View from the Tractor
What a difference a day can make. Just yesterday, we were dealing with scorching heat all week, and now we're facing flood watches and a forecast of an inch of rain with temperatures in the 60s. Currently, it's 58 degrees with a light mist of rain – a welcome change from the extreme heat and the forecasted heavy rains. It seems like this is the 2023 version of a middle ground.
I'm happy to report that the variety of produce available for your shares is expanding. This is a hopeful sign, which is something we really need right now. This year has presented its fair share of challenges due to the weather, affecting plant health and yield. This week, I've been particularly concerned about this. During our first bell pepper harvest in the pepper fields, I noticed that most of the peppers had lost their flowers.
After consulting with my mentor and conducting thorough research, it appears that a stress event occurred about three to four weeks ago, causing the flowers to drop. My best guess is that the drastic temperature shift – from lows in the mid-40s to highs in the upper 90s – prompted the plants to take a break. This setback will likely impact our yield and it's another hurdle for the farm. However, while inspecting the fields in the past few days, I found a glimmer of hope. The plants are starting to produce flowers again. While it might be too late in the season for the peppers to fully develop, it's reassuring to see the plants looking healthier.
On a positive note, our melons are nearly ready. If the weather warms up this week, we're hoping to start harvesting watermelons for week 13 of the season. With any luck, cantaloupes will follow soon after.
Another source of optimism comes from our new farmers who have joined the team recently. I'm excited to welcome Tori, Brittany, Miguel, and Miriam, with Ariel set to join next week. This is a great addition to the farm!
With gratitude,
The Farmers at Kilt Farm
Fruit Share
This week we will be enjoying a large bags of Nectarines. Here is a little run down on Nectarines.
Nectarines are smaller than most peaches. They also have thin, smoother skin and firmer flesh. Peaches have thicker, fuzzy skin and softer flesh.
The term “nectar” refers to sugary fluids secreted by plants. Hence, many people claim that nectarines are sweeter than peaches, despite their slightly lower sugar content.
When it comes to sweetness, the type of flesh and overall ripeness matter most.
We will have StarFire Nectarines available in the add on section for those that do not have a fruit share.
Thank you so much for being a member of the farm. We can't do it with out you.
