Update from the Gardens June 9, 2013

It’s been a great week for the farm. There has been lots of planting and good growth. The garden had a harvest break and thanks you for your understanding. We transplanted a row of sweet peppers, and a second row of hot peppers, okra, tomatillos, and tomatoes all in garden 1 to make them easily assessible. We located and planted more onions to replace the 18,000 that failed in the cold wet ground that allowed a fungus to take hold and “do them in”. Next year, raised beds for those early onions. (Of course, then it’ll be warm and dry.)

The long-held sweet potatoes finally went in the ground. They are looking hopeful although we ordered some additional ones to replace those that sucumb due to the long wait. More peas and beans are in the ground. A huge bed of cucumbers and summer squash are under row cover until they flower. Then the cover comes off and will be moved to a newly planted site. We hope this gives the young plants a head start on the inevitable cucumber beetles. We’ll be using lots of fish emulsion spray to keep the plants healthy as the weaker ones seem to attract the beetles.

Hoop house 1 is being planted into eggplant, sweet peppers and we’ll trellis a row of cucumbers and a row of tomatoes into the soon to be jungle. In spite of the heat last summer, everything thrived there so we’ll try for a repeat.

Strawberries have a great fruit set and are starting to pink up. As you pick, feel free to scout for and sample 10 of the “over-achievers”. I know many of you always want to know the fair share. Please, always check the pick lists in the Taj for any changes to the e-mailed pick list. Crops, row numbers, and quantities are often changed there, usually for the better.

Harrison Market Gardens had a great turn out for the Openfields Farm Tour. The day before, we always say “never again” as we take extra time to spruce up the place and put everything away. But then, we meet lots of new people, several repeat visitors, people who want gardening advice, people trying to kill time on a nice day, people who want to have there kids see food growing, people who think we’re crazy, and a few new members. Since we’re the farm nearest to to the TV stations, we usually get to star in a news feature or two. All in all, a great day. And we’ll probably do it again next year for the 6th annual Openfield Farm Tour. Some day, we’d like to tour the other farms. The farm is at it’s best for a week or so.

The pick list is slowly changing. We’d like to get everyone back on schedule. Every body should have missed an extra week by the time they again pick. Say HI to Katie our summer worker. She’s becoming very knowledgeable and can answer lots of your questions. She wants to learn about what we do and has caught on extremely fast.

Thanks for a great start to another challenging season. The bounty is growing and will be coming starting with berries.