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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: nastybritishgardener on September 02, 2008, 05:15:54

Title: blight and tomatoes
Post by: nastybritishgardener on September 02, 2008, 05:15:54
Reading all these threads about blight on tomato plants.
I have one question does any one have plants without blight. That are healthy
and producing good fruit currently. I can not be only one without blight problems.

I wonder what I am doing different then every one else on this board.
Since my plants are doing amazing. I just picked 4 kg of ripe fruit of 5 of my plants.


 
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: grawrc on September 02, 2008, 06:58:32
My plants -indoors and out - are currently blight free. Matter of time I expect and luck. I don't spray either.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Old bird on September 02, 2008, 09:53:53
Me too!

She says smugly - different story last year though!

Doing very very well in the polytunnel - the italian plum tomatoes are huge and ripening very quickly and there are hundreds of them!  I have drunk tomato soup for England, I have frozen as many will fit in the freezer, I have dried as many as I could - and now the chickens are getting quite a few and friends and work colleagues are all making ratatouille!

My greenhouse at home has the better quality tomatoes in and they are coming on apace, although I have some massive slugs that visit on a daily basis and as soon as I throw them out onto the road some more (or they are homing slugs) come back in.  I cannot pellet in the g/h as my chicken has daily access.  She has given up on the huge slugs too!  Don't blame her though!

Old Bird

 ;D
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: thifasmom on September 02, 2008, 09:56:42
I only grow outside toms and last year was struck down with blight, this year I rigged up a cover over them to keep the worst of the rains off and so far no blight but production has been slow, they are full of toms, but only started to ripen last week I think the wet August month and constant overcast days slowed the ripening process down. But my neighbours outdoor toms are also blight free so we may just be lucky this year, or the blight hasn't got to us as yet :-\. I'm in Maidstone Kent by the way, where are you, cause that might also be a factor.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Eristic on September 02, 2008, 10:26:06
Quote
wonder what I am doing different then every one else on this board.
Since my plants are doing amazing. I just picked 4 kg of ripe fruit of 5 of my plants.

As you've been told many times before, without photos your words are without meaning. Put up or shut up.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Barnowl on September 02, 2008, 12:41:13
No blight so far in the garden of allotment - big contrast to last year.  I like to think people have become more aware and are acting more quickly to destroy affected plants but we have only received one blight warning to date.

Growing about 75% of last year's varieties again with about 20 new varieties.
Still a lot of green fruit so no major harvest yet.

One change - but it probably isn't significant: for the last two years I have suspected that the bruising on the stems caused by string provided an entrance point for infection so this year I have only used Soft Tie for tying up my cordons - not a cheap option unless its life expectancy meets its manufacturers claims.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: davyw1 on September 02, 2008, 14:04:51
Quote
wonder what I am doing different then every one else on this board.
Since my plants are doing amazing. I just picked 4 kg of ripe fruit of 5 of my plants.

As you've been told many times before, without photos your words are without meaning. Put up or shut up.
[/color]
ERISTIC Please enlighten me.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: davyw1 on September 02, 2008, 14:06:06
I am also tomato blight free.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Barnowl on September 02, 2008, 14:20:05

ERISTIC Please enlighten me.

I may be wrong, but judging by the tone and grammatical and spelling idiosyncrasies (or mistakes as we pedants call them) of (his?) posts 'nastybritishgardener' is the same person as 'thegreatgardener'
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: kenkew on September 02, 2008, 14:26:33
Blight? What's that? All my outdoor fruits are as healthy as I could wish.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: oakmore2 on September 02, 2008, 15:49:35
I am up to my ears in blight! Had a weekend away and came back yesterday to find that all of my plants had been got. I'm gutted as none of the toms had ripened yet! Have now got tray after tray of green toms which I've taken off the plants. Saying a little prayer that some at least come good.

This is the first year I've suffered with blight. Really gutted.  :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Fork on September 02, 2008, 16:27:16
I only grow indoors and my greenhouse tomatoes are producing around 6lb of fruit a day....no sign of blight.

My greenhouse doors and windows have not been closed for about 2 months now.....I wonder if thats the reason why blight hasnt taken hold?.....it got my potatoes!
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: greyhound on September 02, 2008, 21:37:49
Being careful to touch wood as I type  ;), my tomatoes have no sign of blight so far.  They are all outside as always.

