Sorry, No Jerry Lewis Telethon for Me

I have so much to do. I usually consider Labor Day as a real LABOR WEEKEND. A three day weeding, mowing, planting and hoping marathon. I am really behind with lot's of it!

This weekend I am hoping I can get some of my broccoli and cauliflower transplanted. It should have been done 3 weeks ago, but the plants weren't ready and with triple digit heat, I couldn't make myself do it. SO, we will go with plan B. Transplant them inside one of the hoop buildings instead of outside. I hope it works.

I already have 1,100 square feet of carrots started. They aren't as thick as I would like, however the weeds are really trying to make a go of it. MUST WEED if I want anything.

The peppers are coming out way early. They were a complete bust. Between getting them in probably too early, aphid problem and then record heat. I wrote most of them off and gave up. I kept watering them, but weeding went to the way side. I am going to rip them out along with the weeds and get ready for spinach. Probably not plant it, but get it ready to go.

I have 1400-1500 plants started in the basement to go out, but not until it cools off some. Maybe next week.

However, I do have some fall projects taking off. I have a late fall planting of tomatoes going well. I hope to be picking a few by Sept 20-25th.





A fall planting of zucchini is going nuts. I was hoping to start harvesting it by September 15th. I started picking on the 28th of August, 50 pounds first picking. Exactly 30 days after planting the seeds. I am amazed what a hoop house can help you do!






I am trying out some new varieties of Tumbling Tomatoes in hanging baskets for next year. This was a last minute thing. Last minute being early July. They will be ready late October. I should be able to keep them going until mid November without much problem.



I have two 40 foot beds of Radishes and Turnips. The radishes are getting close, but they are a little spicy.



The Okra is going crazy. I am picking about 20 pounds each picking. I pick it every 2 days or 3 days a week.




Winter squash is going well. We have lots to pick, but the vines are starting to die. It has been dry and hot. It doesn't seem to matter how much water we put out, they are just slowing down.

We harvested these two little cuties this week. They aren't quite ready, but they are close. The one on the left is a Sweet Dumpling and the one on the right is Delictia.



This was from a few weeks ago.



The velvet leaf has started back, I am giving up on it and just focused on water and harvest.

Sweet potatoes are doing well. We have been digging them for two weeks now and they are selling great. We started to dig the Georgia Jets. They can get really big and they crack a lot, if not careful.



We started some spinach and lettuce outside. They are growing, but grasshoppers love spinach. They leave the lettuce alone for the most part. I am going to have to replant the spinach, but I knew that might happen. I didn't get it covered in time, oops!

Still need to get out, Napa Cabbage, Green Cabbage, Red Cabbage, Green Kale, Red Kale, Spinach, Green onions, Bok Choy, Flat leaf Parsly, Cilantro, Romaine lettuce, 7 other types of lettuce, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Radishes, Turnips and maybe some Arugula.

Here is to a busy labor day.

Sorry, No Jerry Lewis Telethon for Me

Winter Squash, Update

Today I was able to get to Abilene and get some much needed weeding done. I use the term "Weeding" very lightly, more like thinning. I know there are going to be weeds, I am ok with this. I am just trying to reduce the number of weeds by 75% or more.

So, I thought I would share some pictures to tell the story.

BEFORE


AFTER a 4.5 hour weeding marathon.



AFTER on the other side


The squash is doing great. Lots of blooms and lots of squash are set on. Here are some pictures to give you an idea.

Acorn



Butternut



Spaghetti



Delictica



Sweet Dumpling



I picked one Acorn squash, just to see how it is doing. The rind is hard and can't be punctured. I think it could use another week or two, but we will see.




I hope to be picking the Spaghetti and Acorn by the end of August. The rest should be ready by mid to late September.

Winter Squash, Update

Thinking of Cooler Weather

It is hard to think of cooler days and snow on the ground when it is 110 outside and rain hasn't fallen in weeks. Luckily, we have gotten some rain and I hope we will be able to follow that up with some cooler weather. But don't worry, cooler weather will get here. It always does.

What does that mean with our garden and high tunnels, it means it is time to start to transition to planting and starting seedlings. We started hundreds of Broccoli, Cauliflower, Napa Cabbage, Hanging basket tomatoes two weeks ago. This week we will be starting lettuce, cabbage, more Napa Cabbage, Bok Choy, Kale, and direct seeding green onions. This week we have put in the final planting of Zucchini and started 5 beds of carrots.

What will we have to offer this fall and winter. We are planning on having the following crops growing into this fall and winter.

Until it Freezes Outside:
Cucumbers, Okra, Zucchini, Green Beans, and Peppers.

Until Thanksgiving time (earlier or later depending on the weather)
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Tomatoes, Cherry tomatoes, peppers, and Zucchini

Until Christmas:
Romaine, Rouge D'Hiver Red Romaine, Red and Green Salad Bowl Lettuce, Red Sails, Black-Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, and Winter Density, All-Star Salad Mix, Tatsoi, Space and Tyee Spinach, Rubicon Napa Cabbage, Green and Red Cabbage, Winterbor Kale, Red Russian Kale, Napoli and Amarillio Carrots, Haikuri Turnips, Everbunching and Guardsman Green Onions, Lancelot Leeks, and Radishes.

Until we run out:
All lettuces, Carrots, Green Onions, Leeks and Spinach.

This year we also will be offering the following crops from storage:

Butternut, Acorn, Spaghetti, Delicita and Sweet Dumpling Winter Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Onions, Potatoes (maybe the heat has done some damage) Jams and Jellies, and Pork.


I hope it will be a productive fall. I know it is going to be challenging to get crops started, but I will pull out every trick in the book to make things work! I don't give up very easily and I always find a way to make things work. Sure there may be some late nights, early mornings and lots of weeds to pull but the best thing of all is to see the look on everyone's face when we deliver our orders and see the smiles of happy customer receiving the freshest, best tasting and healthiest food possible. It makes all the work worth while!

Stay Cool!

Thinking of Cooler Weather

Moving on Down the Line

Today was moving day for M1.  This year we added another growing location for our movable buildings.  I finished the rails and slid the tunnel on down the hill. So far this year M1 has covered the home of Carrots (over wintered), Onions, Zucchini, now Tomatoes then Carrots to over winter.

Moving on Down the Line

More Round Zucchini

There comes a point in August where the amount of zucchini produced is greater than the need. You know, the point when the kids have a "chuck the squash" competition? Well, we aren't there yet.

But, we are having fun playing with the different shaped zucchini. People ask me which type of zucchini I use the most, and the answer is always, "whatever is left after market." Lately, that has been the round zucchini. Despite their great taste and fun shape, and because the plants are very prolific right now, we come home with mostly eight-ball, one-ball, and cue-ball zucchini. I think customers are just too afraid to try something new, when the ol' standby zucchini is right there and just as delicious.

You can use round zucchini the same way you use the "normal" zucchini. Shred it and bake bread, muffins, or cookies. Slice it and fry with your favorite spices. Saute it with just about any meat and a tomato-based sauce. Grill it with a little olive oil and top with shredded cheese. You are only limited by your imagination, and maybe your family's taste buds.

For all those who are brave enough to try them but not brave enough to go forward without a map, here are a few recipes specifically for the round zucchini:

Provençal Stuffed Zucchini

Herbed-Stuffed Zucchini 

Balsamic Stuffed Round Zucchini

Zucchini Rounds

Zucchini Parmesan Crisps

And, Kalyn's Kitchen lists ten zucchini recipes. If that doesn't get your imagination cooking, nothing will.

More Round Zucchini