Keeping on top of the Weeding

Hello Everyone,

We hope you are well. 

This week we made a decision that the farm needed a little TLC. At this point of the year, in the Summer season, it takes no time for things to get out of hand and as a team we don’t know which way to jump first. There is just soooo much to do.

Deciding to take a step back and consider what extra tasks need to be accomplished is probably the correct decision. 

We have had ideal conditions for mad growth of those wanted plants and unfortunately those unwanted ones, around the farm. It has been wet but there is still warmth in the air and with the lovely long days of light, bingo…perfect growing conditions.

The crew and ourselves have been all out tidying the beds and making sure that the crops are growing well. For instance the second early Potatoes (Casablanca), and our two main Potato crops (Cara & Heidi Red), all needed banking up with extra compost. 

By the way, the first early Potatoes (Bambino), which you can see in the photo, will be in the boxes this week and they are delicious especially with a little fresh mint. 

We cover a lot of our growing produce with netting or enviro mesh which, firstly, prevents the pesky pigeons from helping themselves to the newly planted plant. Now the covering is protection from butterflies laying eggs which turn into caterpillars. Those caterpillars do enjoy organic leaves! Once the plants are tucked under the covering we leave them to grow as do the odd weed. We have been removing the covering, a bed at a time, to check in on the vegetable and making sure the unwanted plants are gone by given a hoe over the compost.

We have had pleasant surprises under the covering which is why you are receiving Kohl Rabi and Kale in the boxes this week. It is amazing how well the vegetables are growing outside and it is even more amazing that we didn’t know how well they are growing. Thank you Mother Nature. 

I had a little spy on our Garlic and yes we have some. The Garlic was planted last November and this is something we can forget about until this time of the year. The Garlic tops are beginning to turn from green to yellow which is a good indication as to their readiness. We will be pulling them up late June/ early July. Not only does the leaf change help us decide to uproot the Garlic but the time we make available for this will be when we have at least two days to harvest, clean and store the bulbs ready for curing. Curing is when we dry each bulb carefully, usually in the greenhouse where it is warm, which ensures that the Garlic stores for a number of months. The Garlic I pulled smelt amazing and the daughter got this first bulb to try. 

Nearly everything which has been seeded in the greenhouses are now planted out. The only remaining plants are the Chillies, Peppers and Aubergines. We are in the process of clearing the beds inside the polytunnels in readiness for these plants. The Lettuces and Celtuce are out. The beds will get a new layer of fresh compost and next week these new plants will be popped in place. 

As the greenhouses are emptying we will be starting to sow the next batch of organic seeds. The plan says that we need to sow more leaves and brassicas which will be for later in the year and also for our overwintering crops. Yep! We are thinking ahead, always.  

Thank you for your continued support. This makes us enthusiastic and happy to be able to supply our Fresh, Local, Seasonal, Organic Produce.

 Take care,

 Ann