I must confess I have not looked after them very well this year, but despite this they are all producing excellent yields, and started to ripen earlier than usual.  Treating 'em mean seems to have paid off!

I haven't got any photos so if anyone doesn't believe me, san fairy ann. (http://bestsmileys.com/clueless/4.gif)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Flighty on September 02, 2008, 21:47:35
Nastybritishgardener whereabouts are you located?
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Borlotti on September 02, 2008, 21:52:24
I must admit that I thought the same.  Great gardener and nasty gardener.  I am puzzled because I am relatively new to this site/game play.  Who is this person, I do not understand.  Everyone was talking so much about blight that I dug my tomatoes up at the allotment, but had enough before that.  I have some in the back garden that are OK.  People are panicking and saying we have to burn the plants, it is airborne, potatoes will be infected.  How do commercial tomato growers deal with this.  
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Hyacinth on September 02, 2008, 21:58:41

One change - but it probably isn't significant: for the last two years I have suspected that the bruising on the stems caused by string provided an entrance point for infection so this year I have only used Soft Tie for tying up my cordons - not a cheap option unless its life expectancy meets its manufacturers claims.

Jusr want to pick up on this, please..Owl, there's a much cheaper way than Soft Tie for tying up cordons - tights! Cheap ones from the market/wherever. In the washing m/c at the end of the season & the ties will last for years :)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: asbean on September 02, 2008, 22:02:10
I must admit that I thought the same.  Great gardener and nasty gardener.  I am puzzled because I am relatively new to this site/game play.  Who is this person, I do not understand. 

All the same person.   Also known as gridgardener and rolet from last year.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Flighty on September 02, 2008, 22:06:42
Borlotti  thegreatgardener/nastybritishgardener isn't worth worrying about.
.
Commercial growers grow under glass where it's less likely, and probably treat their plants as well if need be.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0803/tomato_blight.asp
As you can see conditions have been ideal for it this year sadly.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Borlotti on September 02, 2008, 22:22:57
Thanks for that.  I have looked it up and think I will try Ferline next year.  It also suggests Legend and Fantasio.  It is a learning curve, thought tomatoes were tomatoes, and was pleased to grow some, Gardeners Delight, but it is a new world to discover.  Does Ferline taste OK, is it for cooking or eating.  Still do not quite understand the undercurrents (or should it be undercurrants) on this site.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: nastybritishgardener on September 02, 2008, 23:40:43
I have no idea who these other people are.  But I am only nastybritishgardener  and nobody else.
I just joined yesterday. I do not want be a part of this forum if it is just a collection  of trouble making trolls. If you have problem with these people I suggest you take it elsewhere or take it up with the moderator.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: springbok on September 02, 2008, 23:43:01
Reading all these threads about blight on tomato plants.
I have one question does any one have plants without blight. That are healthy
and producing good fruit currently. I can not be only one without blight problems.

I wonder what I am doing different then every one else on this board.
Since my plants are doing amazing. I just picked 4 kg of ripe fruit of 5 of my plants.


 

A brit would us POUNDS AND OUNCES for a start!!!!.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Jeannine on September 03, 2008, 00:11:55
Me, I have no blight but I do have a good nose for sniffing stuff out XX Jeannine

I Picked 6 pounds off 1 Plant today..pictures available.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: nastybritishgardener on September 03, 2008, 01:55:41
Eristic I would love post picture of the tomatoes, but they are not tomatoes any more. They were the sauce tonites meal..
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Admin aka Dan on September 03, 2008, 06:47:59
I have had a look, and I don't think nast and the great are the same person (unless thegreatgadener is on holiday).

Sometimes we jump to conclusions which are not justified.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Hyacinth on September 03, 2008, 08:29:49
Eristic I would love post picture of the tomatoes, but they are not tomatoes any more. They were the sauce tonites meal..


4.kg of toms for sauce for ONE meal? :o Mind you, spect there were a lot of you to feed  ;D

(sigh..) nah Dan, sometimes conclusions are justified..



Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: nastybritishgardener on September 03, 2008, 09:05:22
A few clarifications the 4 kg of tomatoes came from 5 plants.

The sauce  used more then 4 kg of tomatoes   and many other ingredients.
The sauce was used to enhance a dish.  The total amount of sauce I made was about 2 quarts for those who are metric shy.
 
