Home Gardeners be advised: as of tomorrow we'll have longer than 14 hours of daylight, the extended forecast provides no evidence of frost, and the calendar says that it's too early to plant! If you need to scratch the itch, however, everything in the cabbage family is okay, along with Potatoes, Onions, Spinach, Lettuce and Chard. Also, the Peas should already be in the ground!
I always ask our new co-workers, "what is our cropping plants' worst enemy"?
The correct answer is WIND. New plantings need to be protected from windy days for a week and a half, and fruiting plants like Tomatoes and Peppers, for two weeks. Fruiting crops should also be covered overnight for temps below 47 degrees. It sounds like a lot of work, but wait until you taste that first bite!
This week I am at the Family Fare parking lot in Eaton Rapids on Wednesday at 12:00 noon, and the Allen Street Farmers Market after that, 3:00-6:00. Thursday afternoon is farm pick-up, and Saturday I am in the parking lot behind FlourChild Bakery, 11:00-12:00 noon. Scheduled deliveries are Saturday afternoon!
Of notice this week, Analyssia, our summer intern arrives Monday, Curators from the MSU Eli Broad Museum will be interviewing us for an upcoming exhibit on food origins, Summer harvest seed sowing will wrap up, our ever steady co-worker Eva passes her driving test, and the feisty trout in the icy streams of Manistee National Forest are daring me to visit. Oh, and the first Asparagus of the season is just days away! Thank you all,
