Rain, sun, wind, and repeat

Today, I learned that onions, garlics, and shallots produce flowers and seeds. Perhaps I was a bit naive, but I've always thought that they just grew from bulbs. These bulbs, however, are grown in nurseries from seeds. This morning, we harvested the flower buds of onions and shallots, which can be sauteed and added to stir fries or treated like spring onions. Most importantly, the flower stalks make a satisfying *POP* noise when snapped off. 


Being an island with winds converging from all four directions, the weather in Britain can be quite temperamental. Rain, wind, and hot sunshine each wreak havoc in their own unique ways in the fields.


Rain is obviously a necessary supply of hydration for the plants. Newly sown and naturally delicate plants can suffer damage when the precipitation changes from a light, soaking mist to a heavy downpour. While it's possible to supply water during dry periods, there's no way to drain away excess water from the soil. If the soil is too wet, some plants will be susceptible to rotting. Often, the amount of water significantly affects the flavour of the fruit - particularly cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and melons. These plants are grown in polytunnels so the moisture can be more closely controlled and the temperature stays warm.


Wind was enemy #1 today. When planting brassicas in the field, we had to be careful to get as much of the stalk below the soil as possible to prevent the wind from snapping the plant in half. It's always important to be careful when securing tarps, nets, and Mypex (plastic) sheets - anything that can catch on a gust of wind has to be securely held in place with cinder blocks, steel poles, and heavy flower pots (or whatever heavy items are lying around). Wind can also evaporate surface water more efficiently, so it's good to keep an eye on the moisture of the soil, particularly when watering in newly sown plants. 


Warm sunshine is the source of the energy that creates our food, but if the sun is hot and bright for days (rare in England), all plants need to be kept thoroughly watered. It's also best to keep air flowing through polytunnels and nurseries to prevent damage from high temperatures or temperature fluctuations. 

Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you're a thousand miles from the corn field. - Dwight Eisenhower