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: GrannieAnnie on September 03, 2008, 09:30:12
Borlotti  thegreatgardener/nastybritishgardener isn't worth worrying about.
.
Commercial growers grow under glass where it's less likely, and probably treat their plants as well if need be.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0803/tomato_blight.asp
As you can see conditions have been ideal for it this year sadly.
Has anyone tried the copper treatment this URL mentions? I guess it won't work if plants are out in rain?
I'm not sure if some of mine have what you call blight- they get pinhole size brown spots then the whole leaf yellows and shrivels and drops. This moves from the ground up, never the reverse. 
One plant has a different problem: one healthy green stem near the top that is just wilting which is new. Some plants just look tired. We haven't had rain in a few weeks so I'm having to water and maybe the drought is wearing them down.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: ceres on September 03, 2008, 09:57:19
Yes, I use Bordeaux Mix and my toms are all outdoors.  Last year I didn't start spraying until the plants were infected and although it perhaps slowed the progression down a little, it didn't save the crop.  This year, I did the first spray a week after planting out and at the recommended intervals after that and, touch wood, I have no blight (yet).  I'm getting about 4lbs toms every couple of days at the moment. 
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: betula on September 03, 2008, 10:47:47
Good yield.No blight for me this year ,thank goodness. :)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Hyacinth on September 03, 2008, 14:37:26
A few clarifications the 4 kg of tomatoes came from 5 plants.

The sauce  used more then 4 kg of tomatoes   and many other ingredients.
The sauce was used to enhance a dish.  The total amount of sauce I made was about 2 quarts for those who are metric shy.
 

(sigh...) we don't "do" quarts ::)

PS Please would you post your recipe in the appropriate forum? We love new recipes there ;)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Baccy Man on September 03, 2008, 15:49:19
(sigh...) we don't "do" quarts ::)

Yes we do but a little clarification as to wether they are imperial quarts or US quarts would help as they are completely different measurements.
2 Imperial quarts = 2.273045 litres
2 US liquid quarts = 1.892705892 litres

More relevant to this thread. I haven't got blight yet this year although I do have botrytis in one of my greenhouses.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: GrannieAnnie on September 03, 2008, 16:09:22
(sigh...) we don't "do" quarts ::)
2 Imperial quarts = 2.273045 litres
2 US liquid quarts = 1.892705892 litres

Oh, come on BaccyMan- couldn't you be a bit more precise??
 ;)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Hyacinth on September 03, 2008, 16:14:49
BaccyMan - we don't "talk" QUARTS? :-\ as a regular thing?

And, in case a recipe is also forthcoming??? a hint for the poster.....we don't 'do' "cups" either,  and we also don't talk of "shortening" (just in case he intends puttin a bl**din pie-crust over the whole canoodle)  ;D

grrrrrrrrrrrr  ;)

Back to topic......my first actual experience of blight was with my own plants this year, courtesy of great pix on this forum, so was able to see the first iffy cherry tom. on a client's outdoor plant this morning, look more closely at that, and adjacent plants, pronounce blight, etc.etc.etc....she'll have, I'm sure, a trayful of Saved Toms, ripening under paper in the house - and my street-cred has risen exponentially - as will my rates next year.

Thanks Peeps! ;D



Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: greyhound on September 03, 2008, 17:52:51
a hint for the poster.....we don't 'do' "cups" either

Now then!  A number of regular contributors often post recipes using cup measures ....

I agree, though, I do find it more helpful if it's converted to weight.  Not fussed whether it's metric or imperial.  8)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Hyacinth on September 03, 2008, 18:41:38


Now then!  A number of regular contributors often post recipes using cup measures ....



Quick search on the words "quarts" and "cups" on the Recipes forum doesn't suggest this  is so, given the no. of recipes posted in a year....errrr...any mathematician whizz-kids here? Baccyman, you reading this & got nothing better planned this evening? ;)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Baccy Man on September 03, 2008, 19:05:50
Don't do cups ??? what about this parsley soup recipe from your very own hand Lishka, or don't you consider yourself a regular contributor.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,19567.msg201541.html#msg201541
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Hyacinth on September 03, 2008, 20:05:35
....in May 2006 (ahh, the halcyon times when I was young and the sap was risin'... fish were jumpin' an' the parsley was high..)....awwwwwww!!

