Thursday, April 21, 2016
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Monday, December 14, 2015
December 14th 2015.
The last of the Jerusalem artichokes are harvested and cleaned, about 20 boxes so hopefully Milfords of Exeter will take those. They had to come out anyway otherwise they will cause a problem growing next year where we dont want them. They are pink in colour unlike the more usual english white ones and although they taste the same they attract people purely on the colour. The wholesale markets are awash with similar french ones now so the price has dropped by nearly a third.
Fred and I also finished cleaning the garlic and hopefully this will all be sold by christmas. Penny is plaiting it into the onion strings along with chillies to make a very popular festive onion string!
The onions are just starting to sprout so will be pleased to see them all sold too.
All our beautiful chantennay carrots have finished and we are now buying in from Culm Valley organic veg. Obviously not as good as ours but the best substitute we could find ! Will have to double production next year if we can. The temptation is to grow them on 15inch row spacing rather than our current 30inch to achieve this, but then we are hand weeding more at the beginning of the season..... we`ll see.
Christmas box orders are flying in, for pick up on Christmas eve. If you would like one please order by saturday19th latest.
Its been our busiest season ever so both looking forward to well earned break over christmas and new year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
The last of the Jerusalem artichokes are harvested and cleaned, about 20 boxes so hopefully Milfords of Exeter will take those. They had to come out anyway otherwise they will cause a problem growing next year where we dont want them. They are pink in colour unlike the more usual english white ones and although they taste the same they attract people purely on the colour. The wholesale markets are awash with similar french ones now so the price has dropped by nearly a third.
Fred and I also finished cleaning the garlic and hopefully this will all be sold by christmas. Penny is plaiting it into the onion strings along with chillies to make a very popular festive onion string!
The onions are just starting to sprout so will be pleased to see them all sold too.
All our beautiful chantennay carrots have finished and we are now buying in from Culm Valley organic veg. Obviously not as good as ours but the best substitute we could find ! Will have to double production next year if we can. The temptation is to grow them on 15inch row spacing rather than our current 30inch to achieve this, but then we are hand weeding more at the beginning of the season..... we`ll see.
Christmas box orders are flying in, for pick up on Christmas eve. If you would like one please order by saturday19th latest.
Its been our busiest season ever so both looking forward to well earned break over christmas and new year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Hi everybody,
Today I'm going to speak about the brassicas. In this period of the year they are quite well developed, the only thing they need is to mature a bit more before harvest.
Unfortunately, this year on the farm we can observe some diseases and some patches where the brassicas haven't grown very well
This pest responsible is called the swede midge, which can be active in the South West. It induce the stop of the production of the fruit.
We suspected that all the problems have been caused by a mistake on two rows which was plant two years consecutive brassicas in the same place.
So that a good example of what you have not to do!!
Today I'm going to speak about the brassicas. In this period of the year they are quite well developed, the only thing they need is to mature a bit more before harvest.
Unfortunately, this year on the farm we can observe some diseases and some patches where the brassicas haven't grown very well
This pest responsible is called the swede midge, which can be active in the South West. It induce the stop of the production of the fruit.
We suspected that all the problems have been caused by a mistake on two rows which was plant two years consecutive brassicas in the same place.
So that a good example of what you have not to do!!
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Hello !!!
Today was a raining day, a perfect North Devon day. This weather is a real source of energy for all the crops in the fields. Thanks to this, courgettes double in size in two days, the broads beans multiply, and the carrots and the beetroots are absolutely ready to be dug up.
In contrast, the alternating between sunny and rainy days further develops fungal diseases. Mushrooms love these conditions of moist and warm and that is why we can see some attacks on the potatoes and on the onions.
Today was a raining day, a perfect North Devon day. This weather is a real source of energy for all the crops in the fields. Thanks to this, courgettes double in size in two days, the broads beans multiply, and the carrots and the beetroots are absolutely ready to be dug up.
In contrast, the alternating between sunny and rainy days further develops fungal diseases. Mushrooms love these conditions of moist and warm and that is why we can see some attacks on the potatoes and on the onions.
The only thing to do is to harvest as fast as possible or try innovative treatments like spraying the powdery mildew on the onions with milk. We will see the result !! :)
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Hi !!!
