We’ve had plenty of warm weather and almost enough rain over the past month to keep us and the crops happy! We’ve had to do a small amount of irrigation on newly planted/sown crops but try and plant just before rain is forecast when practical to do so. Most things are growing well, a few crops and workers don’t enjoy the excessive heat so thankfully there’s not been too much of that.
We’ve still got a good amount of spinach, kale and the last sowing of radicchio to transplant into the fields, and there’s always a bit more weeding and hoeing to do but we have got through most of it, giving us a bit of an August lull now to recover before September comes along. And of course, an abundance of produce comes as many customers go on holiday, so there’s a bit less harvesting and packing for a few weeks.
The veggie boxes now contain summer tomatoes and cucumber, with the occasinal pepper and aubergine. Sweetcorn will be ready very soon
We’ve had a pair of swallows nesting in our big packing shed, which kept us entertained for a few weeks and we will miss their lovely chattering. Luckily the nest was above a walkway and not above where anyone stands and packs! They fledged a week or so ago and some also nest in the horse shelters bordering our fields so there are quite a few around. We’ve seen up to 20 swallows hanging out together on the wires in the field above the shed.