All these warm days are bringing us loads and loads of summer squash and zucchini! When temps soar, summer squash plants grow fruit so fast we can barely keep up. On the farm we pick summer squash three times a week in order to keep a relatively consistent, prime size of squashes, and on that day when two days have gone by we still get some that are too big for sale and the crew or the chickens get a treat.
Did you know that chickens love summer squash, and they prefer them big and seedy if possible. However, if you don't break them open, the girls can't seem to figure out how to get to the good stuff and they go relatively untouched.
Our pollinators have been busy as well bringing lots of pollen and nectar back to their hives, and helping to pollinate our squash. If squash go unpollinated the fruits may abort, or they grow in funny bumpy or torpedo shapes. Thankfully we've got plenty of busy helpers this time of year, pollinating our flowers and storing their own food for the long Central Oregon winter.
We're also excited to bring back plentiful basil into boxes this week. We've had a hard time with basil this year, many of our early sowings got inundated with little leafhoppers and other tiny insects that suck all the life out of a small plant. We finally got them under control, when we have dire pest issues, we like to use cold-pressed Neem Oil as a leaf polish, which is very safe for humans and animals, and even insect predators as it is only toxic to insects that munch on the leaves. Usually one application is enough, as it gives the plant a chance to build up its own immune system and restores the balance between beneficial and detrimental insects. Now pest free and loving the warm weather, we can all enjoy plenty of basil with our tomatoes.
We hope you're looking forward to somewhat cooler temps this week, I know we are!
All the best,
Ashley and Caleb