But that was then, and this is now ..... :-[

No I'm not a regular 'tributor (I think, but shoorly stats will prove me rong? ;)) to recipes as such, tho I do remember googling for something back then to use all the superfluous parsley I had.....hence coming across this US recipe and trying it & then passing it on?
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Trixiebelle on September 03, 2008, 20:24:13
Blight on tomato plants is SURELY nothing to do with what the gardener who plants the tomatoes is 'doing' (right or wrong) It's a disease ..... ????

Oh well .... who am I to say? I'm just a niceeastmidlandsgardener  ;D
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: greyhound on September 03, 2008, 21:46:54
Now then!  A number of regular contributors often post recipes using cup measures ....

Quick search on the words "quarts" and "cups" on the Recipes forum doesn't suggest this  is so
Don't make me name names! (http://bestsmileys.com/nono/6.gif) but I've seen plenty of recipes posted that originated in the USA, SA etc. and thus feature cups.

Yours did have the conversions, though, so you're let off.   ;D
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Eristic on September 03, 2008, 21:54:03
Quote
Oh, come on BaccyMan- couldn't you be a bit more precise??

For those who are relatively new to this site, BaccyMan is our equivalent of Dr. Spok of Starship Enterprise fame.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Kingfisher on September 03, 2008, 22:03:57
Reading all these threads about blight on tomato plants.
I have one question does any one have plants without blight. That are healthy
and producing good fruit currently. I can not be only one without blight problems.

I wonder what I am doing different then every one else on this board.
Since my plants are doing amazing. I just picked 4 kg of ripe fruit of 5 of my plants.


 

My plants at home are doing realy well but a bit slow in rippening, my plants at the allotment all have blight, the only difference between the two, is the ones at home I check morning and night for any discolouration to the leaves as soon as there is any change I pick them off, I think this as saved them from getting blight
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: redimp on September 03, 2008, 22:04:18
Reading all these threads about blight on tomato plants.
I have one question does any one have plants without blight. That are healthy
and producing good fruit currently. I can not be only one without blight problems.

I wonder what I am doing different then every one else on this board.
Since my plants are doing amazing. I just picked 4 kg of ripe fruit of 5 of my plants.


 

A brit would us POUNDS AND OUNCES for a start!!!!.
Sorry but you are wrong - a brit might use pounds and ounces but might use grams and kilograms - as a teacher I tend to be metric but am interchangeable.  An American will use pounds and ounces as that is still the standard over there.  A European will use metric only.

I would also suggest that NBG's suggested use of chemicals to beat blight in another thread also differentiates him/her from  TheGreatGardener/GridGardener who can be seen elsewhere in the forum.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 04, 2008, 13:00:14
If you're going to call yourself 'nasty gardener', you're asking for it. Your spelling, and the lack of information in your posts, are certainly reminiscent of others who've been referred to. You meantion people with distinctively American names ('Chuck'), and use US spelling. I can't help thinking that 'nastybritishgardener' is a dig at us.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: keef on September 04, 2008, 20:24:46
At the moment anyone that comes on here (genuine troll or not) and says something even slightly controversial gates a hale of abuse, its like a witch hunt! troll, troll - burn em! burn em!

Its easy for Dan to check if people are using more than one account as your IP address is logged every time you post....

BTW - all my Tom's are shafted with blight - so Greyhound its coming your way I'm afraid...

Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Mr Smith on September 04, 2008, 20:50:13
Being a supporter of the EU(and I tell lies) I always ask for 454mls when I go to the pub ;D
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: greyhound on September 04, 2008, 21:53:31
At the moment anyone that comes on here (genuine troll or not) and says something even slightly controversial gates a hale of abuse, its like a witch hunt! troll, troll - burn em! burn em!

Yep, I agree, the sight of the circling pack is quite disturbing.

BTW - all my Tom's are shafted with blight - so Greyhound its coming your way I'm afraid...

