Thank goodness it cooled off today! This morning was absolutely glorious outside. And stuff is growing fast. In the spring we start transplants inside typically 6 to 8 weeks before planting them out. I have been planting kale, lettuce, and broccoli that was seeded inside just 3 weeks ago! What a difference daylength and warmth make.
I don’t know yet whether there will be enough for everyone because it got dark before I finished picking, but new this week are cucumbers. Seems like I just planted the second batch of summer squashes and cukes, and this second batch is already producing.
I hope to pick some kale for those who are tired of chard, but I think you need to be a kale lover to like summer kale. And I have Georgia collards which are OK in the summer though, like most of the brassicas, much sweeter after a hard frost. Mind you, I am not hoping for an early frost. I’d like the frost to hold off to get some size to the sweet potatoes.
I like the new whiteboard signs. We will depend on them heavily tomorrow because I hope to be seated on the golf cart with my foot up on the windshield for most of the distribution. I got bitten on the knee, probably by a funnel web grass spider, Saturday night. Finally went to the doctor today and in addition to trying a combination of Zantac and Benadryl for a couple of days, and moving to short term prednisone if the Zantac and Benadryl don’t reduce the swelling, she really urged me to take time off and elevate the leg. Fat chance. But distribution may be a perfect time if you can follow the signage.
I have been plugging along, but the leg has been so swollen that bending the leg to a right angle, kneeling, etc has been uncomfortable. There fore, there will be lots of u-pick this week. I think you have the green bean routine down. I plan to lift more potatoes to the surface where you can pick them up. We have enough left already picked for about half of you. Current recommendations for potato storage is to leave them unwashed until ready to use them. If they are refrigerated it may not be an issue, but the thought is that dampness will promote late blight if there are some spores on the potatoes, so we are to keep them dry. A refrigerator should be too cold for late blight so if you refrigerate them you can wash them at once, as I did with the first batch that has been good. There is some salad mix ready to harvest, but that is a definite hands and knees job, so I won’t get it done, but if you are up for it I will lend you scissors.
The cole crop this week is broccoli and a little cauliflower. There are some cabbages mature enough for those who don’t like either broccoli or cauliflower, and we can easily cut them for you unless it is pouring rain.
To answer some questions:
- The summer share goes through September;
- The fall share is for 9 weeks in October and November. Price is $225 until September 1. Changes from what is described on the website are that we will not have many onions or winter squash. We will have garlic, shallots, and scallions for flavor. The winter squash was transplanted out during cool weather and just has not taken off. Some folks say to not worry, it will come on late, but I want to warn you that I think it is iffy. The new plantings of summer squash and cukes have taken off marvelously, but the winter squash has just been sitting there. It has blossoms, but the plants are really small to support many fruit. The fall share will have lots of greenery – kales, collards, broccoli, cabbage (Napa, savoy, red, green), arugula (wonderful after a hard frost), mixed Asian greens for salad or cooking, salad mix, lettuce, spinach,a few brussels sprouts, hopefully potatoes and sweet potatoes. Salad mix has been selling for $6/half pound at the market, and winter mix is even pricier, so I do feel comfortable that I will be able to give you your money’s worth.
Well, I so seldom take any medication that I am a little off kilter so will not write more. See you tomorrow or Tuesday.
