We thought it was high time the growers shared their growing season with you and gave an insight on how we get from seed to sauce! As it is the start of the growing season it’s a perfect time to begin this blog and pass on some of the chilli related things we get up to.
You may have noticed we are experiencing some exciting times at the Farm with two new tunnels built just in time for the season ahead. We have a new nursery with a double skin for extra insulation in the colder months and a massive crop Tunnel (Tunnel 8). This is large increase in capacity for us and with it are a whole bunch of horticultural headaches, of the nice kind though I would like to add. We have been busy fitting out the new tunnels with the required irrigation and equipment, in the case of the new nursery it’s being filled with plants already and still being constructed!!!
A new nursery means more germinating. We have around 25,000 seedlings on our heated benches at the moment, with more to come. Sally has demonstrated superhuman abilities with the pricking out of those seedlings.
Here she is, installing the next bunch in their new homes…
An often-overlooked part of our nursery was the floor that until recently was coarse gravel. Whilst functional it still caused a few issues and needed revision. So just prior to the start of germination we stripped the entire old nursery out, re-levelled, compacted the floor and laid membrane. This has already improved the old nursery enabling improved conditions to propagate our seedlings.
Whilst the seedlings are doing their thing the preparation of the crop tunnels is underway. We have already worked the soil in preparation for the raised beds, more details on the crop tunnels to come in the next update!
Any questions/queries contact the Growers direct at growing@sdcf.co.uk
Phil
Horticultural Manager