HOTCH Potch Organic vegetables returned last week with a report that “It hasn’t been good growing weather yet,” which I’m sure is of no surprise to any of us.

I messaged the people at Court Farm to make sure the mad hail and snow storms we’ve been having weren’t destroying the cherry blossom and therefore the fruit.

Hotch Potch will have new season spring greens plus Alderton Nursery organic tunnel grown tomatoes, aubergines, green beans and cucumbers although apparently the tunnel courgettes aren’t doing well.

The weather is also playing a part in the tunnels and greenhouses with plants fluctuating and producing in fits and starts which affects how much they produce week to week, so quantities can’t be predicted.

At a guess from past years, it might be the right time for a big display of weird and wonderful oversize aubergines.

Hotch Potch also do an excellent range of vegetable plants for gardeners with a variety of tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, herbs with squash, melons and brassicas to follow soon.

We are launching a little new idea at the market this Saturday too.

In conjunction with Barefoot Screen printers, who have had a stall at the market over the past few months, a new farmers’ market shopping bag will be available.

We aim to invite a new artist to design the bag logo every year and this year’s bag design was created by My Blue Shed.

In the past our shopping bags were printed in India so we are delighted to keep the whole process more local. Find our new shopping bags at the Barefoot stall on Saturday.

Regulars may have noticed that the Threadneedle flea market is looking packed with stalls on a regular basis these days and we have a great group of traders there at the moment with Sheep ‘n’ Chic (sheepskins and sheepskin products), Kashmir Dreams (Rugs), The Gardenalia Stall, Hip and Waisted, Andy’s Attic (vintage home) all attending regularly.

Local favourite Girish’s Snacks is there every week too and his range of 100 per cent Indian vegan foods now boasts dal and rice, patra wraps and ginger cake to go along with the chai and samosa.