It's been another crazy busy week around here; between crops coming in early (never would have even expected that to be a possibility after the way the season started, go figure!) and the usual rush to get things planted before fall is upon us (the greenhouse is nearly empty at this point - unfortunately that means that summer won't be here forever!), we're keeping busy, to say the least!
This upcoming week is going to be another busy one. It looks like it's about time to get the garlic harvested and curing. This daylong process involves digging the garlic then moving it to a barn to be spread out to dry for the next several weeks, before the tops are removed, roots are trimmed and the bulbs are graded and cleaned - garlic sure is one of the neediest crops. This time of year it's always tough to find an entire day to dedicate to tasks like this, but it is time sensitive, otherwise the bulbs can split if we wait too long, so we simply have to make the time to get it done. Plus, in another week or two, we have crops planned for the garlic beds, so the garlic needs to be out so we can get the new crops in.
This week we'll also begin harvesting more of our potatoes. Last year we learned a bit more about a disease called potato scurf, which is basically a fungus that grows on the surface of the potatoes. While harmless, the hard, black specks sure make the potatoes a bit less appealing. Come to find out, as the plants begin to mature and die, the scurf goes to work, which is some great info to know, because in the past, we used to mow down the tops of the plants to help toughen up the skins of the potatoes. While it does toughen the skins, it also encourages the growth of the scurf, so we were defeating the whole purpose. This year, we've been monitoring the potatoes much more closely to avoid these issues, and while we didn't dig all of the potatoes until the end of August last year, we've already started harvesting them this season to try to avoid these issues. While it presents a bit of scheduling challenge, it's sure better than wasted potatoes!
Well, off to make a plan for the week, looks like it's going to be a busy one! Hope everyone has a good week!
-Brendan & Greta
