Potato Plus day 2008

BOG’s Potato Plus 2008

Dear Members, due to the malice of inanimate objects i.e. my email packing up just before Potato Day I was unable to personally thank you all for the hard work and dedication that you put in before, during and after the event. Thanks Judith for saying it for me. Without all the unpaid hours of hard graft and supply of equipment and expertise we’d have had no chance of it being such a resounding success yet again. So well done everyone - give yourselves a pat on the back.

Numbers were up again and we had a lot of kids which was very pleasing - nice to get hold of the next generation of gardeners - who had great fun with their activities. The cookery demo and Dave Catt and Steve Elves tastings both were very popular. We had a few problems with some of the stands turning up late due to roads being shut due to accidents and illnesses but they all were very happy with the way the day went and want to come back again. David Banks efforts on the PR paid off - having someone in sole charge made all the difference - he made sure we didn’t miss a trick. And it was great that Dave Allan did a live spot on the BBC Radio Scotland Potting Shed. I think that we’ll be really on the map as a gardening event next year!

A discussion on how to improve the 2009 event even further is now underway. Don’t be shy if you’ve any thoughts or new ideas for us. I shall start on the layout for 2009 in September in order to get the stands booked from November onwards. Some of the food producers who were unable to come this year due to illness should be able to come next year. So I hope to have a more balanced mix of food and non-food in 2009. I would dearly love to get an organic plant nursery on board but we don’t seem to have any locally. Does anyone know of one?

Judith updated our website Potato Plus page. If you’ve got any more pictures please send them in.

A big thank you to all the helpers - I hope we haven’t exhausted you all too much and can count on you again for 2009.

Roberta Carruthers

18th May 2008

Potato Growing Survey - Prize to be won!!

As soon as I can sort it into a suitable PDF format I'll put up this as a form for you all to download and fill in. Meantime here is the raw data so you can keep a note of the information the survey is after:

BOG

Borders Organic Gardeners

Potato Growing Survey

Free Draw at BOG AGM in November - £25 prize for winning survey

Closing date 1st November 2008. No purchase necessary. Winner to be in BOG News.

Return to: BOG, 3, Black Heddon, Lowick, Berwick - upon - Tweed TD15 2PE

www.bordersorganicgardeners.org.uk Charity No.SCO 26903 Company limited by guarantee No 279474

NAME _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________POST CODE ________________________

TELEPHONE _______________________________________________ EMAIL ________________________________________________________

TICK THROUGH THE ONES THAT APPLY TO YOUR GARDEN OR ALLOTMENT OR WRITE IN DETAILS

GROWING CONDITIONS:- COAST VALLEY BOTTOM HILL SIDE HILL TOP

ORIENTATION :- EAST NE NORTH NW WEST SW SOUTH SE

SOIL TYPE :- LOAM SANDY CLAY PEATY MIXED DRY MOIST FREE DRAINING WATERLOGGED

FROST :- JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

FERTILISER:- ORGANIC BLOOD FISH AND BONE SEAWEED HOME MADE COMPOST OTHER____________________________

NON ORGANIC _______________________________________________________________________________________________

COMPOST:- ORGANIC BARK COIR RECYCLED PEAT FREE WITH ADDED FERTILISER HOMEMADE

NON ORGANIC WITH ADDED FERTILISER PEAT OTHER _____________________________________________________

WATER:- MAINS SPRING WELL WATER BUTT HARVESTED FROM ROOFS RIVER/ BURN POND / LAKE / RESERVOIR

IRRIGATION / WATERING:- CONTINUOUSLY AT PLANTING TIME DURING DROUGHT CONDITIONS

PROTECTION:- POLY TUNNEL GREEN HOUSE CLOCHES BLACK POLYTHENE FLEECE PAPER / CARD MULCH

DO YOU GROW YOUR POTATOES IN:- DEEP BEDS OPEN GROUND DUST BIN BLACK BIN BAG OTHER _____________________

POTATO VARIETY ______________________________________________________________NUMBER OF TUBERS PLANTED _________________

DATE PLANTED _________________________ DATE LIFTED _________________________ WEIGHT HARVESTED _______________________

SIZE OF TUBERS (FOR THE VARIETY) WERE THEY:- SMALL MEDIUM LARGE ALL THE SAME SIZE WIDELY DIFFERENT SIZES

SLUG DAMAGE :- NONE SOME A LOT BLIGHT :- NONE YES DATE BLIGHT STARTED_____________________

ANY OTHER PESTS OR DISEASES ______________________________________________________________________________________________

PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL:- ORGANIC BIOLOGICAL PICKING OFF BY HAND PHYSICAL BARRIERS OTHER ________________

NON ORGANIC _______________________________________________________________________________

WEED CONTROL:- ORGANIC HOEING AND HAND WEEDING ORGANIC MULCH WATER PERMEABLE WEED BARRIER

NON ORGANIC __________________________________________________________________________________________

TASTE:- BLAND GOOD SUPERB TYPE:- FLOURY WAXY SALAD DESCRIPTION: CORRECT MISLEADING

BEST WAY TO COOK:- _____________________________________________________________________ GROW AGAIN ? YES NO