B*gger.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: grawrc on September 04, 2008, 21:56:14
Being a supporter of the EU(and I tell lithe one thates) I always ask for 454mls when I go to the pub ;D
Ah well! as a committed European I ask for a beer - sometimes specifying the shade - and leave the barman to specify quantity and quality available. Then I select the one that appeals. Could be a pint of Caley 80 (small Scottish brewery) or 500ml of Trappist beer/ stella/ or other. Depends on my mood and what they have.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: redimp on September 04, 2008, 22:55:22
Even if they metricate the quantity of beer in this country then I still think we will be ordering pints - they will just be metric pints.  Anyway, metric has nothing to do with the EU - invented during the French revolution and it's introduction in the UK pre-dated our membership.  Also, cannot see why anybody is opposed to it - it is so simple it is unbelievable - and it is based on natural factors:

for instance 1kg is the weight of 1 litre of water at sea level

Mass:
1kg = 1000g
1 tonne = 1000kg

Length:
1m = 1000mm
1km = 1000m

Capacity/Volume:
1l = 1000ml

Money:
£1 = 100p
etc
 
or

Mass:
16 drams = 1 ounce
16 ounces = 1 pound
7 pounds = 1 clove
14 pounds = 1 stone
28 pounds = 1 tod
112 pounds = 1 hundredweight
364 pounds = 1 sack
2240 pounds = 1 ton
2 stones = 1 quarter
4 quarters = 1 hundredweight
20 hundredweight = 1 ton

Length:
1 nail = 2¼ inches
4 inches = 1 hand
12 inches = 1 foot
3 foot = 1 yard
5.5 yards = 1 rod
6 foot = 1 fathom
22 yards = 1 chain
100 links = 1 chain
10 chains = 1 furlong
8 furlongs = 1 statute mile
6080 foot = 1 nautical mile

Capacity/Volume:
60 minims = 1 fluid drachm
8 fluid drachms = 1 fluid ounce
20 fluid ounces = 1 pint
4 gills = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 quart
4 quarts = 1 gallon
2 gallons   = 1 peck
4 pecks = 1 bushel
8 bushels = 1 quarter
36 bushels = 1 chaldron

Money:
12 pennies = 1 shilling
20 shillings = 1 pound
two and a half pennies   2 ½d    tuppence-ha'penny
two and three quarter pennies   2 ¾d    tuppence three farthing
four pennies   4d   fourpence
two shillings   2/-   two shillings, or two bob
eight shilling and four pence   8/4   eight and fourpence

Mind boggling - and that is just a summary.  I shall leave it to you to explain Mr Smith as you love imperial (and archaic term for an archaic system) so much.  Me, I would much rather teach metric to the children in my class so I actually have time to teach them something else too.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: greyhound on September 04, 2008, 23:48:29
You missed out firkin.   ;D
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: redimp on September 04, 2008, 23:51:57
All I know is it's firkin complicated! ;D
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: nastybritishgardener on September 04, 2008, 23:59:07
Still blight free.
But to put thread back on track.

What do intend do next year to prevent blight.

Which cups are you refuring USA,AU,UK  or SA.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Mr Smith on September 05, 2008, 07:46:02
Working in metric (ie) cutting and fixing anything you will always get a bettter fit, also the Japanese after WW2  when they poached our motor cycle industry re-tooled with metric  machine tools which gave  better quality machine parts for motor bikes and produced bikes that did not leak oil for an example, Keef just stay very left of centre with any opinion on here and you will be in the La, La club in no time  ;D  
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Baccy Man on September 05, 2008, 08:19:54
Being a supporter of the EU(and I tell lies) I always ask for 454mls when I go to the pub ;D
They should refuse to sell you that, a pint is defined by the weights & measures act as 568ml or an EU pint is 500ml. You will have to get them to serve it it by the joug (scottish pint, 1696ml) so you can catch up on the beer you've missed out on.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Mr Smith on September 05, 2008, 08:46:45
Mr Baccy,
            Thanks for that I will certainly sort that out and I only have a pint in our local Conservative Club ;)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: thifasmom on September 05, 2008, 09:47:54
Still blight free.
But to put thread back on track.

What do intend do next year to prevent blight.

Which cups are you refuring USA,AU,UK  or SA.


last yr as i said before was really bad for me with blight so this year i tried a covered solution see this post: http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,44646.msg446821.html#msg446821 (http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,44646.msg446821.html#msg446821)
but my neighbour also grew outside toms which are uncovered and is also blight free so it might just be this year is a safe year for us thus far :-\ but will continue to use the covered method in the years following as it does keep the worst of the rains off.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: asbean on September 05, 2008, 10:21:36
I registered with the site blightwatch.co.uk to receive an sms and email when blighty conditions are in my post code area.  I started probably too late for this season, and had three messages in all, they have stopped the messages now until next year.

