The Field Crops
By the end of September we are pushing to get all the fields cleaned up that do not have fall crops in them. All the older patches of squash and cucumbers, green beans, sugar cubes and watermelon are removed. We are striving to get all these fields seeded in cover crop before the end of September. So it is always a challenge at this time of year.
We are still picking sugar cubes and watermelon from the last patches as well as green beans. We are cleaning up all the cabbage except the winter crop. So this month has been a month of harvest and clean.
We have one more variety of peaches before the end of the peach season. We are always short of peaches at the end of August and we try to make the last Blazing Stars last until Victoria are ready to pick, but inevitability the Blazing Stars get a bit mealy and dry right about now.
The blackberries are pretty much finished as are the black raspberries, but we are still getting a good share of red raspberries.
We were very pleased with the carrots this year, but we are not talking about the red beets! Crop Failure! The kale had a lot of difficulties in the field as well as chard. We still have a small patch which allows us to have a presence on the table, but there are no extras this year.
We are just beginning to harvest the first spaghetti squash and Delicata squash.
We had an incredible year with plums. The Bartlett pears did well. We are beginning to pick Asian pears now.
As most of you know we do not grow our own apples any more. We “sell” our vegetables, tomatoes, and peaches to Peters Orchard in Gardners and Hollabaugh Bros in Biglerville and “buy” their apples. Our buy and sell is a barter system. We attach prices to our vegetables and they attach prices to their apples and we keep a running credit/debit. Right now we have a big credit since we have not had many apples from them yet. But this week we are going to have Gala apples at the stands.
The Tunnels
We have torn out all the tomatoes from the new tunnel and are now planting spinach and lettuce in there for fall and winter.
The cherry tomatoes are still doing well. They always get hit this time of year with powdery mildew, but they are still producing well. If the weather holds dry for September they will recover and we will still have cherry tomatoes through September.
The leeks are looking great! We are planting kale and harvesting the last of the carrots and the kohlrabi in preparation for planting the chard for winter. We do have red beets for fall in tunnel one and also we just planted Arugula for harvest in October.
Greenhouse Seeding
The second batch of spinach and the first batch of lettuce have been seeded for early February harvest. We will be seeding the first batch of red beets for end of February-early March harvest.
We are cleaning the weeds out of the greenhouse. We are cleaning trays and flats and putting them away until spring.
CSA
The CSA is into the thirteenth week. We will be giving summer vegetables as long as we can. We are hoping to harvest broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts in October as well as leeks and red beets.
Canning, Gardening, Grilling and Preserving
I am still canning things. Last week I canned some tomato sauce and sweet corn. I have a lot of peach preserves for my morning Greek yogurt to carry me through the winter along with the blueberry preserves that I did in July. I canned some Sweet dill pickles earlier this month. I also did some tomato juice in quart jars for soup and just good drinking with some salt and pepper.
I griller some steaks last Saturday and using a wok I stir-fried sweet corn and onins. they were delicious! I also found a great way to make finger potatoes – use them in potato salad. they are very easy to peel once they are cooked and they hold their shape very well. They also have a unique flavor – almost sweet. Give it a try!
I am keeping after the flowers and small fruit bushes. I just began to prune back the blackberries for the year. I notices that the Concord grapes are getting purple. Soon I will be making grape juice! I hope you are enjoying the changes of color, changes in the sun rising and setting and the close of the summer season.
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 is open on Tuesdays from 12 noon – 6 pm.
Have a Great Day!
Louise
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
