Autumn is as joyful and sweet as an untimely end.”
Remy de Gourmont
Season Turning
We received a wonderful inch of rain last Saturday during the night time hours. We had not really gotten any substantial moisture for 2 months from mid July – mid September. We are still dry, but may get in on some showers tomorrow evening again. We could use several more inches of rain.
September seems to be that month when we turn the corner from summer into the fall season. The nights get appreciably cooler, the daylight increasing diminishes from day to day, and at some point we get a frost. These changes dramatically affect the crops in the field:
- Basil and cucumbers will die with the first hint of frost
- Hot weather crops like beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and corn grow very slowly and will be killed by a moderate to heavy frost
- Weed growth also slows way down and yippeee to that
- Cool weather crops become vibrant and green with enough moisture
- Many crops like brussel sprouts, carrots, parsnips, broccoli, cabbage and winter squashes even become sweeter after a frost or two as their sugars become more concentrated
- Most of the lettuce and Asian greens need row cover as a frost protection
- The vines of squashes, melons and sweet potatoes begin to dry up
- Deer like to eat the middle of the lettuces and the beet greens
The crops that will be harvested and go into the boxes also change as we move away from the summer produce and into the fall crops. Many of these we have had early in the spring, but many find home in the Autumn season only: namely, rutabaga, brussel sprouts, leeks, parsnips, winter squashes, pumpkin, celeriac, and popcorn.
I am a true Midwesterner, and farmer I guess, in the sense that I love the changes of the seasons. It also adds interest to the management of the fields and the production of crops. Autumn has always been my favorite season!
Farmer notes
- Apples are a few Sweet 16 and Honey Crisp to only ½ shares
- Eggplant and Pac Choy are only in the full share boxes
- This is the final dill and basil deliveries
- You will see Cascade baking potatoes in each of the remaining boxes
- Roma tomatoes the next few weeks are great in salads or for salsa
- Next week will bring fennel, green beans, lettuce and carrots
- Use dill with the cucumbers or with potatoes
- Onions are sweet and great with peppers, basil, tomatoes etc.
- Wash all of your crops before consumption
- Remember the Harvest Gathering Sat. October 5th from 2 – 8
Link to: Produce list-notes-recipes
