Maintaining variety

As we approach the ‘hungry gap’, our polytunnels play a vital role in bridging the gap until field grown crops are ready.  We are always thinking about ways to narrow the hungry gap and so this year we are planning to re-establish a perennial area for crops which will provide during April, May and June such as asparagus, rhubarb and globe artichokes.  We have problems with perennial weeds such as couch which makes this a bit of a challenge.  "Move it three times and he's gone" a neighbour once told me.  A bit of folk law which I can vouch for if the weather is right.

Throughout the year crops are kept as diverse as possible here at Stowey Rocks Farm to keep the veg boxes interesting: for example, we grow green, white, purple and romanesco cauliflower, as well as red, green, party frock and curly kale. This year we hope to grow plum tomatoes and tomatillos (also known as Mexican husk tomatoes, they make great salsa), Physalis (AKA Inca berries or Cape gooseberries), radish, daikon or mooli radish (for kimchi, the Korean fermented staple) and black Spanish radish. Thankfully you have told us that you appreciate this wide range and the diveristy in the fields also benefits the local environment enhancing biodiversity.

At Plowright Organic we pride ourselves on the broad range of vegetables we grow, but we are only able to do so because of the box scheme business. If we were to sell all of our vegetables wholesale, we would have to specialize in single crops; creating a direct link with the customer enables us to get a better price for our vegetables, allowing for the more bio-diverse, sustainable growing we practice here in Over Stowey.

So thank you for the part you play in enabling this farm to flourish.