Here we are in week 7 – amazing how quickly the season rolls past! You have heard for the whole season the complaint about the weather – cold, wet, windy… yada yada yada. This seems to now be behind us, and so the garden is in a major rush to grow before, well, Fall. The tasks that show up with this weather center on protection of the growing veggies. Water, once a problem in abundance quickly becomes a challenge with the sandy beds. The wind shifts from a cold west wind to a hot and very dry north wind over a week – all of which is not at all what the tall and gangling plants (Stock, Snapdragons, Tomatoes) really do not like whatsoever. So, cages and stakes get rolled out.
Speaking of Tomatoes – the plants on just on the cusp of a mass ripening event. This week there are three slicers and three cherries; in week 8 there should be enough for everyone to be the proud possessor of at least one tomato. In two weeks, the explosion starts to happen and you start hearing “would you like a LOT of tomatoes?”
The surprise plant seems to be eggplant. They have really done well in the outside bed. In 2021, the plants all looked a bit, well, beat up. Good fruit, but ragged and worn. The peppers are starting to shift into gear as well, but the eggplant is way ahead of the game here. Celery (outside) is still behind that which is in the greenhouse.
The only “problem” this week is does flower farmer give you cut flowers (mostly Stock or Statice) or does she do roses. It is a mystery to be discovered when your box shows up on your porch…
in the box for this week:
| Lettuce | Cegolaine or Red Sails or Red Iceberg. Really good looking lettuce; Red Sails is getting leggy and will be going away this week. |
| Brassicas | Bok Choi, there may be a cabbage. Maybe. |
| Roots | Cherry Belle Radishes – quite a few – if you do NOT want a few Cherry Belle radishes, speak up. The Red Meat are right behind them. |
| Greens | Mustard … all gone, back in 2 weeks – well, maybe three. Nice leaf so far, but a 1″ leaf isn’t very exciting. Chard – White only; Red is also about 2-3 weeks out with the mythical 1″ leaf. Spinach – New Spinach is 3-4 weeks – none this week. The Spinach seedlings may be a crop fail. Bad potting soil, too hot. Arugula – quite a bit. If you are sick and tired of Arugula you will need to speak up – otherwise, about like last week. Baby Turnip Greens – unless you have previously decline Turnips. Hey – 14% protein in Turnip Greens! – This was missed in the rush for Wednesday pick last week, sorry. |
| Herbs | Mint, Oregano, Chives, (Cilantro – not this week), Parsley, Basil, Celery leaves – remember to ask if you want more or less of a herb. LOTS of parsley available, by the way. |
| Misc | Snap peas. New Potatoes – Red Norland, Huckleberry, Cal White. Flower of the week: Rose or Cut Flowers. Small Bulb Onion. 6 of you get a Tomato. Three cherry (Aperitif & a Sun Gold) and three Slicer (Stupice) – even more next week. |
Coming very soon: Lots of Tomatoes in 1 weeks. Baby Cucumbers are growing, might have a few next week. Turnips, Beets going great. Carrots are up (55 days). Raspberries starting to get ripe, Boysen Berries are depending on weather about 2 weeks. Early apples are late. Few peaches mid-July. To get the raspberries will be a big project; might have some by Friday or Saturday – maybe a half pint or so. If you want a lot of berries try Spooners.
Oh – we have some smallish baker type potatoes if you would prefer a couple?
