Spring brassicas a challenge ahead

Growers warn that an unusually mild autumn and winter has accelerated crop growth, posing a threat to supply at a critical time. The UK anticipates shortages from April to early June when few locally grown crops are ripe for consumption. This scarcity is exacerbated by the difficulty of supplementing vegetables with imports from the continent, as floods in key growing regions delayed planting for a spring harvest inclusive in Spain.

Warm winters to continue

Experts link these challenges to climate breakdown. The increase in heavy rainfall – damaging to crops – is becoming more frequent across Europe. The British Meteorology Office highlights a clear warming trend in average UK winter temperatures, set to continue due to human-induced climate change. It cautions: “Observations show a clear warming trend for average UK winter temperature, and this trend is projected to continue in the future due to human induced climate change. This doesn’t mean the UK will no longer see cold spells … however, cold spells are projected to become less frequent and less severe.”

Heavy autumn rains in Spain

Hannah Croft, an agronomist at the organic vegetable box company Riverford, warned of “tight periods for broccoli supply later this spring”. She explained, “Our Spanish suppliers, who grow much of our winter broccoli, have faced setbacks due to heavy autumn rain, which caused quality issues and delayed planting for spring crops. This has pushed harvest schedules forward, meaning there’s a possibility of a gap in late spring.”

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