insideKENT Magazine Issue 34 - January 2015 | Page 47

FOOD+DRINK

Plan Your Seasonal

PYO

Fresh fruit and vegetables, pulled straight from the ground or plucked from a tree have a certain
magic about them that can be lost once the supermarkets get hold, clean them up, and package
them to sell. Of course, they are the same fruit, the same veg, but somewhere in the process,
something has been lost. This is why so many of us love to grow our own. BY LISAMARIE LAMB

The problem is not all of us have the space or
the time to get the results we’re really looking
for. The solution, however, is a simple one: why
not try your hand at picking your own fruit and
vegetables from the field or tree? Not only will
you get the freshest produce (at good prices),
but you will be able to see exactly what is in
season, and start planning your menus
accordingly.
Most PYOs, although running all year round as
working farms, are only open to the public during
the May to October months because the fruits
and vegetables grown during this time are more
abundant than they can sell themselves, or to
the shops. So although your carrots and kale
(January); leeks (February); cabbage (March);
cauliflower (April); potatoes and red cabbage
(November); and Brussels sprouts (December)
might have to be picked by someone else (or
grown in your own veggie patch), during the rest
of the year you can pick away to your heart’s
content.

We’ve gathered a selection of Kentish PYO farms
for you to enjoy.
What: Gooseberries
When: Early May to July
Where: Juicy, tart, and full of flavour, gooseberries
are strangely often forgotten when it comes to
listing out the perfect fruits. In Kent, we are
blessed with the right climate to grow them in
abundance, so when you go picking your own,
don’t forget to look out for them, especially at
Foxendown Fruit Farm (www.meophamfruit.co.uk
/ 01474 815080) in Meopham, near Gravesend.
What: Strawberries
When: Late May to late July
Where: Most PYO farms host strawberries, as
they are so popular, and fun to pick (and eat or
bake with!). Chilton Manor Farm
(www.chiltonmanorfarm.co.uk / 01795 425963
near Sittingbourne is a family-owned-and-run
farm and farm shop that is open from May until
October each year, and the first crop it produces
every year is strawberries.

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What: Loganberries, redcurrants, raspberries
When: Mid-June to mid-July
Where: Although only available for a very short
time, the se delicious fruits are well worth picking.
Try Garden House Orchards
(www.facebook.com/PYOgardenhouse / 01303
260163) in Hythe for some succulent and tasty
loganberries, raspberries, and redcurrants for
you to make into jam, bake with, or just eat as
they are.
What: Cherries
When: Early July to early August
Where: Felderland Farm (www.felderlandpyo.co.uk) in Worth prides itself on having a huge
range of PYO products available in its 23 acres,
but it is the cherries grown here that are really
special. They outnumber every other type of fruit
and veg, and although they are only around for
a short while, if you can get your hands on them,
you’ll certainly be able to taste the difference.