LETTINGS AND SALES PROPERTY EXPERTS Local specialists with a network of London & Regional Offices FOR YOUR FREE MARKET APPRAISAL CALL US TODAY Lettings 01580 720400 ∙ Sales 01580 720000 cranbrook@jackson-stops.co.uk stops.co.uk www.jackson-stops.co.uk Treat your oven to a professional deep clean Ask about my 7 day fast track service. Fee hob clean for new customers. Call Ed on 07921 867 166 **£5 off for senior citizens** Specialist oven cleaning, at an affordable price Web: ed.ovenrescue.co.uk 34 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cake</strong> • <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2022</strong>
BADGER’S PLOT <strong>Summer</strong> Harvests <strong>Summer</strong> time on the plot or in the kitchen garden is a culmination of all the hard work and preparation undertaken earlier in the year. It is, hopefully, going to be a time to harvest and enjoy the fruits of your labours. Once again, the forthcoming period has been split into early, mid and late summer. EARLY SUMMER Sow outside: French and runner beans, beetroot, carrots, courgettes, cucumber, kohl rabi, lettuce, marrow, spring onions, pak choi, peas, pumpkins, radish, salad rocket, swede, sweetcorn and turnips – quite a list! Planting outside from seed trays or pots: Brussels sprouts, leek and beans. Harvesting: First harvest of early beetroot, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, broad bean, garlic and peas. If you are fortunate enough to have an asparagus bed, harvesting the delicious spears can continue until the end of June Preparing ground: Clear away any overwintered cabbage. Weed all beds where sowing or planting is yet to take place. MID SUMMER Sow outside: Lettuce (for harvesting in the autumn) and winter salads such as endive and chicory. Planting outside: Kale, swede, savoy cabbage, cauliflower, purple sprouting broccoli. Harvesting: July can be a time of abundance. Potatoes, peas, broad beans, courgettes and early salad plants should all be ready. At the same time lift and store your onions, garlic and shallots to enable them to dry out. Preparing ground: Some of the early harvests are now coming to an end and the opportunity should be taken to clear the site of any debris and weeds. As explained in previous issues, the beds can be used for second cropping, especially if you are a no-dig gardener. A gentle hoe to loosen the soil and you are ready to plant – provided you have had the foresight to sow some lettuce or brassica seed back in April! <strong>The</strong> alternative is to direct-sow things like beans, carrots and swede making sure that you thin out the plants as they appear. LATE SUMMER Sowing outside or in the greenhouse: Spinach and chard for overwintering. Late sowings of salad crops such as spring onions and radish. Harvesting: This is the time when everyone offers you their surplus runner beans! Tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers should also now be in plentiful supply. It’s a good time to check those potatoes and onions that have been in storage. JOBS ON THE PLOT HEN HOUSE POULTRY Quality Point of Lay Chickens Excellent choice available, fully vaccinated, laying lovely fresh eggs in a variety of shell colours Hopefully, you will not have neglected the all-important task of weeding. This period will see many weeds setting seed and if you ignore the signs you are storing up trouble for later. Whenever you are on the plot, why not set aside a “10 minute weed” session? If you rent an allotment, remember unwanted weed seeds will drift on to your neighbour’s plot. A word here about watering. Your soil type will determine how to manage watering you plants. Much of the soil in the parish is made up of Wealden Clay which, despite its appearance, actually retains moisture exceedingly well reducing the frequency of watering. In other areas you will find the sandstone of the Hastings Beds. This can be very porous and not at all water retentive, so regular watering is needed. Whatever your soil, regularly incorporating wellrotted organic matter will increase its moisture retaining capacity. <strong>The</strong>re are critical periods when watering is necessary; water helps seeds to germinate, it is also beneficial when seedlings have been transplanted into the soil and later, it will help the swelling of peas beans and tomatoes. As a rough guide, when watering it is best to water thoroughly rather than merely wetting the surface. If you have a greenhouse or shed, get yourself water butts to capture rainwater – it contains nitrates, one of the key elements that plants need. Badger Country living at its best! www.henhousepoultry.co.uk 01622 843649 (Sutton Valence) <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cake</strong> • <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 35
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