My previous article was about how to prevent pest attack in an organic way. It doesn't mean that we want to fight all the insects. On the contrary, several of them are very useful and we need strategies to attract them.
That is why I'm going to talk about the Phacelia. This crop is interesting for several reasons.
-Firstly it attracts insects, especially the ones which eat the very damaging aphids. Also, it's a good flower for the honey bees. Listen to this !!!
- Secondly it's important to always have the soil covered to prevent erosion and waste of minerals. In that way Phacelia is a crop with high covering power and easy to grow. Also, it facilitates a clean crop bed which minimizes the weeds. The weeds are smothered by the phacelia.
- The last point is that this flower is a good green manure, so, an excellent crop to use as a soil improver before the main crop is planted.(which, next year , will be alliums).
My previous article was about how to prevent pest attack in an organic way. It doesn't mean that we want to fight all the insects. On the contrary, several of them are very useful and we need strategies to attract them.
That is why I'm going to talk about the Phacelia. This crop is interesting for several reasons.
-Firstly it attracts insects, especially the ones which eat the very damaging aphids. Also, it's a good flower for the honey bees. Listen to this !!!
- Secondly it's important to always have the soil covered to prevent erosion and waste of minerals. In that way Phacelia is a crop with high covering power and easy to grow. Also, it facilitates a clean crop bed which minimizes the weeds. The weeds are smothered by the phacelia.
- The last point is that this flower is a good green manure, so, an excellent crop to use as a soil improver before the main crop is planted.(which, next year , will be alliums).
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Hello everybody,
A new busy week begins. We have to harvest flowers and plant some vegetables (brassicas, leeks, sweet corn...). So the problem is, how to protect vegetables from pests such as slugs and other insects in an organic way.
I am going to talk about two differents means.
- First, we can use some pellets against the slugs. They contains iron and potassium which destroy the digestive system of the mollusc. Anyway, it dosn't impact on the others animals which could be useful for the crop.
- Another way to protect the young plants is to cover them with an enviromesh. It's a net with very little holes to prevent insects, and bird attacks. It could also protect from the bad weather.
The problem is that if the enviromesh prevent pests, but it also blocks the good insects ...
That is why we have to weigh up the pros and cons for each solution that we plan to do.
A new busy week begins. We have to harvest flowers and plant some vegetables (brassicas, leeks, sweet corn...). So the problem is, how to protect vegetables from pests such as slugs and other insects in an organic way.
I am going to talk about two differents means.
- First, we can use some pellets against the slugs. They contains iron and potassium which destroy the digestive system of the mollusc. Anyway, it dosn't impact on the others animals which could be useful for the crop.
- Another way to protect the young plants is to cover them with an enviromesh. It's a net with very little holes to prevent insects, and bird attacks. It could also protect from the bad weather.
The problem is that if the enviromesh prevent pests, but it also blocks the good insects ...
That is why we have to weigh up the pros and cons for each solution that we plan to do.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Wednesday it was time to harvest a part of the production. That why flowers and vegetable were ready to be sell on the Thursday South Molton's Market.
Unfortunately, it was a rainy day. It dosn't matter, Sweet Peas were enjoyed by the customers and fresh potatoes made the happiness of all those who love to cook.
Unfortunately, it was a rainy day. It dosn't matter, Sweet Peas were enjoyed by the customers and fresh potatoes made the happiness of all those who love to cook.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Hi, I'm Anna, the French trainee for this summer on Radley market garden. I'm going to share with you all the news of the farm. So sorry in advence for my English, it could be better after a few weeks. =D
Summer is the best season for flowers and vegetables, that why everything is buzzin. This following picture show you how beautifull this place is.
Don't forget to follow Radley market garden news. This is a LOVELY place.
Summer is the best season for flowers and vegetables, that why everything is buzzin. This following picture show you how beautifull this place is.
Don't forget to follow Radley market garden news. This is a LOVELY place.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Oh Dear !! I see that I haven`t written since October last year. That indicates just how busy we have been.
