Into August We Go

Today's weather feels like the best we've had in weeks. I'm very much looking forward to working with some dry soil early this week, getting the ground ready for more of our fall plantings. After being unable to do much with the soil last week due to the perpetual cloud cover, humidity, and cool weather which kept the ground moist, we did manage to transplant the 2nd round of broccoli, the first rounds of kale, beets, and chard, as well as the weekly lettuce planting on Friday afternoon.

We're also beginning to clean up spring and early summer crops and sow cover crops. Buckwheat was sown a couple of weeks ago where strawberries, kale, kohlrabi, cabbage, and lettuces once grew. Because of all the rain and heat and sun it's already 2 feet tall. Soon it will be covered in smelly flowers attracting all types of pollinating insects. Before it drops seed we'll incorporate it into the soil as a 'green manure' and then sow another cover crop, either an overwintering one like crimson clover or a winter killed one like daikon radish and oats. Very soon we'll embark on the potato harvest, which will be collected over a month or so.

Watermelons were retrieved last week and should be in the harvest for a few weeks. In about 2-3 weeks our 2nd planting of watermelon should be ready, as well as our cantaloupes, if all goes well. At the end of August the early varieties of winter squash should begin to grace our tables as well. Hooray for good food!