9th March

Beautiful weather at times this week! We managed to get the beds in the caterpillar tunnel topped with a layer of very well rotted manure (thanks to Piddinghoe stables)

We then added some lovely rich compost, and as we want lots more juicy tomatoes this year, we created an additional bed.

Because we are in the South Downs National Park, it is difficult to get permission for a standard polytunnel. The caterpillar tunnel is similar, but is officially a temporary structure, so is taken down in the winter. It also has both ends sealed up, so the only way to get in is to lift the polythene at the side and crawl underneath. Hence the paving slab on the right!

I have a huge Gantt chart that I have developed on a spreadsheet which maps out when I should sow vegetable seeds, when to transplant them to the field and when I expect to harvest them. It is the result of many hours in dark December poring over Charles Dowding books and working out most likely timings. Realistically, it can only be a guide because of the weather, but I need to have some kind of plan. Here's an example for Purple Sprouting (note that the overwintering plants are ready earlier than expected)

Anyway, the reason to mention that is because there is so much lined up to sow in the next few weeks which to me is very exciting. I just need to find room for all the seed trays!

If you think that was boring, I'm going to get even worse and talk about seed compost. This week I've sown Lettuce, Purple Sprouting and Green Sprouting Broccoli. The compost I use is my own mix of Sylvamix natural organic compost and coir compost which is obviously also organic.

Enthralling compost picture below:

What's slightly more interesting though is that the coir arrives as a 12.5 kg block to which I add 20 litres of water and it magically produces 75l of coir compost. Very environmentally friendly, especially by reducing transport volumes.

BEFORE WATER ADDED

AFTER

We sold out of all the overwintering vegetables that we offered for sale this week. Pictures below of the Green Kale and Purple Sprouting

I underestimated the volume of Purple Sprouting that we had available, so we will have some more for sale this week. There is also some more Green Kale and also some Red Kale. We will be offering mixed Kale this week as it is hard to estimate how much of each type will be available.

I mentioned previously that the Cavolo Nero was going to seed. However, the small lower leaves taste wonderful, so they too will be on sale this week. We will offer 100g portions of small leaves as illustrated in the photo below. Quality not quantity!

I think that Spinach and Chard are a couple of weeks away, as are the overwintering cauliflowers, see example in the picture below. As a midwife would say "nearly there, I can see the head" 😉

The final photo this week leaves me with mixed feelings.

I've managed to clear the 10 ton pile of compost from the entrance to the field and onto the beds, and my back is still functioning!

The bad news is that it wasn't enough and I need to fork out another £500 to get another load, and do it all again 🤦‍♂️