2013 was an amazing year for us as we grappled with a growing business, understaffed and with too many fingers in too many pies. 2014 will be a year of consolidation as we realise our limitations!! There is an equation between age, ambition, reality, sanity and hours in the day somewhere and they have to balance out! otherwise all is lost.
PHACELIA
The new garlic crop is poking through and has a weed problem ! even though 2 crops of mustard were grown on this prior to planting. A nice cold snap and our tractor drawn hoe will see to most of this and the ridger should see to the rest but I think we might still be down with the hand hoes on the ridge tops. As soon as it dries out a bit I will be through with the tractor.
Larkspur sown at the end of August looking good.
Meanwhile outdoor sweet peas will be here
and some of the inside sweet peas are here
and will be here.
Monday, August 12, 2013
"We're doing lots...but not getting much done" (!)
It's still warm, but after all that lovely moisture, everything is growing at an impressive rate. First squash have been on the stall, as have all three varieties of beetroot (the latest being the beautiful Chioggia, see below)
Elsewhere, there is a cucumber fest on the cards (loads of them!) and the heritage tomatoes are looking and tasting absolutely fabulous (see below)
In the flower department, Penny has been saving the seeds from the sweet peas in preparation for next year, while the ground has also been prepared for the autumn sown larkspur.
In fact, in general, we are getting the place nice and shipshape, including seedbed preparation for the rainbow chard which will soon be in just in time to give us a crop at the end of the year and then regrow for the spring.
Finally, we were proud to provide the flowers for two North Devon weddings last weekend...while on the Saturday morning market stall in South Molton, we are now selling every stem!
Here's a taster of the beautifully white larkspur, ammi majus and achillea.
Thank you all so much for your continued support. After the farming disaster that was last year, it's a positive time for us, but plenty of work still to do.
George.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
The sun is shining...the squashes are getting fat
Garlic harvest is done. Really done! Here's a grumpy looking Ant, Ben and Keith after a gruelling afternoon in the fields:
And here's what it looks like after it's all been strung up to dry in the barn, that's around 13000 bulbs:
Much of this will be lovingly plaited into fives, sevens and even twelves by Penny, making a great long-lasting item to hang up in the kitchen. Penny also takes care of transforming all those flowers from the fields into beautiful bouquets for the market and various shops across North Devon, as well as catering to weddings and to other special events. A couple of months ago, Devon Life featured her's and Ant's work with British flowers in a lovely three-page spread. If you like, please do have a look at the following link - Flower Miles
Up in the oversized vegetable garden, there is an abundance of courgettes, while several varieties of squash are threatening to be ready for consumption in the near future (including Sunset, Onion, Crown Prince, Rolet, Jack O' Lantern and Butternut).
Finally, our produce is now available on a beautiful display stand outside the wonderful John's Deli at Instow. Enjoy! George.
And here's what it looks like after it's all been strung up to dry in the barn, that's around 13000 bulbs:
Up in the oversized vegetable garden, there is an abundance of courgettes, while several varieties of squash are threatening to be ready for consumption in the near future (including Sunset, Onion, Crown Prince, Rolet, Jack O' Lantern and Butternut).
Finally, our produce is now available on a beautiful display stand outside the wonderful John's Deli at Instow. Enjoy! George.
Monday, July 29, 2013
More flowers anyone?
Another successful day at market, where the Barba di Frate flew off the metaphorical shelves and the flowers continued to prove popular - people seem more and more interested by our fresh, local and polytunnel-free/spray-free approach.
The majority of the garlic is now up, bunched and hanging to dry in the barn - multiple varieties available this year including some French (Peyrasse), some Spanish (Vallelado) and even a bit of Greek (Limni).
When a moment is free, we attack the weeds by hand, giving the carrots, onions, brassicas etc. the chance to breathe and grow.
Elsewhere, a positive first meeting with Fees Flowers who sell gorgeous British blooms every Friday at Exeter's main train station, St Davids - our produce could be on her stall soon. Also, a new partnership is blossoming with the deli 'Johns of Instow & Appledore' (look out for our van as we pass by...)
The days fly by...where does the time go!?
George (P.S. back hurts, knees hurt, hands hurt...)
