Whitsend Market Garden

Update as of evening May 9 - the rain yesterday evening has given the pea plants about 2 inches since yesterday evening.  As well as the path weeds, grass, and mosquitoes...

Hey All:

May 24 is for gardeners.

Several folks have inquired as to how the weather has been for the farm of late.  My answer (as always) is that it always helps and hinders no matter if it is dry, raining steadily, 27 or +2 degrees.

In the case of the past few weeks, the dry, hot weather has been great for weed suppression.  By lightly cultivating beds scheduled to receive seeds or transplants in the next few weeks, I have knocked out the three flushes of weeds that one can expect.  If these beds do not have the soil surface disturbed too deeply, these beds will be largely weed free while they produce two weeks’ worth of Arugula or a summers worth of Chard. 

On the other hand, the dry, hot, and sunny weather has been challenging for freshly seeded beds, sprouting seeds, and transplanting.

Finally, some cloud-cover and rain have arrived.  This is ideal for transplanting the mature Peppers, Tomatoes, and Lettuce; and for seeding Potatoes, Radishes, the first round of beans, and the second round of greens such as Arugula and Spinach and the third and fourth rounds of Carrots. 

I’ve been watching the forecast for just this pattern of weather.  I have also expected that at some point that temperatures might fall back to “normal”, and possibly lower.  My expectations have borne out with the forecast of +2 weather this coming weekend.

All day yesterday, I was debating the Pepper and Tomato transplant conundrum.  Should I delay until the nightly lows pick up again?  On the other hand, do I risk missing this cool damp pattern and subject plants to the stress of being transplanted in blazing sun?

There is a Ukrainian folk saying – “The morning is wiser than the evening”.  As I woke today and checked the weather, the answer was quite clear to me.  It was based on several factors, including my experience at Elmtree Farm.  I will write more about my final decision in the next post.

In the meantime, I am curious about what you might do.  Send your thoughts.

A few other notes…there is room for one or two more shares, though I need to know very soon or you will miss out on some of the early produce (I only seed for what I know I need plus 10-15% in case of losses or poor germination).

The Snow Peas look like they are coming along quite well.  The Carrots seem to be taking their time.  I saw my first Fennel sprouting yesterday.  The Bulb Onions are upset that they are still in the nursery – I will have to plant more short season ones to make up for some losses.  

The seed potatoes were picked up from Ellenberger Farm (more on this in the next post or two).  The Tree Swallows have returned, and so have the gnats.  My old nemesis from my gardening days, the fluffy tailed tree rat, has started showing an unhealthy interest in the barn.   

By the way, the free offer for the Green Zebra Tomato starts are for paid customers only.  Others are welcome to purchase them for $5.00 apiece.  Quantities are limited.

Much more news on the way provided I have time to write.

Talk to you soon,

Bob

Garlic Update:

Photo  by Randy two weeks ago:

Photo  by Randy this past Monday:

Look into the middle distance - all of the other varieties are catching up to the Fish Lake variety.  The straw is now being used for water retention, and to a lesser extent, weed suppression.