Starting to Feel Like Summer

The first CSA pick up is only two and a half weeks away. I hope everyone is excited for fresh and delicious produce! Here is a quick update on what is happening at the farm. 

The tomatoes and peppers are starting to bloom. 

We focused a lot of energy this week on building the second hoophouse. The construction is complete and we are just waiting for the wind to calm so we can attach the plastic cover. Wahoo! The plan is to fill this house with more heirloom tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplant, cucumbers and a few flowers.

Earlier in the month we planted a small berry patch! It includes 5 different varieties of strawberries, 3 varieties of raspberries and a couple blackberries for good measure. The strawberries took off right away and are looking very strong and the raspberries and blackberries (also known as brambles) are justing starting to pop up.

The garlic planted last fall is looking great. 

And the salad greens and pac choi are growing quickly and should be ready to harvest soon. 

Busy Busy

Hello everyone! 

The last few days have been overcast and windy with a little rain and hail mixed in. The thermometer at the garden read 28 degrees this morning. Brr! I was nervous to check on the newly transplanted tomatoes and peppers in the greenhouse after such a cold night... but was delighted to find they stayed pretty warm under fabric covers.

I transplanted the first 44 tomatoes into the greenhouse a week ago and they are starting to get comfortable in their new home. Mmm, hopefully we will be enjoying tomatoes from these plants at the end of July! Don't worry, it will be here before you know it. 

I spent Friday morning seeding cucurbits, which got a little crazy as I was way to excited about the task at hand. There are so many different and delicious varieties, I just couldn't help but seed too many. Melons, winter squash, cucumbers and zucchini are all seeded in trays and starting to germinate. 

We have had a couple setbacks this spring. Some creepy crawlers have been eating the roots of certain crops (spinach, peas, onions) causing the plants to wilt and die. I did a little investigating in the soil and determined they are some kind of root maggot. These little buggers are driving me bonkers but hopefully the beneficial insects I added recently will help keep them in check. Time will tell.  Lucky for us the early bed of spinach is still looking great and ready to be harvested soon! 

Welcome the newest addition to the farm!

We have have been busy designing and constructing this beautiful hoophouse over the last couple weeks. Bending pipe, pounding posts in the ground, framing the sides, building doors, etc. The excitement was growing and growing as one piece after another came together. As we made the last finishing touches on Monday I was VERY anxious to attach the plastic cover, but with a steady breeze blowing through we decided it was best to wait. 

I kept myself busy with some seeding and irrigation projects throughout the afternoon and around 7 p.m. the air became very still. With a little motivating and the help of my brother and sister-in-law we went for it. It look a lot of team work and a little finesse, but we finished just as it was getting dark.

I squealed and jumped around in excitement as I stepped inside. It feels great to have this complete and ready for planting.   I cannot wait to fill the beds with heirloom tomatoes, peppers, basil, and eggplant. Mmm, I can smell summer now. 

The hoophouse had her first wind test on Tuesday, as we had over 40 mph gusts at the farm! She held strong and is hopefully built to withstand the Colorado weather. What should we name her? 

Last night was COLD! 17 degrees in May seems a bit chilly if you ask me? Luckily the tomato and pepper plants are tucked away upstairs in the barn (with a fireplace). We stoked the fire yesterday and made the plants think they live in the tropics. Soon enough they'll realize they live in Colorado. Soon enough. 

We have spinach, salad greens, snow peas, snap peas and fava beans all planted and starting to germinate outside. With the cold temps coming I covered these beds with hoops and fabric to keep them a little bit warmer.

The plan is to transplant kale, bok choi, chard, kohlrabi and head lettuce starts soon. 

Its May people, which means, we need to plant as much as possible between now and June 15th. Go time!