This week the first batch of potatoes are ready. Strangely I haven’t finished planting all the potatoes yet. I’m nearly there, I’m waiting for some space to become available. The first lot ready are Orla, a good salad potato or just boiled with butter.
I have planted fifteen out of sixteen raised beds, the final bed is for leeks. Usually I sow leeks in medium sized pots before planting out. This year I filled an old fish box with manure and sowed the leeks into that. This worked really well. If you fancy growing leeks but are short on space I think a fish box and manure could produce a few full size leeks.
I’ve planted most of the brassicas in the net tunnel this year, I’m not sure this was the best idea. There’s quite a build up of pests in there – slugs, leather jackets and cabbage aphids. The broccoli is mostly managing to grow past any damage so I do think we’ll have broccoli in July. The cabbage aphids are easy to spot as they leave purple patches on leaves, when I see them I squish them. Squishing is often the most effective approach to pests and no special equipment is required! We do also have fruit trees in the net tunnel and they are looking good.
This year I’m doing my usual selection of Markets and Craft Fairs. Somehow I’ve ended up with four booked in the last week of June. On Friday the 20th I’m in the Gathering Hall, on Monday the 23rd it’s Kilmuir Hall, Tuesday the 24th Glendale Hall and then Thursday the 26th in Skye Bible Church in the middle of Portree. In Kilmuir and Glendale I’ll be selling plants, veg and preserves. The Gathering Hall and Bible Church I’ll have crafts – mainly felt. Just before Christmas I made some wet felted notebook covers, these have turned into a best seller so that’s my rainy day activity for the year. My main Fair for the Summer is in Glendale, this event runs every Tuesday and has a lovely range of crafts, everything from art and photography to bags and jewellery. I’m going there every other week at the moment, I’m pleased to report that most of the pot holes are gone! Skye Bible Church is organised to coincide with cruise ships, the Gathering Hall is once a month on a Friday and I’m not sure about Kilmuir. I also go now and again to Sligachan. Sadly the Armadale monthly market is no more, but something is happening in An Crubh so I might give that a go later in the season.
This week’s Croft Shares will have:
Small – potatoes, shallots, Spring onions, courgettes, kale and baby beetroot.
Medium – potatoes, onions, Spring onions, courgettes, kale, garlic, spring greens and salad leaves.
Large – potatoes, onions, Spring onions, courgettes, kale, garlic, spring greens, beetroot, herbs and salad leaves.