The Field Crops
We are picking kale and lettuce from the fields now. We are planting all the summer vegetables including – summer squash, sweet corn, zucchini, cabbage, more lettuce, sugar cube melons, watermelons, cucumbers. The peppers, tomatoes and eggplant have been planted. We are doing some spot irrigating as need. So far we are not suffering from lack of rain. We have direct seeded green beans, carrots and red beets.
The spring crops are coming on well. We are expecting some cucumbers and broccoli before the end of May. We have had a very good year for rhubarb and asparagus.
We are beginning to pick some strawberries already. Many of the raspberries are in flower or have set fruit already. The gooseberries and blueberries look very heavy this year. Also the plum and pear trees are loaded with fruit.
The Tunnels
The new tomatoes in the new greenhouse are looking good with lots of tomatoes. We are hoping for some nice early tomatoes this year. The cooler tunnels are still giving us lots of spinach. If you have been coming to the markets this spring you have been enjoying all the spinach from the tunnels. We are still picking chard from the tunnels as well, but it is getting smaller and beginning to bolt. Hopefully the field chard will be ready to pick soon. We are harvesting radishes, arugula, salad turnips and beets from the tunnels as well. – also a few carrots. We are tearing out all the old lettuce, making way for the leeks which will be planted in there in June.
The cherry tomatoes are planted in tunnel 1 and we are in the process of stringing them up and clipping/pruning them. They do have some red cherry tomatoes almost ready to pick!
Greenhouse Seeding
The greenhouse is beginning to empty out thanks to you folks who are coming to the markets and buying plants! We will still be bringing plants to the markets until June 1 – maybe later depending how sales are going.
We are in the middle of seeding fall crops right now – Brussels sprouts, spaghetti squash, and Delicata. We also potted up the last batch of tomatoes which will be planted in the field on July 4. We are continuing to seed cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini, and lettuce all throughout the summer. Three batches of melons are seeded and we have 2 more seeding to go.
CSA
The CSA will begin on June 8. We are looking forward to the diversity and the surprises throughout the growing season. We hope that you are too. You will be getting an email next week about the CSA if you have signed up and paid up. Look for it!
Farm Stands and Markets
The St Luke’s Farm Stand is open every Saturday from 8 – 1 pm. Come out and support the local farm on Saturdays!
The Belle View Condos Farm Stand is open on Thursdays from 2 – 7 pm.
East Columbia Library Farm Market is open on Thursdays from 12 noon – 6 pm.
Fairfax Community Market is open on Saturdays from 8 – 1 pm .
We hope you are enjoying the spring and we hope to see each of you at the farm stands and markets this year. The strawberry season is beginning, the rhubarb season in full swing, Asparagus is at its best right now and the prognosis for great fruits and summer vegetables is very good!
When you feel anxiety welling up in you – Don’t take a pill, Don’t rely on the gym –Go outside, breathe deeply and enjoy the SUN!
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
Gregg and Louise Keckler
Oliver and Lizzie Keckler with Isabelle, Remington and Cassidee, also
Orchard Country Produce and Fruit Farm, Inc
1410 Goodyear Rd
Gardners, PA 17324
717-486-4653
www.orchardcountryproduce.com
