16th March

Sowed beetroot, more radish and tomatoes this week

I'm amazed at the speed with which the Courgette seeds that were sown on 5th March are growing. The picture below was taken today

And this is the same tray yesterday

I'm told that any old fool can grow courgettes 😒

Due to the frost being forecast for the weekend, I held off transplanting anything last week, but the first radish went in today

And were quickly covered to keep the pests off!

On the subject off pests, I'd like to introduce a friend of mine who helps control the rodent population. Apologies for the very poor photos, but he is a bit shy so it is difficult to get close enough to take a good photo

He is a beautiful kestrel who I see on the field most days, and clearly sits on this post behind the shed when I am not around!!

To update on our vegetables:

Purple Sprouting has done well and provided a couple of weeks of pickings. It will need a week or so to replenish itself (we will have a lot more plants in the summer)

Rainbow Chard should be ready either next week or the week after

As will the spinach

Unfortunately the Kale is now going to seed along with three beds of red cabbages. Its rather frustrating to have nurtured them all through the winter only for them to go to waste.

Better news with the Savoy cabbages, as they are doing well

We will have some Cauliflowers available this week. I have updated the website to reflect those that are ready now, and will then update again later in the week if the warm spell we are due means that more become available

Microgreens are of course available every week, and proving to be more and more popular, which reminds me.....

On Sunday morning, our girls did the right thing and kindly took their mum out for brunch and a cheeky glass of prosecco.

I was left at home to have a sad and lonely brunch on my own

Until....................

Suddenly the meal was instantly transformed by the beautiful microgreens and my gloomy attitude disappeared. With the sun streaming through the window, I found myself full of joy reflecting on the fact that I had the opportunity to enjoy my brunch in peace and quiet whilst reading the Sunday paper uninterrupted by discussions of creams or serums or shoes or mascaras!

*(please see disclaimer below)

Final thing to mention is that I now have two of the new beds fully ready as I have filled the gap in between the beds with woodchips to suppress the weed growth. These are supplied by a local tree surgeon. Hopefully he will have some more soon!

Cauliflowers and more early tomatoes to be transplanted to the field this week, along with loads of carrots to be sown directly!!

*Disclaimer: Saltdean Vegetables Ltd in no way guarantees that the combination of scrambled egg and microgreens will have such an uplifting effect as it did for Dave on Sunday morning. For example, when adding the microgreens, if you simultaneously realise that you have run out of microgreens, and you won't be getting any more until Friday, this is likely have a negative effect. Should this occur then we recommend that you place an immediate and large order of microgreens for the coming Friday

*Always read the label

*Please use microgreens responsibly