The Field Crops
All the field crops are doing well,although some are having a slower time getting going. The last month has been VERY cloudy and cool for June. So when the transplants were put into the ground, they just sat there not dying, but not growing until the warmth came. It also did not help that it was very dry. Oliver had been irrigating most of the field crops including: lettuce, kale, chard, tomatoes, melons, onions, potatoes, beets, peas, beans, corn, eggplant, peppers, broccoli … You get the idea – just about everything. Then it began to rain and it got warm and muggy, just the sort of weather for fungus and molds. So now we are battling them.
We are picking a lot of squash, cucumbers, broccoli, early cabbage, beets, kale, chard, zucchini, tomatoes and eggplant.
We are picking tons of raspberries, black and red. We also picked all the black currants and the gooseberries are just beginning to ripen. We also picked the first peaches about one week ago. the first type, rich May, was not a prolific as some years. But Oliver is beginning to spot pick the second type. We should be picking plums in a week or two.
The Tunnels
We have a lot of tomatoes from the new tunnel – lots of nice big red tomatoes. the cherry tomatoes are producing well and I am pruning now every week day – 3 hours/day to keep them in good shape. The last of the spinach will be picked this week. We still have nice beets in the tunnel, some carrots, kohlrabi and pickling cucumbers. The leeks have all been transplanted into the tunnel.
Greenhouse Seeding
The greenhouse is emptying out. We have winter squash, watermelons, the last sugar cubes and cucumbers in there right now that are waiting to get into the field. We need to get some black plastic laid. We are beginning to seed cauliflower and winter cabbage.
CSA
The CSA is into the fourth week already! June has flown by. We were struggling to the beginning of June for fruit because strawberries were late and they ended VERY quickly, but now we have lots of berries and cherries.
Have you been “putting up” or “canning” anything so far this year?
I have canned some strawberries, rhubarb, whole sweet cherries, Danish cherry sauce for use in trifles this winter. I also canned a lot of seeded sour cherries for pies and pudding.
The shell peas and snow peas are canned and sitting on the shelf looking very lovely. Sometimes I think the jars of canned things look so pretty and colorful that I hate to use them.
This week I plan to can red beets – several plain and several pickled beets. I imagine most folks prefer freezing to canning, but they do not look nearly so refreshing on the shelf. Plus we need the freezer space for beef, pork, and chicken plus a duck or two. Gregg freezers all the fruits for the jams that he makes during the winter.
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 .
St Luke’s Tuesday Farm Stand will reopen on Tuesday. July 18 and remain open through October from 12 noon – 5 pm.
