The Crookwell Potato Festival

The gentleman farmer of Crookwell asked me to mention the Crookwell Potato Festival which is on this weekend. It is inaugural no less and celebrates a century of spud cultivation in Crookwell.

http://www.crookwellpotatofestival.com.au

I've been thinking about the potato lately as I've watched some self seeding plants in our compost heap - I can't bear to eat those bland varieties from the shops anymore but love a nutty flavoured Kipfler with that yellow creamy flesh.  I recall you have to keep piling up the soil around the potato as it grows which is why people recycle car tyres as a perfect growing vessel. There are pros and cons for using old car tyres due to oily nasties but if you were worried - you could grow potatoes in one of those new fangled vegie bags and keep piling up the soil around it as it grows deeper.

Our neighbour, an original resident of the area, grows potatoes in a large vegetable bed down the back yard and I recall seeing my daughter chat to him as he dug his spade into the soil one day. She was enthralled watching him dig his potato patch and for a moment I absorbed the scene and felt very fortunate to live where I do. One year he gave us about four different varieties of spuds which we were able to roast.

I noticed loads of the little red rather geometrically shaped bugs on my compost potato plants and heard on the ABC radio gardening show that if you want to get of them you need to find their nest and spray them with something nasty ish.

Possum harmony with sacrificial chillis

Dr Doug the seasoned wildlife observer says it may not be possible to live in harmony with the possums especially if they are in your roof. They are of course strongly territorial and wander through the suburbs feasting on vegies that may be quite far from their tree houses. Sacrificial chilli plants is his suggestion. Plant them around the veggie bed and they may sample the chillis and be deterred.

Pawlonia Dragon Tree

I've been reading about the Pawlonia Dragon Tree and I'm sorely tempted to plant one just to see what happens. Sounds like Jack and the Beanstalk although I can't imagine it would grow terribly well in Canberra as our climate is not really like Asia.  They're on sale though. Apparently there are problems with wood borers and you have to fertilise it and treat for bugs to get it going but then it grows to an enormous height in three years.  It looks very beautiful and I note it's being used for reforestation and even whizz bang surfboards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia