By With the days getting warmer and the evenings lighter, summer is firmly on the horizon. Here on the farm, this part of springtime always gives us extra impetus for our summer preparations. We’re busy bringing together our plans for the flowering season, and hopefully with plenty of time to spare!
And it’s not just the people on the farm that are working hard to put on a show in a couple months’ time – our thousands of lavender plants are waking up from their dormant winter state, producing the telltale green shoots and leaves that will bud into beautiful purple flowers come the summer.
With lavender regrowth largely taking care of itself, the most important tasks in the Main Field are weeding and replanting. Below you can see us planting rows of Grosso – the main variety of lavender we grow – to replace plants that have been damaged over the course of recent winters.
In the coming weeks we’ll also be replanting rows of Edelweiss – a variety which produces snowy white flowers – in the Main Field, and a selection of BeeZee lavenders – flowering in light and dark blue, pink, and white – in the Display Field. These ongoing gardening endeavours are essential to maintaining both the different visual attractions on the farm, and the variety of flowers that benefit and benefit from natural pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Planting the Pumpkin Patch
Another job we’ve been tackling in recent weeks is the preparation and planting of this year’s pumpkin patch.
Although most of the unsold pumpkins and squashes from last year kept us fed – roasted and in soups – over the winter months, we also used them to harvest and dry a large quantity of seeds. These have now been replanted using compost made here on the farm, and will soon be transferred from the polytunnels to the pumpkin patch.
Joining them will be a wide selection of new seeds, which we hope will come together to produce a bigger-than-ever range of pumpkins. Amongst the pumpkin varieties we’ve planted, some of our favourite names include Goosebump, Black Kat, Gremlin, Mini Warts, Butterkin, Cinderella, Crook Neck, Warty Goblin, and Warzen Rot. A motley crew indeed!
A few weeks after planting, most of the seeds have germinated. Once out in the field, these plugs will grow and grow into a spooktacular selection of pumpkins and squashes for visitors to pick in the autumn.
In the meantime…
With the springtime thaw well underway, we know that many of you will, like us, already be impatient for those summery days out in the countryside, immersed in the natural sights and scents of a sunny day.
If the prospect of another two months of intermittent rain and shine is feeling relatively undesirable, don’t forget that a taste of summer is always available via our online store. Whether it’s our hand-dried flowers, or a locally produced floral tipple, our products are always available to bring a touch of sunshine to you or a loved one.
More to come soon! Until then, stay well, lavender fans!
Hitchin Lavender Blog 