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Summertime at Radley Cross
My nephew has joined us for July/August! Over the next few weeks, he'll be giving his impressions of the organised chaos at Radley Cross Market Garden. Ant.
Arriving at Radley Cross just a week ago, I had told various people that my uncle 'grew garlic and a few flowers'. Transpires that, across his 5 acres, he grows substantially more than that (as well as an impressive array of weeds - "no pesticides or fungicides here" he tells me). We head up to the top field for an hour or two of picking most mornings - beautiful courgette follows beautiful courgette (green and yellow, see image below), the beetroot (red and golden) grows bigger and better, the Swiss chard becomes more popular by the day...and then there's the garlic! Two rows (roughly 2500 bulbs) harvested yesterday and strung up to dry today - meanwhile, those bulbs that have almost dried are ready to sell and will last you until early next year.
Down below the farmhouse (see image below) the larkspur and cornflowers, having thrived in the open air and wowed the public across North Devon, are sadly coming to an end. The clarkia and statice however have come to life and make you a beautiful bouquet, while the first sunflowers have started to show their faces. The weather has been hot and dry, so the fields had a welcome drink last night as the rain briefly returned.
.jpg)
We tour various local and farm shops selling our wares, looking forward particularly to the market in South Molton every Saturday morning where you can find us outside opposite the entrance to the market, braving the elements and selling the freshest vegetables and flowers, all hand-picked just hours earlier.
Current hot favourite : Barba di Frate or Monksbeard, a unique Italian vegetable, very rare in the UK but grown from seed in the fields at Radley Cross. A mild-flavoured slightly bitter green, it is particularly good with seafood or simply braised with olive oil and garlic and served as a side dish. See you soon! George.
Arriving at Radley Cross just a week ago, I had told various people that my uncle 'grew garlic and a few flowers'. Transpires that, across his 5 acres, he grows substantially more than that (as well as an impressive array of weeds - "no pesticides or fungicides here" he tells me). We head up to the top field for an hour or two of picking most mornings - beautiful courgette follows beautiful courgette (green and yellow, see image below), the beetroot (red and golden) grows bigger and better, the Swiss chard becomes more popular by the day...and then there's the garlic! Two rows (roughly 2500 bulbs) harvested yesterday and strung up to dry today - meanwhile, those bulbs that have almost dried are ready to sell and will last you until early next year.
Down below the farmhouse (see image below) the larkspur and cornflowers, having thrived in the open air and wowed the public across North Devon, are sadly coming to an end. The clarkia and statice however have come to life and make you a beautiful bouquet, while the first sunflowers have started to show their faces. The weather has been hot and dry, so the fields had a welcome drink last night as the rain briefly returned.
.jpg)
We tour various local and farm shops selling our wares, looking forward particularly to the market in South Molton every Saturday morning where you can find us outside opposite the entrance to the market, braving the elements and selling the freshest vegetables and flowers, all hand-picked just hours earlier.
Current hot favourite : Barba di Frate or Monksbeard, a unique Italian vegetable, very rare in the UK but grown from seed in the fields at Radley Cross. A mild-flavoured slightly bitter green, it is particularly good with seafood or simply braised with olive oil and garlic and served as a side dish. See you soon! George.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
February 2013
It was abit of a shock to come back to temperatures of zero with a wind chill of -4c and have to put up 2 polytunnels. One for sweet pea production and one mainly as a seeding tunnel which can also be used for drying garlic and onions and hopefully some winter salad crops too.
Seeding of Stocks, Achillea, Cornflower, Agastachi,Nigella and Scabious are ongoing and the winter sown sweet peas are are looking well in the polytunnel. The Larspur sown directly into the field at the beginning of September has only germinated in the bottom third of the field, for reasons that I don`t understand ! so we will now be sowing more into modules and planting out later. The Pinks are weeded, finally!! we struggled all last year to keep on top of them and have now put mypex round them which should help enormously in the future.
Vegetable seeding of Baron red onions ( into modules), celeriac, cabbage (stonehead), tomato and pimento are all complete. Broad beans will be sown directly into the ground as soon as soil temp increases a little more.
Muck has been spread on the field ready for potato planting and chisel ploughed in. Potatoes will be planted as soon as the soil warms up a little and assuming it stays dry.
