Notes from the Field: Mind the ‘Hungry Gap’

onion-planting1The first courgettes are potted up to their largest, litre pots, as have the tomatoes before they get planted out in a couple of week’s time and we’ve planted out all of our onions and shallots. We’ve been busy planting out our flavourful salads, such as bull’s blood, land cress and parsley and we’re starting to compost and prepare the beds for the climbing beans which we’ll sow directly into the ground later this month.

We’re entering into what’s known as ‘The Hungry Gap’ so there’s less variety of vegetables around for the next six weeks or so. It can be a tough time for farming morale, as we continue to work hard but don’t reap the rewards of our results for a little while yet. We’re eagerly anticipating the arrival of the first courgettes – a symbol of the end of the Hungry Gap and the start of, hopefully, a summer of plenty!