I'd like to start this blog with a warm welcome and thank you to those of you taking the time to read and leave comments. I was truly surprised and thankful for the amount of feedback and comments for our first ever blog previous to this one.
I believe that being a Farmer it is only right that I start this month's Blog by talking about the weather.
November has been a very peculiar month, I say this as this time last year we were on average 20degrees colder! We'd had a couple of minus -10degrees and we'd also seen the first signs of what was potentially going to be a White Christmas! I wont complain though, as this has meant we have been able to lift nearly three quarters of our Carrot crop in Norfolk in perfect dry conditions. However it is some what of a double edged sword so to speak, as warm temperatures bring more risk in terms of disease and also reduced sales as people eat more Carrots when its cold! But early signs in December mean sales are growing and the temperatures are dropping significantly. May I also remind you that we are experiencing drought conditions in Norfolk so its lucky that we have the use of a 12million litre reservoir.
Our reservoir in Norfolk
If it gets cold enough and the reservoir freezes over I may try ice skating?!
Because conditions have been good it has meant that we have been able to get a really good start on cultivation's work ahead of next seasons crop. So we have been sub-soiling and discing old pig fields as well as leveling them off. Ploughing and terradiscing also keeps us busy.
Ploughing has started early due to the dry period during November
I love this picture because it also shows us how good our soils really are. Do you know why? (hint... Look at the seagulls [what are they eating?]).
It is also the time of year that we like to begin taking soil samples that will then be sent away for analysis. We are looking mainly at Phosphate and Potassium levels, along with the Trace elements such as, Boron, Copper, Sulphur etc.
One of many holes which we dig in order to do a soil sample
We are taking digs at 30cm and 60cm depths, we are doing these digs approx 5 times for every 20acres. So if we are growing over 300acres next season.............. well you can do the math!!
Once we have completed the digs, they are mixed (in each field) and then boxed up ready to be sent away. We have to send data including previous and future crop, soil type and field name. These pictures in particular relate to a field that has followed vining Peas, after it was harvested we planted a crop of Mustard, this was done in order to try and build up the Organic Matter which will help hold and build existing nutrients in the soil. Once we receive the results we can look at what natural fertiliser's we may want to use (e.g. manure etc).
We will be conducting trials next season with Hot Mustard, it is believed this may have some control of weed seeds and diseases (such as Nematode).
Also this month has seen the start and finish of Strawing down of our Carrots in Scotland.
When strawing down carrots we do so at a rate approx 40-45bales an acre. We use a straw laying machine which does two things at once. It firstly lays a layer of black polythene followed by the straw directly on top of it. It is essential that we do this because carrots, like us, will freeze and shrivel if we don't keep them warm! We don't have to top (foliage off) the Carrots as the foliage will help with insulation. So before the first frost's take place we get the straw on, this is costing us a lot more money to do, but if it means we can supply Carrots right through Winter then its a cost worth having. We will also straw our Carrots in Norfolk if we think they wont all be harvested before we get harsher frost's in December. Carrots will cope with temperatures of minus 2degrees if they are thawing out through the day. If it gets so cold that they wont thaw out, when they eventually do they will rot very quickly. We will up date you on how we remove and harvest Carrots from under straw in the New year.
What else do we do at this time of year I hear you ask, well Winter wouldn't be the same without 'Ye Good Old Parsnip'! So hear are a few pictures to illustrate what we do to harvest them.
Firstly we top the foliage off of the parsnips.
Then we harvest them with a wind-rowing machine (similar to how onions are lifted) which leaves the Parsnip's on top of the bed.
Once harvested on top of the beds we hand pick them. This is done so that any with defects can be removed and so that any bruising is minimised.
Now they are ready for delivery to the pack-house for washing and packing.
At this time of year our Parsnips taste fantastic. They are beautiful and white, they have a really sweet taste about them and are lovely with a Sunday roast or indeed your Christmas dinner! :)
Well that's it for this months edition, I hope you been well informed and interested. As usual please leave a comment and some feedback-it's all gratefully received. We will be putting together some video Blogs over the next few weeks and months as we hope it will be a more interesting way for you to see what we are up to. That will include a brief introduction into who we are, so make sure you keep your eye out!
Thanks for reading
Carrot Farmer Joe
