As the crops grow over the summer it is important to inspect the crops regularly for pests, disease and soil condition. Weeds also compete with the crop and need to be removed by hand using our NUTS machine to allow staff to float above the ground making it quicker, easier and more comfortable for them to complete the task. Some weeds are left at the field perimeters to attract pest killing insects such as ladybirds. (They are great aphid predators)
The weather can have a large effect on the condition of the crops and too much of any one thing can ruin them. The carrot beds sometimes have to be maintained after heavy rains. Too dry and the vegetables don’t swell as they should and may need to be irrigated with large field sprays to stop plants dying. Straw or plastic can be required to be put down to prevent frost damage.
Prior to harvesting the crops are inspected for quality and sample patches are pulled over the whole field to ensure that the carrots in that area have not been affected by disease or rot and that they are in good healthy condition before pulling them. As well as machines to lift the main carrot crop we use manpower to pull our bunched carrots.