The garlic is looking good and we went through it with the inter row weeder and gave it its first dose of liquid seaweed feed. This will be applied every 10-14 days from now on through till mid June..
The eschalote grise are up and away but as yet no sign of the crosnes. Both these crops are experimental so we will be very interested to see what the market thinks of them.
It feels so good to have a period of dry weather and bright days after last year. Its only been for 3 weeks but it feels as though we have already had a longer period of dry than in the whole of last year!
We are still selling Pink Fir Apple potatoes to the farm shops which remain in good order and maintain their new potato flavour even at this time of year. All the garlic is now sold as are the red onions ( or on the bonfire !!) and Penny is delighted not to be hot smoking garlic for a few months.
We are now part of the twitterati so do please follow us @radleyxgarden
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Vegetable Growing List 2013 Availability
Artichoke ( Jerusalem) Pink late sept onwards
Beetroot ( Choggia, Pablo, Golden) late may to october
Borecole ( Redbor, Winterbor) sept to dec
Broad Bean ( Sutton, Witkiem Manita ) may to august
Brocoli ( Red Spear, White Eye) nov /dec
Brussel Sprout ( Helemus, Igor) nov /dec
Dwarf French Bean ( Safari, Belotto Supremo, Hildora) july/ august
Basil ( Crimson King) july onwards
Cabbage ( Serve, Stonehead, Ruby King) july to december
Calabrese ( Volta, Penta) july to december
Carrot ( Chantenay, Resistafly) june to october
Cauliflower ( Graffiti, Trevi, Navona) sept/october
Courgette ( Bambino, Siesta) july/august
Coriander ( Calypso) july onwards
Chicory ( Puntarelle of Brindisi) july to november
Celery ( Solid White) october/november
Hamburg Parsley Root Berliner july to november
Cucumber ( Burpless Tasty Green) august
Fennel ( Zephyr Fino) july/august
Garlic ( Vallelado, Sabadrome,Chesnok,Lautrec) june to december
Leeks ( Alcazar, Mammoth 2 Hannibal) october to december
Lettuce ( Leny, Mohican) june to august
Onion ( Red Baron) august onwards
Parsley ( Italian Giant) july onwards
Potato ( Charlotte, Pink Fir, Marfona) july onwards
Parsnip ( Gladiator) october onwards
Radish ( Pink Beauty) may to september
Raperonozolo Rampion august to october
Agretti Roscano june to august
Rocket ( Discovery, Wild) may onwards
Salsify ( Scorzanera Black) september
Spinach ( F1 Reddy ) june to september
Sweetcorn ( Headstart, Incredible) august to september
Squash ( Rolet, Crown Prince, Butternut, Sunset, Onion) late sept onwards
Tomato ( Nepal, Black Cherry, Zapotech, Shirley`s Pixie, Gardeners Delight, Cuostralee)
july to sept
Mangetout july to september
Runner Bean ( Scarlet Emperor) july to september
Rosemary year round
Thyme year round
Lovage
Celeriac( Giant Prague) sept onwards
Oriental Mixed Leaf Salad year round
Artichoke ( Jerusalem) Pink late sept onwards
Beetroot ( Choggia, Pablo, Golden) late may to october
Borecole ( Redbor, Winterbor) sept to dec
Broad Bean ( Sutton, Witkiem Manita ) may to august
Brocoli ( Red Spear, White Eye) nov /dec
Brussel Sprout ( Helemus, Igor) nov /dec
Dwarf French Bean ( Safari, Belotto Supremo, Hildora) july/ august
Basil ( Crimson King) july onwards
Cabbage ( Serve, Stonehead, Ruby King) july to december
Calabrese ( Volta, Penta) july to december
Carrot ( Chantenay, Resistafly) june to october
Cauliflower ( Graffiti, Trevi, Navona) sept/october
