29 Jul 2011

Buried Treasure

Potato harvest July 2011

Clearing the long walled border last Friday meant tackling not only the insidious weeds and ivy roots but also digging up the potatoes which had magically appeared from tubers overlooked at the end of last year.  Frank was the spade man for the day and he was charged with going very carefully around the fruit trees and self-seeded sunflowers - no mean feat as the sunflowers were being propped up by the potato haulms.  He did a smashing job, although I did have a jug of sunflowers to enjoy indoors at the end of the day.

The main treat though was the sheer amount of beautifully coloured potatoes that he found in the soil. Purples (Blue Danube), pinks (possibly red Cara)  and creamy golds were revealed with every forkful.  I took them home and washed them carefully; half way through the operation, I thought I'd better weigh them. So, with the mud removed and dried off, I popped them on the kitchen scales: 6.4 kilos, almost 14 lbs!  Not bad for a free harvest, eh?  Plenty to share amongst friends - and I've still got my Vivaldi, Charlotte and Pink Fir potatoes to uncover! Three cheers for summer!

See you tomorrow for the Saturday Snap!

Caro x

A spud rainbow

10 comments:

  1. I love it when that happens - your photo looks like a basket of Easter eggs.

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  2. A wonderful unexpected harvest. I grew Blue Danube last year but found they turned to mush whilst boiling.

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  3. What a lovely freebie to have! I doubt my entire potato harvest was that big thanks to the blight and earlier drought. Me? Bitter? N, far too hot and humid. They look so lovely too, varied colours and textures. All this and sunflowers too. No, not envious at all ;-)

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  4. Wow they do look awesome don't they! We have a few more to unearth tomorrow!

    Martin :0)

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  5. What beautiful colours. I can completely understand this crop appealing to your artistic eye!

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  6. Elaine, I knew the image reminded me of something, now I know! And yes, the harvest was an expected treat.

    Jo, the same happened to me when boiling the blue danube for a potato salad - mush! I thought I must have overcooked them but good to know it's not just me.

    Janet, I chuckled at your comment! Really, nothing to be envious of, the weeds kept the moisture in the soil!! Actually, these were grown under the fruit trees and have left the soil in the most beautiful condition.

    Martin and Amy, hope your harvest is as bountiful. It's such fun discovering how they've grown!

    Sue, yes, that was my motivation! The colours were so beautiful, pinks and purples, appearing out of the earth - really quite a sight!

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  7. That's a bonus well worth having! I've dug up a few of last year's orphans but only enough for a couple of meals.
    Taking of sunflowers see my tomorrow's post! Flighty xx

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  8. The sunflower post I mentioned has been put back for a few days! Flighty xx

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  9. Flighty, I've just visited your blog and read your sad news. Understandable to want to give precedence to a tribute to a valued friend. Caro x

    P.S. Will look forward to your sunflowers in a few days and pleased you managed at least a couple of free potato meals!

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  10. Oh what a veritable treasure trove Caro. Your photo makes me want to try purples, pinks and reds next year. I bet you are glad that some escaped your clutches last summer. I enjoyed your last post too. I always have a wigwam of sweet peas at the allotment which gives me great pleasure. Flowers which are not only oh so pretty on the eye but also a treat to the nose.

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