Though officially Summer goes right into the end of September for many the unofficial end of Summer comes with the end of August. Perhaps it is ingrained in our minds because of the school year but there is no denying that with the month of September, cooler weather and shorter days are arriving. For four season growers like ourselves the change in light and weather means the count down is on to prep and plant for the seasons to come. We’ve already seeded the last of the carrots that will be enjoyed by you and us all Winter long, some 1,500 row feet or so. And now it is time to turn our attention to our good friend spinach. Before we know it we’ll be replacing the summer crops like tomatoes, melons, beans, peppers and eggplant that now fill the tunnels with cold hardy veg that will thrive through the Fall and Winter.
But before we go too far into the tales and plans for cool weather growing let’s live a little more in the moment and talk about some sweet crops of Summer. Having the majority of the back fields at SLGNW in Middlefield now in production has allowed us to grow more of what we love and experiment. This Spring we relocated the caterpillar tunnels to Middlefield to plant a second succession on cherry tomatoes. These along with an actual outdoor uncovered planting are just beginning to produce and should take off soon just as the first early planting is dying out. We’ve planted more melons than ever before and the peppers oh the peppers. Determined to make up for the less than stellar pepper production of the past Jen set out to give the tunnel planted with peppers nearly as much attention as is given to the tomatoes. The result is stunning plants that are 5 or more feet tall and producing a more constant and regular harvest instead of simply one big flush. Another thing the extra space out back gives us is a chance for some larger scale cover cropping, not only keeping the weeds under control but protecting the soil and fostering more complex soil biology all of which will translate to better veg and better health. Despite all the hard work it is tough not to be excited for the future of SLG as we continue to grow and refine what we do.
Have a Great Week