Cobbs Farm Update: March 2022
The first signs of Spring are here, although it would be fool hardy to think we’re out of the woods yet for any further cold weather! Let’s enjoy it while we can!
We’ve been incredibly busy on all areas of the farm, as we make plans for the coming season and take care of the existing crops.
The vineyard has been a hive of activity.
Winter pruning is complete, and with that no small amount of dead wood to remove. We tend to burn our winter prunings; we’d love to mulch them down in vineyard but due to potential disease risks we err on the side of caution. Now begins the task of tying down the canes we have left and that will go on to produce fruit this year.
Our vines are now established enough to support a double Guyot system – this is where we have two canes, one either side of the trunk, that will hopefully yield more fruit whilst maintaining quality. Thankfully very little sign of the vines themselves waking up and we’re in no rush due to that ever present frost risk in a month or so’s time, when those young buds form.
Our asparagus beds have been prepped for the coming season and we are expecting a good one!
For the first time ever, we are going to be opening our Asparagus beds up to Pick Your Own at the weekends during peak season.
Watch this space for further info and timings!
We have also invested in 2 asparagus harvesting buggies. Due to the incredibly physically demanding nature of harvesting by hand and a distinct lack of labour to help this year, we are confident this will be a good investment and allow us to ensure a steady stream of delicious spears to the Cobbs shops.
Pumpkin and Squash seeds
In other news, we have placed our seed orders for 10,000 Pumpkins and 4,000 Squash – some varieties we’ve seen before but also some new ones for this year. These seeds will be propagated by our friends at Fentongollam farm and when big enough to transplant, we will be getting our hands dirty and planting them out, hopefully sometime around mid to late May when the soil warms up.
Summer flowers
We are also going to be giving cut-flowers another go after the disaster we had last year with birds destroying our young seedlings. Seeds are ordered to cover over an acre with beautiful sunflowers, as well as an additional plot for Pick Your Own stems.
Alongside these we’ll also be planting some Gladioli, in a vast range of stunning colours, that will also be available for Pick Your Own.
Lastly, we have also planned some seasonal vegetables for the coming season – two different varieties of Sweetcorn, Broad Beans and Peas – all available for Pick Your Own.
Farm Volunteers
On the farm we are always looking for volunteers who are looking to gain some experience in the world of Horticulture and if that appeals to you, please do drop us a line. No experience necessary, just a willingness to get stuck in! Volunteers can expect to gain a greater understanding of running a horticultural farm, with practical tips and experience. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Lots going on and we look forward to keeping you updated on progress as the season develops!