It is safe to say that the first half of the UK vegetable season in 2025 was one to forget. Most of England was in drought conditions with temperatures around 30 degrees for extended periods.
"We eventually got a change in the weather and some rain," said Nigel Clare from Peloton Produce. "September and October have seen a good end to the broccoli season, but it will not make up for the losses incurred at the start of the UK campaign for Brassica crops. Quality is now remarkably good considering the planting conditions. We have had a reasonable amount of rain and temperatures of around 24-26 degrees, which has really helped the second part of the season."
© Peloton Produce
At the moment, Peloton is harvesting cauliflower, various cabbage, kale, and Bellaverde, as well as trial plantings of Cavolo Nero.
"We are quite happy with the mild weather at the moment, the cabbages that were planted when it was very dry are doing very well now, and a long, late autumn would be good. We don't really want a cold snap, but it would be beneficial to reduce aphid pressure that is remarkably still high for this time of the year."
Nigel is now gearing up for the Christmas period and the import season. "We will have our Lincolnshire and Cornish cauliflower all through the winter. Our forecast is that the first harvest in Cornwall will be in three weeks, and those crops are looking weed-free with very high plant height, and leaf quality is looking exceptional, so we are hoping for a good winter. So after a 2025 to forget, there might be some light at the end of the tunnel."
For more information:
Nigel Clare
Peloton Produce
Tel: +44 1945 780222
[email protected]
www.pelotonproduce.co.uk
