Hi,

Sunshine and showers—you’d think that this would be perfect weather for a farmer, but no, we are never happy! Due to the poor weather early on in the year we are now about a month behind in planting our main crop potatoes but Philip Matthews (pictured left) has got off to a good start and we should have a good crop by early September.

The late start does mean that for the first time in eight years we will have to import some new season potatoes for a month or so to tide us over until our own crop is ready. Importing potatoes is not something we are used to nor do we want to, but needs must at the moment, so please bare with us.

We have about 100,000 plants of various types of  brassicas ready to go in but we have been waiting for drier weather.. .and  this is the week we are apparently due some warm weather—so busy times ahead!

Keeping to the theme of the weather and never being happy— the warmth and the rain has had an impact on the cauliflower going in the boxes this week … some of them are pretty big! They really had a growth spurt over the weekend, so apologies there—excellent for cauliflower cheese, or curry this week !

Show season has started with a flurry this last weekend and we are now attending a number of food events and county shows throughout the region. The Spring Garden Show at Malvern is on this week, so if you are going do pop into the food hall to say hello. Other shows include the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC next month and the Taste of Birmingham in July—to see a full listing please take a look at our    website.