The Greenhouse..

This time last year Strattons Farm was a hay field! The garden had not been harrowed, we had not built the bird housing and the greenhouse was a base and frame.

This year we are so excited to have so much already growing in the greenhouse, from heritage tomatoes, celery, kale, cabbage, herbs, eggplant, sweet peppers, hot peppers, lettuce, kohlrabi, and the list goes on. 

Outside the dipping broccoli is already in a raised bed with a fleece over the top to prevent flea beetles and cabbage butterfly from attacking it.  We do not use any sprays on the farm even those approved for Organic use can still harm the insects and creatures we welcome to the farm. A small bed of lettuce has been transplanted out, Multipliers and shallots are growing well, the peas are starting to break ground and the garlic bed is going from strength to strength.

Once the rain has stopped we hope to do the last bit of cultivating on the field and then the transplanting of hardy plants will start.  We will also start direct seeding summer turnips and carrots and planting our potatoes. 

The greenhouse on May 8th 2010, Michael is transplanting a few tomato seedlings.
The trays to the left on the floor are leeks, red and white onions and salad onions.  This is the first time we have grown onion from seed and we are looking forward to seeing how they develop.  I gave the onions a haircut yesterday which is rather rewarding as you get to eat the tops you trim. The taste is amazing.

24hours later we have had a frost warning so we have had to rebuild low tunnels in the greenhouse and cover all the delicate plants with  fleece to keep heat in over night.