Finally some sunshine, the greenhouse was 35C on Saturday and the ground has actually dried out a bit! Ploughing has begun. We are re-visiting a bit of field we used for potatoes a couple of years ago. It’s ploughing up surprisingly well. It did look very lumpy and weedy, now it looks quite like a potato field. Only about 800 seed potatoes to plant now. This is my least favourite job, it’s just heavy going and seems to go on for ages. We are mainly planting Charlotte and Jazzy, with some Sarpo Una and Orla. Jazzy and Sarpo Una did well for us two years ago. Charlotte is the most easy growing potato I’ve found, a bit prone to scab but will grow in wet clay as well as a bit of a drought. I’ve never been satisfied with any maincrop potatoes I’ve grown, so this year I’m doing some trials in raised beds for good drainage. I’ve got a few red varieties and some pink fir apple as these grow to a good size and store well.
The warmer weather has made everything undercover grow enthusiastically, including the weeds of course. I’ve now got a huge list of jobs and they all need to be done simultaneously. I’ve made good progress in the net tunnel, I’ve planted all the broad beans in there and about half of the outdoor Spring onions. Last year’s Spring onions were pretty rubbish for slug reasons, this year’s look more promising. Next up are cooking onions, potatoes, tomato and French bean planting.
The 2024 craft/produce markets began last week in Portnalong. This craft fair is every two weeks on a Wednesday. It’s a lovely event, lots of nice stalls and a pop-up cafe. I really enjoy the drive over there as well, Portnalong is in a stunning location. Next month I have Armadale which I always enjoy and a new one in the Gathering Hall. I will post details on facebook. What I take to craft fairs varies a bit, Armadale is baskets, jam, eggs and veg, Portnalong is art, baskets, eggs and possibly some veg, the Gathering Hall is timed to coincide with cruise ships so no veg, but crafts and jam!
This weeks Croft Shares will have – mixed salad leaves, pea shoots, asparagus kale, chard, leeks and a mix of coriander and parsley. There are probably enough leeks for a small portion next week as well, then we’ll be moving on to some other alliums. The chard is a mix of yellow and Fordhook Giant. The Fordhook Giant is pretty enormous, it has big white ribs. Chard ribs don’t need to be removed, they aren’t stringy and are really good in a soup or curry.