[webby139]

1st time grower this year and really enjoying it.

BUT, i'm about to go on holiday for 3 weeks - Nice i know, but i worry about my produce !! 
The plot is in my garden and my neigbour is on holiday at the minute and doesn't get back until the day i go away so can't give any instructions etc.

So, the questions i have are the following.

My potatoes are just starting to droop over / die off - will they be OK if someone keeps them watered or shall i harvest now ??

I think all my other stuff should be fine if watered:-
Chillis - I'm going to pick half off whilst green and freeze.
Peppers
Butternut Squash
Swede's
Cabbages
Cuscumber's

Any advise on this type of thing would be well appreciated.

Cheers,
Webby.

[Kleftiwallah]

I know you can write and I presume your next door neibour has a letterbox.     

Spuds - dig 'em up now.

I shouldn't bother freezing swedes, cabbages and cucumbers.

Cheers,    Tony.

[arugula]

In my opinion, your cucumbers will need picking regularly and depending on size and ripeness achieved, so might the peppers.

[Elcie]

I completely understand your worries I can remember when I first left my produce, think I was almost as worried as leaving the dog!  I'm not sure about the potatoes as I am not very experienced with those.  I think of the rest all will be ok other than the cucumbers which may not be any good for eating after three weeks depending on the weather.  Perhaps you could offer to your neighbour the opportunity of picking any that are ready and eating them in return for watering the plants if the weather is particularly dry?

[Stevens706]

Hi I agree with everything above but as for the potatoes you could just cut down the tops and leave until you return, doing this is often advised to set the skins ready for winter storage.

Have a good holiday I leave on Sunday for mine, tomorrow I will pick all tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peas and all courgettes (even the babies as they will be marrows when I return).

One last thing get your hoe out and do a proper weed, it is so disappointing when you return to a weed infested jungle.

[Aunt Sally]

3 weeks holiday ! - in the growing season ? 

[beaker141]

Ive got a 2 week holiday next week and Im more excited about the thought of returning to see how much everything has grown than I am about the holiday !

[Aunt Sally]

I shall be picking my runner beans every 2 days for the next month at least and my sweet corn is swelling and will ripen soon and.....

[flitwickone]

and wahhat?

[peapod]

Pick your crops Flitwick....they are all ready on Auntys plot...no holiday allowed 

[Aunt Sally]

As  poddy says

runners,  french beans, beetroot, corn, late peas, onions to lift, whitfly to kill on my brassicas, raspberries and lots more all happening over the next month to 6 weeks.

If I take a break at this time of year it has to be a short one !

[compostqueen]

I was due to go on holiday for 10 days but I negotiated a 3 day break instead    I couldn't leave my veggies any longer than that or they'd die in the greenhouse.  I worked hard to get them to grow so couldn't contemplate abandoning them

[flitwickone]

that means im here bI&TCH   

[Paul Plots]

As  poddy says

runners,  french beans, beetroot, corn, late peas, onions to lift, whitfly to kill on my brassicas, raspberries and lots more all happening over the next month to 6 weeks.

If I take a break at this time of year it has to be a short one !

We set off for a few days away but unfortunately the weather looked as if it might turn wet so we decided to head home after 6.

Days out (and a few down the plot) can be so much fun at this time of year.  Cheaper too.