Posts Tagged ‘potato’

20 August 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman ON WALKING UP THE HILL WITH POTATOES, CONTEMPLATING EATING PLUMS

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

20 August 2009

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15 August 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman ESSENTIAL GARDENING

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

15 August 2009 ESSENTIAL GARDENING Seven out of nine Giant Single sunflowers still standing are in flower now. One, which came out well ahead (around July 20th) is dinner plate-sized and bent double at the top like a walking stick. The others are not quite yet fully glorious but, as May is arguably the month [...]

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7 August 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman DIGGING KESTRELS

Friday, August 7th, 2009

7 August 2009 DIGGING KESTRELS We’re noshing in to the Second Early spuds now. I just lifted the third plant from a row of twenty-four. Ketrel is my variety of choice. The purple-eyed tubers are goose egg-sized and, judging from last nights helping which we baked, clean as a whistle all the way through. To [...]

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5 August 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman POTATO BLIGHT

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

5 August 2009 POTATO BLIGHT Just noticed blight on my spuds this morning so had to postpone the jobs I was on and tend to these. Two hours later I'd cut all the tops and bagged for burning. But what a thrill, to be out there working for real in the misty haze of another [...]

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1 August 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman ON PULLING A SLUG FROM A SPUD

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

1 August 2009 ON PULLING A SLUG FROM A SPUD After a day of incessant rain, in the mild dampness of early evening I pulled a small brown slug that was protruding from a potato being dug. It was head-first in a tight hole but still poking half out. I took a firm grip between [...]

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29 July 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman CATCHING UP WITH ROBBIE

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

29 July 2009 CATCHING UP WITH ROBBIE If I went out into the garden now and scratched about almost immediately I would be joined by a little juvenile robin who has become my friend. I use that word (‘friend‘) deliberately for that is what I feel we have become. The breast of my buddy is [...]

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28 July 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman SEASONAL POTATO HUSBANDRY

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

28 July 2009 SEASONAL POTATO HUSBANDRY It was very satisfying to get onto my allotment early this morning and keep up with the Second Early potato developments. I cultivate a variety called Kestrel every year because they like my soil and perform manfully whatever the seasonal conditions. This year the top growth has flourished, flowered [...]

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23 July 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman NEWS FROM THE POTATO PATCH

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

23 July 2009 NEWS FROM THE POTATO PATCH This may be tempting fate. I hope not. But the Maincrop potatoes are still looking mighty fine. On April 9th I planted a new variety called Vales Sovereign on account of something I’d read. Basically, it sounded too good to be true. I spread the word about [...]

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12 July 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman SIMPLE PLEASURE, SPUD LATEST, “JUST GOING DOWN THE BOTTOM”, P&D UPDATE

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

12 July 2009 SIMPLE PLEASURE Just had lunch. The radio is on, just pipped 2pm. Cup of tea is a promise after dishes have been done. We had a delicious, filling meal, Mrs Nails and I. “Call it Easy Onions, Cabbage and Potater with Salt & Pepper,” I say. My wife reaches out to take [...]

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11 July 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman SATURDAY GO SLOW, ONWARDS…

Saturday, July 11th, 2009

11 July 2009 SATURDAY

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