Whitsend Market Garden

 Hello Everyone:

We had some frost earlier this week that affected our transplants.  Thirty eight of the first thirty nine tomato transplants didn't make it.  

I had covered the plants in anticipation of the cool temperatures; in the past, this has been adequate for spring frosts.

Water is a very efficient thermal mass, and helps soil retain warmth.  It appears that our dry soil was the reason the ground cooled off too much for the plants to tolerate the cold.  (This past May was apparently had the lowest rainfall on record).

Fortunately, I had about thirty seedlings left over in the nursery.  I typically hold onto my extras in case I lose a few to cutworms, transplant shock, or failure to thrive.  These have now been trasnplanted to make fup for most of the loses.

I also have extra squash seedlings, so I will plant these in the two tomato eds that I cannot fill.

Another example of the resiliency of small farms.

Garlic is much more cold tolerant, and continues to thrive.  These were only under insect netting to protect the garlic from leek moths.

Some garlic varieties are showing promise, assuming the thickness of the stalks are indicating a larger bulb size.

Kidney and Romano beans and carrots should be sprouting soon and the potato plants should be emerging soon as well.

Talk to you soon, 

Bob