Today’s cooler weather is likely a welcome break for our growers after the scorcher of a weekend. While many of us were doing our best to enjoy the sunshine and stay cool with hydrating foods and drinks, Dan from Kindling Market Garden in Stockport was busy harvesting and delivering courgettes to keep up with their rapid growth. Under the right conditions, they’re a notoriously fast-growing crop – blink and they’re ready to cut again.
The sunshine has been brilliant for heat-loving crops like courgettes, but others are feeling the strain of the hot, dry summer. John at Newfields has unfortunately had to call time on the block of broccoli he’d been cutting for us, and many of our UK brassica and leafy growers are reporting being affected by the conditions.
On an exciting note, we’ve just had the first of the fennel with tops in from both John at Newfields and Pam at Strawberry Fields. The bulbs are delicious roasted on a BBQ or in the oven until charred and jammy, or add a fresh anise crunch sliced raw into a salad or slaw. Don’t forget the fronds! Chop them through or blitz into a pesto with lemon and pine nuts.
We also now have the full range of Pam’s stunning bunched beetroot in red, golden and chioggia. This is when the roots are at their freshest and sweetest – and the tops are perfect cooked like chard or spinach.
Foskett in Suffolk have been sending some beautiful new season bunched carrots. Also great roasted whole on the BBQ with a maple oil glaze. The tops also make a brilliant chimichurri to top it with, for something a bit fancy for the BBQ spread. Try blitzing with lemon, oil, vinegar, red onion and a handful of parsley or coriander. Delicious!