Courgette ( Bambino, Siesta) july/august
Coriander ( Calypso) july onwards
Chicory ( Puntarelle of Brindisi) july to november
Celery ( Solid White) october/november
Hamburg Parsley Root Berliner july to november
Cucumber ( Burpless Tasty Green) august
Fennel ( Zephyr Fino) july/august
Garlic ( Vallelado, Sabadrome,Chesnok,Lautrec) june to december
Leeks ( Alcazar, Mammoth 2 Hannibal) october to december
Lettuce ( Leny, Mohican) june to august
Onion ( Red Baron) august onwards
Parsley ( Italian Giant) july onwards
Potato ( Charlotte, Pink Fir, Marfona) july onwards
Parsnip ( Gladiator) october onwards
Radish ( Pink Beauty) may to september
Raperonozolo Rampion august to october
Agretti Roscano june to august
Rocket ( Discovery, Wild) may onwards
Salsify ( Scorzanera Black) september
Spinach ( F1 Reddy ) june to september
Sweetcorn ( Headstart, Incredible) august to september
Squash ( Rolet, Crown Prince, Butternut, Sunset, Onion) late sept onwards
Tomato ( Nepal, Black Cherry, Zapotech, Shirley`s Pixie, Gardeners Delight, Cuostralee)
july to sept
Mangetout july to september
Runner Bean ( Scarlet Emperor) july to september
Rosemary year round
Thyme year round
Lovage
Celeriac( Giant Prague) sept onwards
Oriental Mixed Leaf Salad year round
Flower Growing List 2013
Flowers mainly available june to september Ammi Majus ( Graceland )
Achillea ( Ptarmica Pearl, Summer Pastels, Cassis)
Celosia ( Flamingo Feather )
Calendula ( Balls improved orange )
Cornflower ( Black Ball)
Clarkia ( Crown Double Mixed )
Agastachi ( Liquorice Blue )
Blupeurum ( Graffiti )
Didiscus ( Madonna)
Eryngium ( Planum )
Knautia ( Melton Pastels)
Larkspur ( mixed colours )
Molucella
Nigella ( Hispanica, African Bride, Orientalis Transformer, Moody Blues)
Scabious (Fama Caucasia , Black Night, Ace of Spades)
Pinks ( Devon Scented)
Sweet Peas
Sidalcea ( Party Girl)
Rudbekia ( Green Wizard, Cherry Brandy )
Cosmos ( Psyche white)
Cirsium ( Pink, Rose Beauty)
Orlaya ( Grandiflora)
Statice ( mixed colours)
Sunflower ( Sunrich Orange)
Stocks ( Gold Cut Mixed )
Phytostegia( Crown of Snow)
Sweet William ( Hollandia Mixed)
Zinnia ( Benarys Giant, Queen Lime, Purple Prince)
Schitzostylus
Gladioli
Flowers mainly available june to september Ammi Majus ( Graceland )
Achillea ( Ptarmica Pearl, Summer Pastels, Cassis)
Celosia ( Flamingo Feather )
Calendula ( Balls improved orange )
Cornflower ( Black Ball)
Clarkia ( Crown Double Mixed )
Agastachi ( Liquorice Blue )
Blupeurum ( Graffiti )
Didiscus ( Madonna)
Eryngium ( Planum )
Knautia ( Melton Pastels)
Larkspur ( mixed colours )
Molucella
Nigella ( Hispanica, African Bride, Orientalis Transformer, Moody Blues)
Scabious (Fama Caucasia , Black Night, Ace of Spades)
Pinks ( Devon Scented)
Sweet Peas
Sidalcea ( Party Girl)
Rudbekia ( Green Wizard, Cherry Brandy )
Cosmos ( Psyche white)
Cirsium ( Pink, Rose Beauty)
Orlaya ( Grandiflora)
Statice ( mixed colours)
Sunflower ( Sunrich Orange)
Stocks ( Gold Cut Mixed )
Phytostegia( Crown of Snow)
Sweet William ( Hollandia Mixed)
Zinnia ( Benarys Giant, Queen Lime, Purple Prince)
Schitzostylus
Gladioli
Monday, January 21, 2013
Penny`s flower wall chart 2013
Penny`s Wall Chart ... Flowers
What do you when you`re holed up in the snow ? Planning for the year ahead. Look at this wonderful wall chart with all the different varieties of flowers to be grown along with cultural details. Makes it so much easier to see than something on your computer !
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