What a week! We love this season! We have been watching the crops grow. Anticipate within a few days – broccoli. The taller variety is Di Cicco which is know for it’s repeating production of florets, as opposed to full heads. If picking, take a handful of the florets stalks to make a “head”.
Our favorite cabbage is at about a 4 inch head. They need to be at 6 inches to become a harvestable hard head…so we’ll wait, impatiently.
The baby summer squashes are in abundance and growing. There are two beds. One we had covered with row cover to prevent cucumber beetles eating the plants during the young stage. Then the cover comes off for pollination. Squash bugs are always a problem. They prefer the darker squash and chew on the skin. It’s less appealing but certainly can be used if you’re not to fussy. The bees are doing a great job. We’re finding little 2 inch cukes so get ready for those to appear on the list as well.
Speaking of the bees (our girls), they have had nearly 3 reproductive cycles and the queen does nothing but eat what she is fed and lays eggs in cells prepared by her hive-mates. The majority are out and about pollinating as they gather nectar to store away for the winter as honey. One honey super is filled on each hive and 3 more have been added because they are very “busy bees”. Watch the tower grow.
We’ve added yellow beans to the list. It’s a short row. The green beans that had been planted in the same row we’re part of the deer buffet. Other rows are nearly ready and will be added to the list soon. The first “green” bean will be Romas. . .a flat Italian bean that freezes well when you’re tired of eating them. Planted alongside them is a burgundy bean that has a beautiful purple color, but cooks up green. Maybe it’s good these will be ready first otherwise we tend to go for the “safe” usual green beans and often don’t try the less usual.
Arugula is in abundance, planted in the covered kale bed row 16 only. Take what you can use. It’s spicy. So look for a recipe (usually a salad) that appeals to you and give it a try.
Blueberries are being protected by nets and the “big eye” in garden 1. Some are looking ripe and may be soon sweet and not tart. Don’t be misled by the brilliant color. They sweeten on the vine when they develop a milky haze.
Asparagus has finally begun ferning on shorter stalks. We need to let it go to feed the large roots for the rest of the summer.
We know the cucumber beetles eventually get the cucumbers, so we’ve planted some to grow vertically up strings in the hoop houses. Hoop house 1 was planted first and looks incredible. Watch them grow as we twine them up the strings. Hopefully the beetles won’t be as severe inside. It’s the tropics in there and the cukes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers seem to thrive under those conditions. We also have a tarp with new seedlings growing for the next season. Feel free to explore what we are doing.
We have planted in abundance and will be accepting new “second- season pickers”. Share what we do with your friends. The easy picking season is coming and will continue through October for $250 every other week or $450 for the weekly pick. Bring another family when you pick for a one time trial at $30.00. This can be credited to their share price if they choose to join us.
The season of abundance is beginning and we’re happy to share with our local pickers and farm share members.