Thursday, April 8, 2010

Spring Has Yet To Sproing

It's 39 degrees and raining sideways. The forecast is calling for mixed snow and rain with ice pellets. That's a new one for me. We've been flumoxed for weeks now with getting into the fields. Finally, yesterday, in the frigid driving rain I was able to at least make a few passes on one of our new field and shape a few beds at the home farm. I still need to lime and fertilze though and now it's wet again so I just have to wait a bit longer. We have been able to get a few things in he ground and I did direct sow a few beds a couple of weeks ago but Theres just not much happening. The ground is cold and dank and just not condusive to growing. It'll turn soon though and we'll be on our way. First market is in a month.

We have been harvesting a few things from the farm. We have some beautiful radishes on right now and the Japanese turnips will be on next week. Salad grren are gorgeous but in short supply as they are all coming from the greenhouse's. Actually the first round is done and we are flipping beds and transplanting with new greens on a rotating schedule. Tomatoes will soon be occupying that space but for now they are content in their own pots containers and enjoying the warmth of the grow lighs. They could go in the ground right now and we may pop in a few but it's pretty cold still, my intuition is to wait a bit longer.

Fortunately we have been able to make a little space by transplanting but generally speaking we are busting a the seams. The greenhouses are full with flats and as we begin potting things up into bigger pots, one flat turns into three so it can get out of hand quick. It seems I can never have enough table space.

Despite the cool weather things are looking great. In all honesty this weather pattern is completely normal and something we deal with every year. As farmers with deadlines we sometimes become impatient or frustrated when the weather does'nt cooperate. It is what it is, you can't fight it, better to just chill. In a couple of weeks it will be a faded memory.

Our annual plant sale is coming upon us quickly, Saturday April 24th 9:00 til 5:00 Good times, plants, pizza, music, it's all good.

Take care friends,

Farmer John

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