Kent Veg Box September Update

The cooler temps have meant good growing conditions for our farmers, with Winter planting not suffering so much this year from dry conditions. The plants have come on well and on first glance cropping of squashes and brassicas looks healthy.

On the downside the cooler, wetter weather has meant great growing conditions for weeds too and there's plenty of creepies around. My garden at home was a slug & snail festival during August. Shame there isn't the hedgehogs about to hoover them up.

Here's how it's shaping up over the next few weeks into October.

Salads

The reduced sunshine hours have slowed down the outdoor Tomatoes. Lettuce, Salad Leaves etc are still growing reasonably well. As the weather cools they will cease, the first frost is usually the end...Last year Betts Salads went through to mid October so fingers crossed.

Thanet Earth are of course under cover. Last year their Winter prices came in during late October.

Veg

Aubergine has started to slow down under glass at Wye Orchard. We should get a few more weeks but numbers will be reducing.

Cauli, Broc & Cabbages are looking good, with a steady supply available through to Christmas now. Always some gap in crop but across the board there should be a good supply.

Kales & other Brassicas are starting soon. Cavolo Nero is usually first, should get some available by the end of the month. Other Leaf Veg such as Chard & Spinach will continue whilst the cold weather holds off.

Carrots & Beetroot are looking great this year, with plenty of supply available which should stay with us until the new year at least. Last year Swedes started late October.

Leeks are due to start cropping by the end of the month and early signs are a good crop.

Winter Squashes have started as the Summer Squash & Courgettes start to fade away. Main varieties such as Red Kuri, Celebration, Butternut & Crown Prince have started. Again crop yields look great and the longer it stays reasonably warm they can stay in the fields.

Fruit

Plums & Apricots have more or less finished. Soft fruit, Strawberries, Raspberries & Blackberries continue but volumes are starting to fall away. Last year Hugh Lowe Farms continued soft fruit into early October.

Apples & Pears have started well and supply should go through well into the New Year.

Overall Kent Veg is in a good place. Challenges remain but this Summer supply has been strengthened by new Kent based growers coming on stream and expanding the acres under veg production. This bodes well for the run into Christmas. I understand plans are already in place to expand further in to 2025 which is so refreshing.

Please support our Kent growers. Ask your source if their veg & fruit are from Kent!