Next year I will certainly be more proactive with the Bordeaux mix and picking off suspect leaves, hopefully we will be less busy (we always say that) and have more time to do it.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Kea on September 05, 2008, 18:03:43
Yes when I moved here the imperial system was my biggest nightmare. The UK was supposed to have changed to metric but I was expected to order stuff using measurements i didn't understand because shops couldn't/wouldn't measure (buying fabric for sewing) or weigh stuff in metric. I got stubborn and persistently asked in metric and they would get out conversion factors to translate the measurements. I suspect I lost out financially doing this but at least when the use of metric became law I knew what I wanted while everybody else had to convert!

When I started school I had about about 6 months of inches and feet etc before we changed to decimal. It is so much easier.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Kea on September 05, 2008, 18:09:56
So while everyone is discussing cups...tell me how much is a cup?

In NZ it's 8 fl. ounces.

This why metric is better, but my NZ recipes have cups and teaspoons etc and it's easy to forget which is what.
 
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Mr Smith on September 05, 2008, 18:44:09
Like RedClanger says it was a frog that fell off the toilet seat rather than the great Mr Newton and came up with something that was bloody obivious to the rest of the world like working in multiples of tens, I like being complicated and will keep on asking for a dozen brown Luv which is for a chucky eggs on our Saturdays Farmers market :)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: redimp on September 05, 2008, 20:13:17
Like RedClanger says it was a frog that fell off the toilet seat rather than the great Mr Newton and came up with something that was bloody obivious to the rest of the world like working in multiples of tens, I like being complicated and will keep on asking for a dozen brown Luv which is for a chucky eggs on our Saturdays Farmers market :)
Ah, but one Newton is the equivalent 'weight' of a mass of one gram subjected to sea level gravity ;D

redclanger - from the county where gravity and rainbows were invented ;D
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Hyacinth on September 05, 2008, 20:35:20
I've been checking an Application for funding for carpeting - 3 quotations submitted - fine. 2 of them gave the carpet roll measurements in metres - and the room measurements in feet and inches ::)

And Brum peeps will remember when the market traders in the Bull Ring refused to sell their produce in kilos or grammes and a trader said he'd go to prison rather than do so?...a pound of taters is a pound of taters innit? Always was, always will be...

Don't think this attitude will die-the-death 'til the oldies do :-\
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Mr Smith on September 05, 2008, 21:10:56
Ms Maxwell,
                       Nothing unusual in that I think you will find most trades especially ones that work with timber will convert a metric measurement to imperial 'God save the Queen' ;)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: tonybloke on September 05, 2008, 23:32:00
carpet is manufactured (mostly in belgium, by the way) in either 4 metre or 5 metre widths.
Mr Smith, the reason (so I've been informed by a shopfitter mate) that most trades that involve cutting lengths of timber, plastic, flooring, etc convert to imperial measurements, is due to the occassional  '100 mil co*k-up' as it's known  (i.e. "I've bl**dy hundred milled this!) (too long/short) ;)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Jeannine on September 05, 2008, 23:48:42
There is very little difference in cup sizes across the countries, most are 8 flluid ounces,  the metric one is 250 mls but it so close it makes no difference, The tablespoon is the same too except for Australia. theirs is 20 ml all the others are 15. Their teasppon is the same as everyone elses which is 5 ml.

I cook in cups , Aussie, NZ, US and metric  recipes.. they all work together(apart form the tablespoon)

