What's happening in June

We finally got the rain we so were so desperate for, about 25mm on Sunday 5 and Monday 6 June and have had more since then, and everything is growing well and no need for irrigation for now, happy again!  

Ridging up potatoes before the rain (with a little help)




Picking up the first of the new potatoes by hand



Seeding into module trays, the majority is done now, but crops such as lettuce will be seeded every 2 weeks until August.

Sweetcorn and courgettes transplanted into nice moist ground, but not enjoying the wind and cool nights since.

Our quiet bird-scarer, a hawk kite, acts as a potential predator keeping smaller birds away from the crops

Basil growing well in a polytunnel, the scent from so many plants
is amazing

Nasturtiums just starting to flower to brighten up the salad bags

Squash plants ready to be transplanted.

What's Happening in May (part 2)

No significant rain now since March 17th and over the last week or so only the occasional shower giving us the odd mm or two of rain we can't put off transplanting for any longer. We are using T-Tape (trickle tape) laid along rows of crops for irrigation. This is a long process as our water pressure only allows us to irrigate 2 or 3 rows at a time. We do usually have to do this for selected crops, depending on the weather, but with no significant rain due yet we're going to have to continue irrigating all transplants for now 

Irrigating kale



and leeks




Young plants ready to be transplanted





onions in Olantigh Fields, newly transplanted leeks to the right




New Season's rainbow chard soon ready to harvest

 

2nd outdoor sowing of carrots, in need of hand-weeding (they have already been weeded between the rows using a tractor mounted hoe

...and here are the carrots after hand-weeding

Cucumber, peppers and aubergines recently transplanted into a polytunnel



Working very dry ground for llek transplants







What's happening - May in pictures

May 2011, we've had a very dry and the hottest April since records began, and now have the wind to dry things out even more so deperately need some rain.





Early spuds, some under cover, before being ridged up May 3rd in case of an overnight frost



Martin rotovating a tunnel ready to plant tomatoes into, May Day Bank Holiday

Runner beans just transplanted, ready early after a hot April, but not enjoying the windy days after they were planted.

Lettuce and brassicas ready to transplant

Rainbow chard looking very pretty, but just starting to go to seed!

Wild Rocket spring re-growth

Lettuces under fleece, not pretty but it gets us an early crop



We have a few strawberries in a polytunnel, ripening up very early, May 2nd, after a very hot April



Hundreds of leek tranplants waiting for rain so they can spread their roots out in the field