use the Instant Planter to grow a late crop of your favourite root vegetables. It has twice the depth of compost of standard growing bags, so it’s perfect for plants with deep roots. Choose stump-rooted carrots, beetroot, radish or even a late crop of potatoes. The rich layer of finely balanced compost contains everything your plants need to thrive. It includes a wetting agent to make watering easier and a water storing gel, which makes the water you use go much further and also helps retain moisture in the compost to support your plants during hot and dry weather.
Finish harvesting second early potatoes and start to harvest main crop potatoes as they mature. Store in a cool, dry, dark place.
If you see signs of Potato Blight then remove the foliage of the potatoes by pulling it off with your hands, this will slow the spread of the blight to the developing tubers.
When the leaves of your onions have started to die back, lift them slightly out of the ground with a fork so that they can start to ripen. When the tops have died back further move them onto a drying frame where air can circulate freely around them to complete the drying process.

Gardening tips for this Summer:

If you would like to refer back to the Seasonal Tips for April/May click here.

If you would like to refer back to the Seasonal Tips for February/March click here.