The Orchard Tea Room - Exciting News

Exciting times here at the orchard on Redmoor Lane, Wisbech, we've been granted planning permission for a Tea Room.

Once upon a time chickens lived behind this coldstore, in the not too distant future you'll be able to enjoy a nice cup of tea (or other beverage) and a slice of cake in our new tea room which will be overlooking the orchard.

Well Seasoned Apple Logs

Brrr! It was chilly this morning especially after all those gloriously sunny days. If you feel you need to light a fire we have well seasoned apple logs for sale at £3.00 per sack. Just pop along to The Orchard Farm Shop, Redmoor Lane, Wisbech, PE14 0RN, we're open from 8 -4 weekdays and Saturdays, 9-4 Sundays.

If you're lucky enough to weekend at the Norfolk coast why not get a sack or two to keep in store just incase it turns really cold of an evening as we all know it can do even in August.

Cauliflowers

We had a delivery of really splendid cauliflowers today from a local grower. The ice and snow before Christmas ruined the cauli crops so it's great to see them looking so good again.

The Orchard in March

Above is a photograph of apple tree buds in early March, since then we've had several days of glorious sunshine and unseasonally warm weather

which has brought the leaves out, won't be long before the trees are in blossom.

Bird Apples

We usually have a number of large nets of apples for sale, they aren't perfect, they might be getting a little soft, have a slight bruise or some other mark. We call them bird apples, the birds absolutely love them, especially blackbirds, and lots of our customers buy them for their garden birds. At £1.00 for a large net they are terrific value.

As you can see from the sign their use isn't limited to the birds, we do have customers who make their own cider and of course they make the perfect treat for horses (and iguananas!)

What will you use yours for?

English eating apples still available in March

Cameo

We grow a large variety of apples here at the orchard on Redmoor Lane, some of which are still available this late in the season. Cameo is one of the best keeping apples and should still be available to purchase throughout the country in April. It is a fairly modern apple, delicious and sweet.

Jonagold

Here at the Orchard Farm Shop we often say that Jonagold is for sharing. It's a large , tasty, sweet apple that has become a firm favourite with our customers.

Royal Gala

Royal Gala is known for its' good keeping qualities and its' pleasant, sweet flavour.

Ida Red

Ida Red is another really good keeper, and a stunning looking red apple, as well as eating it can be used for making apple sauce, cook with the skin on and you'll get a pink tinge to the sauce.

So you see if you have a farm shop near you there really is no need to buy apples imported from other countries even in March and April.

Seasonal eating - this week

At their best at this time of year are:

Rhubarb

Cauliflower

Purple Sprouting Boccoli

Leeks

Also in season:

Carrots

Parsnips

Swede

Potatoes (maincrop)

Onions

They can all be found in the Orchard Farm Shop along with the last of our 2010 crop of apples.

Rhubarb

We've just started cutting the first rhubarb stalks for the farm shop, grown just a few yards from the farm shop car park you won't find fresher or more locally grown!