3rd April : We had a productive first week of April. Potatoes planted, polytunnels planted and two thirds of the onions planted thanks to our volunteers. We’ll plant the remaining onions and some leftover potatoes that I couldn’t fit in the main plot. We’re also finishing the doors and vents on the new polytunnel and maybe potting on tomatoes if we have time.
7th April : Tomatoes, peppers and aubergines have been potted on and are growing really nicely. Cucumbers and courgettes have germinated. We are planting our early brassicas in the field as well as fennel, lettuce, spinach and chard. We’re also making plans for our open day on 7th June with the help of our new ‘Friends of Bennison Farm’ group. We’re planning to make this a fun packed day for members and non members alike. More details to follow
14th April : This week we are spreading manure for brussels sprouts, squash, courgettes, sweetcorn, celeriac and runner beans. We’re hoeing spring crops in the polytunnels clearing out spinach ready to drill more carrots. We’re watering the onions which are coming up nicely. We’re also watering carrot and parsnips beds to bring on the weeds and then hoe them off to create a ‘stale seedbed’.
24th April : Lots of hoeing and weeding this week. We’re steerage hoeing then pulling couch grass out of the onions while the soil is nice and loose having been hoed. Wheel hoeing in the tunnels and ridging potatoes. We’re also sowing courgettes and pattypan squash, drilling carrots and clearing out spinach and chard plants ready to plant tomatoes next week. The plants in the propagation tunnel are looking great and we’ll be planting cucumbers, courgettes, peppers and aubergines over the next few weeks.
28th April : This week we are planting tomatoes in the polytunnels. We’re growing some cherry tomatoes this year, which we haven’t done for a while because as lovely as they are, they take a long time to pick. Anyway we’re giving them a second chance, choosing larger fruited varieties which we will deleaf as they grow to make harvesting easier. We’re also sowing squash, sweetcorn, lettuce and French beans and planting lettuce and broccoli in the field and cucumbers and courgettes in the polytunnels.