The weather this week has been perfect for outdoor work. With mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 20s, conditions are just right for field activities. By mid-morning, a light breeze helps to clear away any remaining overnight dew, making it great for harvesting.
Our winter squash seem to be in the home stretch! Many of our acorn squash and pumpkins have developed hardy skins and are quickly turning darker. The butternut squash are still a bit green, but they're a good size and should soon be turning their familiar shade of beige. We even have a few spaghetti squash yellowing up nicely.
Celery
During an exceptionally hot week in May, with temperatures reaching the 30s and no rain in sight, we faced a challenge. May is a key month for us—it's when we transplant many garden staples like zucchini, tomatoes, and celery.
The heatwave took a heavy toll on our young celery plants. Of the nearly 1,000 we had planted, we lost a large portion. Once the hot spell passed, we moved our 100 backup celery plants into the garden and have been carefully watering them ever since.
Though it's not the bumper crop we had hoped for, we're happy to report that this week's shares will include some of our homegrown celery.
Leek Check-In
The leeks are growing well and have room to get even bigger. This is our second year cultivating them, and we've experimented with a new transplanting method. We planted the leek starters deep into 5-6 inch holes, leaving only 1-2 inches above the soil.
Several months on, this technique has resulted in a long, blanched white stem. We believe this will improve both the quality and quantity of the harvest. Instead of using landscape fabric, we've also switched to open beds, aiming for a quicker harvest. Expect to see leeks ready for your fall soups in a few weeks.
This Week's CSA Share
Salad Mix
Carrot
Yellow Onion
Zucchini
Green Onion
Cherry Tomatoes
Large Tomatoes
Radish
Celery
Basil
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