The good news from the fields is that with the wet start to May, followed by this marvellous warm weather, summer crops are coming along nicely. The first smattering of UK courgettes are here on Thursday from Libby Flintoff in Preston – these are grown in her poly tunnels so have had a head start on outdoor crops. With a week of sunshine forecast we can expect to see much more of these later in the month.
Lettuces are plentiful this week and we have a few more varieties to choose from – lollo rosso and red oakleaf from Ward and Thompson in Lancashire, green Batavia from Strawberry Fields Lincolnshire, butterheads and romaine lettuce from Lyncroft farm in Ormskirk. Also in the mix are little gems from all three growers – a good choice if you’re after a sweeter leaf.
We also have a good selection of fresh herbs from Strawberry Fields, coriander and flat parsley are still limited, but plenty of oregano, tarragon, sage, thyme, and both peppermint and spearmint. To make the most of these great value packs, try chopping them up and freezing them into ice cubes to use when needed over a few weeks.
On the fruit side we’re excited to see the first apricots – both the Colorado and Mikado varieties have a gorgeous pink blush and a sweetly tart flavour. There’s a great selection of melons on offer at the moment too, watermelons are abundant and well-priced, Honeydew, Charentais and Galia will all be making appearances at points across the week too.
We’ve a break on strawberries as we wait for the first UK fruits but blueberries and raspberries continue to offer excellent value for money while tasting delicious. Peaches and nectarines are also beginning to hit their stride, the perfect springtime snack for a warm, sunny day!
