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As the heat of summer starts to shine bright conditions for strawberries to ripen get better and better. Different varieties help to extend the cropping season and produce more jam.
Cherries are back in season (2014)
Ken talks with farms director, Chris Newenham from Wilkins & Sons Ltd about the cherry orchard grown on dwarf root stock to help make the crop manageable for picking.
At Tiptree several varieties, such as morello cherry, are grown to give a 6 week picking season across June and July. Chris also looks at the apricots being grown on the farms in the UK.
Anton Thurgood, farm commercial manager from Wilkin & Son says that the business can produce fruit for twenty-six weeks of the year. Anton says they try to use biological control for any pests and he talks to Ken about how they do this.
Mick Lavelle, senior lecturer in landscape management at Anglia Ruskin University, Writtle Campus talks about water conservation.
Farms director, Chris Newenham from Wilkins & Sons Ltd says that the cherry and peach crop is doing very well this year. The varieties being grown on farms in Tiptree include: Merchant, sweetheart and summer sun.
Steve Bradley talks to Ken about pests and diseases that can cause issues for fruit trees.
Tiptree jams and preserves can be purchased widely from supermarkets or direct online by clicking here.
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