Yesterday we finally managed to collect the second hand polytunnel hoops that we paid for over a year ago. Although we only had to collect the hoops from 10 miles away the task turned out to be a five hour epic involving four people. The hoops 7m across and 3.5 m high are in a single section and the only vehicle we coule find large enough to transport them was a 20 ton haulage lorry. Navigating the narrow lanes involved cutting overhanging branches with a chainsaw while standing on top of the cab, pruning major limbs and felling one entire tree. At last the hoops are back at Trevalon. We have resolved that if we need anymore polyyunnels we will take out a loan and buy new ones.


Last year the weeds got a strong hold amongst the pumkins so this year we undersowed with clover in an attempt to suppress weed growth. The clover has established well and sure enough it only took an hour today to hand weed the entire 10m by 70m plot. In rows alongside the pumpkins we have also planted sweetcorn. This way we get two crops out of the same piece of ground at the same time as the clover builds the fertility.


With the weather forcast predicting a break in the rain, the brassica and leek seedlings were taken out of the polytunnel to harden off for afew days, before planting out next week.


Blight has appeared on the foliage of three out of the four varietes of potatoe we planted this year. First to suffer was Bambino and charlotte which we topped off ten days ago. Today we cut the infected tops off Valor, this time using a sythe due to the hydrolics not working on the tractor. Still holding out against the blight and growing well is the Sarpo Mira which consequently should give us the highest yield of the four. Removing the infected tops has stopped the tubors becoming infected so we are still expecting a good harvest.