After the week of too many craft fairs I finally had some time for weeding and tomato pruning. The weeds in the net tunnel were horribly out of control, it’s looking a bit tidier now. I also planted some sugar snap peas in there and the rest of the leeks outside. I’ve got some more courgettes to go in the Polycrub and will be sowing Autumn salads in the greenhouse. Salad leaves grow best in the Spring and Autumn. At this time of year there are just too many caterpillars and too much daylight. Mustard leaves and lettuce prefer an even amount of daytime and night time. I assume the green caterpillars are cabbage white, I never see a corresponding number of butterflies though. There are a lot of Red Admiral butterflies about at the moment but I haven’t seen any of their caterpillars. Most of these beasties love a chard or beetroot leaf best. They ignore tomatoes, courgettes and French beans.
A lot of baby Swallows are hanging around the croft just now, hopefully their snack of choice is a green caterpillar.
The French beans have been a bit slow this year but have now reached the roof of the greenhouse and have a decent number of beans for picking. I’ve grown the usual green ones and the yellow flat podded ones from last year.
The first tomatoes have ripened and been eaten! Hopefully there will be more soon. We also have lots of ripe blackcurrants. The blackbirds are hanging around hoping to get in the fruit cage. Most of the blackcurrants will be frozen for jam but there’s always a few portions for the Croft Shares.
This week’s Croft Shares will have:
Small – Orla potatoes, Spring onions, courgettes, French beans, kale
Medium – Orla potatoes, Spring onions, courgettes, French beans, kale, garlic and onions
Large – Orla potatoes, Spring onions, courgettes, French beans, kale, garlic, onions, chard and beetroot.