July Update

By the end of this month we should have both plums and tomatoes on stream. Plums appear to be a little earlier than average, but then they did hit some very warm days in late March for blossoming. The erratic performance of the french beans in the Durtch Light Structure rather mirrors the widely fluctuating day and night time temperatures through April and May, not to mention some chilly nocturnal hours through June. The Vanessa tomatoes will be much delayed for the same reason.

This area of Essex has seen little rain since mid May which has meant regular watering of all the vegetables outside.

Pigeons outside, and beetroot-loving mice inside have been the main annoyances, other than the weather. Fallow deer are about browsing the young apple shoots.

The Early Laxton plums will be the first – just beginning to colour now. These will be closely followed by Early Rivers Plum and then Opal. Plums are looking in good supply. They can be couriered out in just the same way as apples.

Apples are a different matter. We can now see those that came through the earlier chill. There will be very few before Discovery (20th Aug approx). Worcester Pearmain will be accompanied by only a few other mid season eaters. Later, Ribston Pippin and Orleans Reinette are showing well. Some apples are showing heavy russetting – a sure sign of cold at a sensitive stage in devlopment.

Deliveries in and around Colchester each Friday have resumed. Remember to check with us first what we have available in the way of vegetables and fruit – all grown here -telephone or email is fine. If you leave it too late on Thursday then disappointments are possible!

Haven’t mentioned cherries. A casualty of the cold April winds.