Let Harvest Season Begin!

But harvest season is just beginning! Allow me to list a few of the things that we will be picking within the next week or so: squash, zucchini, cucumbers, okra, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, radishes, beets, basil, chives, peppers, turnips and green beans. By the end of June or early July we will add sweet corn, peas, cantaloupe and watermelon to the list. We will have so much produce coming out of the field we will forget all about strawberries!

This is the first year that we have tried growing fresh herbs and, so far, I would say it’s been a success! The basil is growing more and more each day. It’s my favorite part of the field to walk through because it smells so heavenly. Added bonus of growing basil: bugs tend to stay away from the area. Next year I might have to grow basil around the entire field and won’t have to worry about pests at all! I can dream… If you would rather have basil all season, we do have small basil plants available at the store. Put them in a sunny window or out on your porch and they will provide you will smells and flavor all season long!

Everything else in the garden is looking great too! The tomatoes are growing as fast as I’ve ever seen. We have already started to harvest some of the early tomatoes we put in the greenhouse and they are as big and tasty as ever. The field tomatoes shouldn’t be far behind. We will be eating tomato sandwiches in no time! I know the term ‘greenhouse tomato’ is a bad word but it really shouldn’t be. If the tomatoes are vine-ripened, they will be just as good as a fresh field tomato. None of our tomatoes, whether they are from the greenhouse or the field, are artificially ripened. We allow the tomatoes to ripen naturally so they will always be full of flavor. Local tomatoes are better tomatoes.

Squash and zucchini are coming in quick! Every day they seem to produce more. We have plenty available at the store right now. If you are a Farm Fresh Ventures subscriber, try out the great zucchini recipe included in your box this week. It won’t disappoint.