The leek harvest has just ended at Seddon & Sons and as with other vegetables it was a slightly challenging season.
"The harvest was normal during the summer months, but from November/ December onwards we had some frost and then it was wet which affected yields and quality," said James Seddon who looks after agronomy and sales at the company.
"We have just finished the harvest and I'd say while it was not our worst year, it wasn't the best either. This seems to be the case for most vegetable growers.
"Prices don't really reflect the costs, which have been going up year after year. Fuel, packaging, fertilizer have all gone up, so what would have been considered a good price a few years ago is now just average. It is hard to say where prices should be."
Planting of the new leek crop started in March; it was delayed by a couple of weeks due the wet weather.
"We start in the fields with light sandy soil which dry up faster, it is hard to say if the crop will catch up as it is totally weather dependent. The harvest is due to start in July, but the weather is inconsistent, at the moment we are getting rain and last week we had 20 degrees, the week before rain. If we could just get 15-20 degrees and the odd shower that would be perfect."
For more information:
James Seddon
Seddon & Sons
Tel: +44 01704 821587
[email protected]
www.seddonandsons.co.uk