 XX Jeannine
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: ninnyscrops on September 05, 2008, 23:52:04
Just got my eggs this evening in a tray which are both metric and imperial - either 5 rows of half a dozen or 6 rows of 5  ;D
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: greyhound on September 06, 2008, 14:08:00
I still don't understand expressing the quantity of a substance such as butter in cups.  Fluid ounces is one thing, you can put liquid in a measuring jug, but I want to know the weight for butter etc.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 06, 2008, 17:09:05
Neither can I, it always used to be in ounces. You had a one pound packet so it was easy to estimate.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: tim on September 06, 2008, 17:22:12
It's a stick of Butter!
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: nastybritishgardener on September 06, 2008, 18:29:13
it is easy you cut on the lines on the stick wrapper.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: grawrc on September 06, 2008, 18:44:39
Well no blight so far and I actually brought home a small bag of ripe tomatoes, latah,stulpice, sub arctic plenty. If I get another blight free week I think I'll have some Roma too. Ah well, we'll see.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 06, 2008, 20:56:25
Never heard of a stick of putter before. I'm not sure what we used to call it (maybe a pack) but the whole family speak an odd sort of English at home.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: asbean on September 06, 2008, 21:11:50
Or is it a pat of butter?  We used to have a pair of wooden paddles with one side with a fluted-type decoration, for making cute little pieces of butter.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: tonybloke on September 06, 2008, 21:39:57
I still don't understand expressing the quantity of a substance such as butter in cups.  Fluid ounces is one thing, you can put liquid in a measuring jug, but I want to know the weight for butter etc.
cups were used as a means of measurement when all you needed were proportions and folk didn't have scales! ;)
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Jeannine on September 07, 2008, 03:01:29
A stick of butter is a 1/4 pound.Some US butter companies pack there butter in 4 X 4 ounce sticks just as we used to pack some margarines in 4  X 4ounce blocks.

 Cooking in cups is very very easy, you have to forget the fluid aspect and forget weight. Every commodity in a cup has a different weight so it is simply a way of cooking by volume.

I found after I swiitched t o cups, there was no difference in my baking etc but I didn't have to waste time weighing and having to have the scale. It is a much quicker way. At first I thought it was stupid but was rapidly converted and would't switch back as it is too easy.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: gordonsveg on September 07, 2008, 08:13:07
 :( :(Lost all my outdoor crop, G/H not bad but not as many as I hoped.  Funny thing though, I live in town (PLY) and got blight my son living in the country his are clear. ??? ???
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Kingfisher on September 07, 2008, 12:07:25
Hi I do not know if this may be a deterrent for blight on toms but I have had a plant at my lotty that I took from my other toms in my garden, my garden one have not been effected, but the one at the lotty has had bouts of blight but the toms keep making a come back, the only thing that I have been doing is pruning off any yellow or black leaves as soon as they appear and have been using nettle soup,

It seems that every time I put on the nettle soup it seems to revive the plant or at least seems to be keeping it at bay.

Has anyone else tried this.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: hopalong on September 07, 2008, 12:45:08
I have looked it up and think I will try Ferline next year.  Does Ferline taste OK, is it for cooking or eating. 
I tried Ferline this year and have found it to be blight resistant, unlike the Gardeners Delight and Alicante that I also grew. The fruits are quite large with slightly pointed ends. The taste is a little bland, but perfectly OK for salads and for stews etc.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: greyhound on September 07, 2008, 16:58:28
Cooking in cups is very very easy, you have to forget the fluid aspect and forget weight. Every commodity in a cup has a different weight so it is simply a way of cooking by volume.

Well, that's understandable for liquids and things like sugar or flour, but butter??  Should the butter completely fill the cup, do you cut the corners off and squash it in to see?  Sorry I just don't understand. 
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: cleo on September 07, 2008, 17:53:51
A stick of butter is the amount left on a spoon-this is why I always use a knife
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: Kea on September 07, 2008, 18:00:12
Well my English husband was making a courgette chocolate cake from my NZ cook book today and we nearly came to blows over the measurements!
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: mc55 on September 07, 2008, 18:08:47
my plants look healthy, so I don't think I've got blight, but some of the tomatoes are going brown / black whilst ripening.  They are taking ages to ripen this year - I think its because I'm missing some glass from the g/h.  I've kept the door closed this year and am hardly having to water as the ground is very wet from all the rain.
Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: grawrc on September 07, 2008, 19:14:42
From previous posts it would seem they're slow to ripen most places this year. I'm just using my first proper batch for dinner this evening  (ermm we tend to eat late! :-[ :-[ :-[) Courgettes onions garlic tomatoes + provelone all drizzled with rosemary flavoured olive oil. In the oven right now and driving my taste buds crazy!

Title: Re: blight and tomatoes
Post by: ninnyscrops on September 07, 2008, 20:01:44
Noticed it on the greenhouse ones tonight   :'( 

Guess I won't put a passata machine on the Christmas list this year then  :(

Ninnyscrops
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