Time to ask those of you who signed up for the main season if you are going to tag on the Extended season – obviously, if you paid for the whole year that isn’t a question. Officially, the last week of Main season ends Oct. 15 (farm call Saturday). Extended season is four additional weeks – which normally would be where winter squash make a debut – but there won’t be winter squash or sweet potatoes this year – there will be some good cooking apples, and if the weather holds the late figs are pretty abundant.
Speaking of fruits, grapes are getting there – Friday and Saturday members last week got some green grapes, this week the Wednesday crew will as well. These red grapes are still a little tart, but Wednesday can have the green grapes. The other crop that showed up in a couple of boxes last week was Kale. It likes the cooler nights and is starting to kick into gear.
The romaine and winter density lettuces are getting a bit of size now – which is good, since the Cegolaine and Red Iceberg are pretty much done from their most recent planting. There are new starts to carry over into the Extended season. Lots of beets, carrots, outside celery and green (but supposed to be red) bell peppers. They are not nearly as sweet as they should be, but the clear days are all a risk for a light freeze, which nobody except the Parsnips and Carrots like.
The bells don’t look nervous, but they should be. Fear of frost is a real thing.
Last week cleaned out the rest of the “Blackberry” purple potatoes. The rather small Russets are going to run through the main season, then the mystery fingerlings come out and do their thing. The amazing Cal White potato (can be pretty large, a waxy type) is setting more fruit (if a potato can be called a fruit), and will be metered out as long as possible.
Obviously, there are still plenty of slicer tomatoes. The best that can be determined, those should just keep on giving. Cherries that are outside finally are in their big push, while the insiders take a bit of a rest. The challenge right now is to ensure that plants don’t get sick. Cucumbers on the trellis have a lot of powdery mildew on the older leaves, which seems to be what Cucumbers like to do. Those leaves will be pruned off, and the new leaves with the blossoms and baby cukes will hopefully keep on giving. Some radishes were started two weeks ago and are up and going to add more crunch options as things go along.
Since carrots were started pretty late, there are a lot of them. The standard is 3 for a personal share, 4-6 for a full share. If you want more (or less) speak up. The big mystery for now is who wants Parsnips – a couple of you are known Parsnip lovers and got a one or two last week. The preference here is the ‘farmers choice’ might give you one or two from the crop unless you speak up.
And the big reminder: the end is near, speak up if you are continuing and haven’t paid for the whole year…
in the box:
| Lettuce | Romaine (green), a green ‘bibb-romaine cross, ‘Red sails. there may be a “Cegolaine” – there are exactly 4 left. |
| Brassicas | A few Cabbage lurking… very very small heads, not what was planned for. Ask for Kale. |
| Roots | Red beets and White beets with greens. Carrots, Parsnip if you ask, Turnips are farmers choice, unless you ask. |
| Greens | Curly Mustard, Red or White Chard, Arugula as farmers choice unless you have a history of loving it. |
| Herbs | Chives, Parsley, Basil, Celery – two stalks nominal, ask for more. There is LOTS of celery. |
| Misc | green beans Potatoes – Assortment – Nokatah Russet, Cal White. Bigger bulb onion and a few green onions. Flower of the week: Cut Flowers. The arrangements are carefully selected – several comments of appreciation that were passed on the the flower farmer. Tomato Cherries and Slicers. Tomatoes. Probably fewer cherries, nominal 1/2 pint. Cukes – MAY have one per box. Getting thin. Bell peppers are now big and green, hot peppers are also big and green, may be some of the small yellows. Ask if you want a green bell pepper, otherwise hoping they ripen. Summer squash: Random choice of Hook neck, Zucchini, Patty Pan. Eggplant – Millionaire (tube shaped) or Rolandia (Round). There are a LOT of eggplant fruit. green or red grapes, blue not ripe yet. Apples are a farmer’s choice thing. |
Coming Soon: Bell peppers,
BEEF: Still have Half of the big cow – good chance to buy a quarter of a beef of Hamburger and sausage… And 3/4 of a young bull left. That doesn’t look good – an amputee cow. Slaughter date November 5. There will be an email sent to those who have said they wanted beef this week.
