The beets are growing beautifully. We will pull some small and medium ones, thinning the stand so the remaining ones will grow larger. The greens look good.
Fennel will be harvested. I have been waiting for the bulbs to plump, but they aren’t and the wonderful foliage is browning at the tips so we’ll take it now. The broccoli and Napa are gorgeous. The broccoli is a little strong from the hot weather, but that’s summer broccoli for you.
You can have plenty of tomatoes, but please limit yourself to one quart of drop-dead gorgeous cosmetically perfect ones. The tomatoes have been cracking by the stem, and some are actually splitting like cherry tomatoes do. The ones with cracks should be eaten fairly quickly before mold develops in the scars – within two days I would guess. I’m not alone in this. The only tomatoes at market today that looked as nice as mine were Northern Orchards’, so I am not feeling guilty about the cosmetic issues.
With the moisture and cooler weather the lettuce is holding beautifully. Cukes, zukes, and squash are plentiful. We have white, yellow, and red onions this week. White new potatoes.
Melons are ripening. We don’t have enough for everyone yet, so those who get a melon this week probably won’t get one next week. I have one variety that is a definite repeat for next year.
I harvested basil and tomatoes tonight for you, but if you want a “pesto pack” of basil – a larger quantity of more mature (stronger tasting) basil for freezing or making pesto let me know and I’ll make some up for you next week.
I am being blessed with folks who want to work. Word of mouth has gone out among a young adult social group. Transportation is a challenge, and they want part-time work. They are good workers though who are pulling up weeds that got out of control. At this point the weeds won’t hurt this year’s crop, but I don’t want to add to the weed seed bank in the soil. Hopefully tomorrow we can take advantage of the moist soil and transplant fall kale and cabbage seedlings. I would love to direct seed salad and a bunch of things tomorrow, but it will probably wait until Friday. It was too wet to do yesterday, and too dry before that. With decreasing daylight and temperatures every day’s delay may mean a week or two later maturity.
I finally found my cilantro and dill seed. I’ve been looking for them for at least 6 weeks. I finally ordered more yesterday, hit the Send button on the order, turned around in my computer chair and there they were in a basket on the floor behind the chair, with the sunflower seed from the last planting. The sunflowers take 8 to 9 weeks to bloom, and started blooming last week so I’d guess I have been looking for the seed for 7 or 8 weeks. I have most of my seed well organized, but I had that basket(actually a “trug”) in the field the last time I planted and never put the seeds away. I have been craving cilantro for tabouli so will get some planted ASAP – Friday.
See you Thursday afternoon.
