Posted by TheScullster on July 14, 2010, 7:22 am
Hi all
We have been digging our 2nd early Kestrels and, probably due to the
drought, the yield is poor.
Now we are getting some rain, will the remaining plants increase their
number and size of tubers or is it too late?
They are just at the lost flowers stage.
The same question also applies to our Maris Piper main crop. They are just
flowering and we will probably start digging these in a month or so.
Will their yield catch up, or is the damage done?
TIA
Phil
Posted by harry on July 15, 2010, 12:05 pm
> Hi all
> We have been digging our 2nd early Kestrels and, probably due to the
> drought, the yield is poor.
> Now we are getting some rain, will the remaining plants increase their
> number and size of tubers or is it too late?
> They are just at the lost flowers stage.
> The same question also applies to our Maris Piper main crop. They are just
> flowering and we will probably start digging these in a month or so.
> Will their yield catch up, or is the damage done?
> TIA
> Phil
If it rains after a drought the danger is that the tubers split or
become hollow. Some varieties are more susceptable than other. Don't
worry about the Kestrels, they are a poor variety, no taste. :-)
You need to irrigate to keep the tubers expanding in drought
conditions.
This BTW applies to all root crops carrots, beetroot etc. They all
can split.
Posted by <vicky on July 16, 2010, 12:53 pm
> If it rains after a drought the danger is that the tubers split or
> become hollow. Some varieties are more susceptable than other. Don't
> worry about the Kestrels, they are a poor variety, no taste. :-)
Ooh, heathen! Kestrels are one of my favourites! (And they look really
pretty, good showing specimens)
Posted by Rod on July 15, 2010, 1:30 pm
> Hi all
> We have been digging our 2nd early Kestrels and, probably due to the
> drought, the yield is poor.
> Now we are getting some rain, will the remaining plants increase their
> number and size of tubers or is it too late?
> They are just at the lost flowers stage.
> The same question also applies to our Maris Piper main crop. They are just
> flowering and we will probably start digging these in a month or so.
> Will their yield catch up, or is the damage done?
> TIA
> Phil
In my experience Kestrel isn't a huge cropper anyway and you've
probably got all you're going to get from that. The maincrops should
be OK so long as they continue to get water.
They've probably got quite a lot of bulking up still to do.
Rod
Posted by TheScullster on July 16, 2010, 8:42 am
"Rod" wrote
In my experience Kestrel isn't a huge cropper anyway and you've
probably got all you're going to get from that. The maincrops should
be OK so long as they continue to get water.
They've probably got quite a lot of bulking up still to do.
Rod
Thanks to Harry and Rod
Agreed, the Kestrel isn't a huge cropper, but the first plant or two lifted
were well down on last year.
We like this variety boiled as a salad potato, but again the flavour and
texture are not as good this year.
They were bought initially for their slug and pest resistance which has
proved successful compared to previous trials with other early varieties.
Phil
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> We have been digging our 2nd early Kestrels and, probably due to the
> drought, the yield is poor.
> Now we are getting some rain, will the remaining plants increase their
> number and size of tubers or is it too late?
> They are just at the lost flowers stage.
> The same question also applies to our Maris Piper main crop. They are just
> flowering and we will probably start digging these in a month or so.
> Will their yield catch up, or is the damage done?
> TIA
> Phil