Preparation for Storm Boelo

Hello Everyone,

I am sat watching and listening to the wind howl a gale outside. The fires are on inside and we will hope that all is well outside. We have taken some precautions…putting everything away where it should be and fingers crossed that little damage occurs.

Our Polytunnel doors are typically open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. However, at this time of the year we can decide to close the doors on the polytunnels in late afternoon to retain some form of heat and open them first thing in the mornings to allow fresh air and ventilation. The temperature within a tunnel can rise quite quickly if it is sunny outside, even when it is cold outside. The temperature is trapped and can be useful by preventing frost damage to the plants. To grow it is best if the plants have a more regulated and steady temperature, so closing the doors can help reduce great fluctuations in temperatures. We also need to prevent any fungal diseases taking hold…mould, mildew and Botrytis. These are very common and a small number of our plants will probably suffer from mould during the back end of Winter. We want to reduce this chance, hence the doors are open to allow for better air flow to help the leaves stay dry. Constant wet leaves result in Botrytis (grey mould).

The doors on the tunnels are definitely closed now and will stay closed while Storm Boelo, or any more strong winds, hit our farm. Harsh weather can be detrimental to plants inside and outside a polytunnel. Most plants do not like ‘rocking’ and the root system can be damaged, let alone the stress on the plant - we have all seen trees uprooted by storms, well smaller plants can be affected in a similar way. Inside the tunnels plants may rock with the wind and any driving rain. We have a chance to establish stronger plants by having the doors closed and protecting our crops.

Closing the doors will also protect the tunnels themselves. When the tunnels were first erected and a storm was brewing, Bob and I were up for most of the night, checking in on the tunnels to make sure they didn’t blow away! Obviously, they didn’t! However, we do take precautions to make the tunnel secure and keeping the doors closed is the major help they need.

Wind going into a tunnel can actually put extra pressure on the structure by lifting the outer covering or any parts which are loose. There are lots of gizmos and tubes which can easily be lifted by the wind and damage the covering, ripping or tearing and then we would be in serious trouble!

So, we have battened down the hatches and crossed our fingers. Now we wait till the storm has passed for the tunnels and the rest of our farm infrastructure.

The Polytunnels main purpose is to grow lots of lovely vegetables 12 months of the year and I am pleased to say that the crops in the Polytunnels are looking really strong and healthy.

The herb gardens have now all been cut back. The plants have been cut to the base. A fresh layer of compost will be added. Then we will await for the new growth in 2027. The two gardens, between the lines of polytunnels, are my favourite parts of our growing areas. The shades of the greenery, the smells and the flowers are just beautiful and most definitely a Summer sign. I also enjoy seeing them tidy and empty mainly because you just know that there is magic in the ground. Mother Nature is taking care of these plants during the Autumn and Winter seasons while these herbs take a well earned rest before they provide for us during the Spring and Summer seasons next year.

As the weather is dismal offering little opportunity to work outside I have been making Blackberry and Apple Jam which is now available on the website.

While I have been making Jam Bob has been preparing and putting together the binders for more ‘students’ on Monday who are attending our ‘Growing Better Vegetables’ course. All students leave with over a hundred pages of our knowledge. We are hoping that we have made the mistakes so you don’t have to! Courses are available on the website.

I am going to say TTFN and for you all to take care and be safe while Bob now says a few technical IT words.

Ann

Hello everyone,

Earlier in the week a major global news story involved many websites being taken down due to the identification of an issue caused by the use of PHP software. This software is widely used in the building of websites. 

However, I can confirm and reassure everyone that the Hexhamshire Organics website was NOT impacted. Our website is built on the Shopify platform, and websites built on the Shopify platform do not use PHP software. 

Bob