Squelch Squerch Squelch Squerch Squelch Squerch!

In 13 years we've not seen such a healthy and consistent potato patch. It's been hilled/cultivated twice. Many variables affect the success of crops but here we'll thank the chemical, biological, and physical properties of the soil in this field, good dry weather after seed potatoes were planted, and subsequent plentiful rainfall while plants have been growing up and out in raised beds.

At least it didn't snow, hail, tornado, hurricane, tidal wave last week. Four more inches of rain dropped including a midweek flash flood event (2" in about an hour). Fields are squishy squashy and are unable to hold any additional water. The slow 1.3" received Friday was immediately discharged into waterways. Mostly fields and crops are tolerating the inundation well except for areas newly bed shaped where soil is fully exposed. Those areas give me heartache when I see soil washed downhill, downstream. Soil is a farmers most cherished resource and losing any always makes me feel plenty guilty.

But no need to dwell on the negatives! Soon we'll depart this current weather pattern and will return to blue sky, ample sunshine, low humidity, and dry soil. At least we hope!

Crops are doing really well and harvests have been great. Very soon summer's bounty will descend and we'll be enjoying fresh cherry tomatoes, homemade salsa, grilled zucchini and eggplant, cool cucumber salad, sweet carrots, and fresh cabbage slaw. This week we welcome beets, garlic scapes, and zucchini. Zucchini will probably start at a trickle and in the not too distant future you'll be giving it away.

As soon we can get into the fields again we have a lot of areas to cultivate, mow, and weed whack as we try to beat back the unwanted plants that are thoroughly enjoying the hot wet weather. But we do appreciate them growing in our aisles to keep our precious soil in place!

Last week we transplanted sweet potatoes, the second and final round of tomatoes, and weekly lettuces, beans, and edamame. This coming week the final rounds of watermelon and cantaloupe will be transplanted. There'll be the ever-so-slight reduction in weekly transplanting until late summer and fall harvested crops begin to go in but there'll be so much else to do that we won't even feel it.

Please remember to wear appropriate footwear when doing u-pick!