After an amazing selection of weathers we’re back again with this year’s weekly veg scheme. The long dry spell certainly helped the tomatoes and aubergines. Outside was a bit trickier and I had to force teenage boys to carry watering cans back and forth every evening until the rain returned. The chickens loved the dry spell, most of their pen turned into a dust bath. The ducks found the lack of rain deeply upsetting – their ponds completely dried out. They’re much happier now, and yes, are laying more eggs!
My planting this year has been very staggered, out of necessity rather than design. I’ve had fewer helpers this year so all the potato planting has been done by me. I think I’ve done about 400 seed potatoes with 200 to go. I discovered in previous years that first and second earlies can be planted until the end of June and still get a good crop. This staggered method does mean I don’t have to dig them all up at once which I would definitely struggle to do. This year about a third of the spuds are in raised beds which in theory should help with the harvesting.
I’ve planted most of the brassicas, some fell victim to slugs, but most are growing fairly happily. I’ve lots of nice looking leek babies in the planting queue and some more kale. There’s always more kale!
In the greenhouse the tomato plants have tiny tomatoes on them, this year I’m growing the usual little orange ones, as well as some bigger red and yellow varieties. I’m also trying a beefsteak tomato for use as a chutney ingredient.
This year the poor courgettes have really been the favourite delicacy for the Bornaskitaig slug population. I must have planted 30 plants and twelve have survived. I’m about to re-sow – there’s still time and the ones that have made it have grown very well.
Our fruit trees and bushes are looking especially good at the moment, the long dry spell helped the fruit to set. We’ve lots of apples, plums and even some cherries.
This week’s Croft Shares will have:
Small – onions, Spring onions, garlic, kale, salad leaves and a courgette.
Medium – onions, Spring onions, garlic, kale, salad leaves, chard, Spring greens and baby beetroot.
Large – onions, Spring onions, garlic, kale, salad leaves, chard, Spring greens, baby beetroot, asparagus kale and herbs.