We’ve also been planting out leaf beet, cauliflower and cabbage, with spring onions, salad leaves and beetroot to follow. Other outdoor sowings include parsnips, peas, carrots and three varieties of leek.

Camel CSA’s growing team are hard at work keeping the weeds at bay. We’re also busy getting more seeds sown outdoors.

This year Camel CSA’s growers started planting onion sets in early April. Last year it was mid March.

Over the last 12 months we’ve survived some very hostile weather conditions. These prevented us from preparing the ground at times. Some crops failed, others ran out early or went to seed too soon.

Thanks to our professional growers, the broad beans and peas planted under a fleece a month ago are starting to grow well.

Three different types of leeks have been sown. Lettuce and various brassica seedlings, including broccoli and cauliflower, are about to be planted out.

Camel CSA’s growing team have been digging up the winter brassicas (watch this RHS video) that have yielded so much for us over the last few months.

Top of the list are the three types of kale we’ve been growing this past winter. They are: –

• common curly kale
• gourmet cavolo nero (Tuscan kale)
• sweet-tasting red Russian kale

We’re about to start off next winter’s crop in modules.

Camel CSA’s growing team are continuing their perennial battle against the dock weed menace.

We’re weakening these tough plants by suppressing their growth underneath large sheets of black plastic.

All the docks then have to be dug out by hand. This method is extremely time consuming and labour intensive. But it does keep us fit!

We do this because we’re committed to organic growing principles and don’t use chemical sprays.

This spring it’s rabbits, last year it was mice. We’ve put up new barriers after bunnies burrowed inside our polytunnels. There’s been little damage so far, but we’re taking no chances.

« Previous Page — Next Page »