Been a while, long past time to post something. Our facebook page gets updated more often, due to the fact of it's ease- snap a couple pictures, write a few words, and it's done. Even if you are not a fb subscriber, you can view our page here.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Niemelas-Market-Gardens/423815084449330
I took a spin around this evening, and wanted to share some pictures with you. Been a nice busy summer, weather has been good, other than trying to work in the mid-90s with high humidity stretch we had for a while there. :) Days like that, about mid-day, I'd usually give up all pretense, loaded up the family, and head for Keweenaw Bay. Not good to work out in the sun when it's that hot.
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| Baby butternut squash. |
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| Delicata squash. |
We put in a bunch of winter squash this year, in what is called the north field. So tasty in the nippy fall days to sit down to some baked squash with whatever else is for supper. My lovely and gracious wife Janice says they are good as is (and they are); I still think, just like most things can be improved with bacon, any winter squash that's already good can be improved with a puddle of butter and brown sugar in the hollow. :)
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| "Leeking" a secret here..... |
We planted a bunch of leeks this season. I like crops that like my soil, aren't too demanding, tolerate frosts, and are popular with our customers. Leeks definitely fit that description, so we put in quite a bit more than last season.
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| Jerusalem artichokes, a.k.a. Sunchokes |
We put in some of these in a section of the garden. I've had a couple places where they've been growing neglected for a while, but this year we put some in an area where we can take care of them. It was a bit risky, since they are reputed to be almost impossible to eradicate if you want them gone. But I get kind of used to living on the edge, I guess. :) My daddy once said if you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space. :) If they get to be a problem, I'll run the piggies through them and let them root 'em out. God gave pigs a snout for a reason, and they love to use it.
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| Brussels sprouts starting to go.... |
About early September or so, we'll go down the brussels sprout rows and cut out the growing point, and cause them to finish up the ones that are formed, rather than keep growing taller and taller.
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| Cilantro becoming coriander. :) |
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| Oscarde lettuce we are letting go to seed for next season. |
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| Climbing Sungold tomatoes...... |
These plants are getting to the end of their ropes, literally. Pruned and twirled up strings, some of them are starting to hit the top of the greenhouse. If I had a bit more forethought, when I hung the strings, I would've left some extra hanging at the top. But not too big of a problem, I'll just add on some pieces to the top of the string, untie them, let them down a couple feet or so, and they can keep growing up. The stems that are sagging on the ground supposedly just root in the bed. They've set loads of fruit, some of which has been trickling onto the market tables.....
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| Dill weed. |
Put in a couple small late plantings of dill, for fresh herb use. The earlier plantings are starting to look like the next picture, which is wonderful for picklin', but not so nice for sprinkling over fresh-dug new potatoes. (Which, incidentally, we should start having on the market tables next week.)
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| Almost dill seed... |
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| Yellow crookneck squash. |
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| Starfighter lettuce. |
In order to have lettuce all summer, you need to sow all summer. This is a new one I'm trying, a little bit darker green leaf type than the lighter green summer crisp we've had. Fun to change it up once in a while, and try new varieties. We'll be planting lettuces for whole-head harvest probably to the end of August, the later plantings will finish up growing in the tunnels.
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| Part of my "office", where I get to hang out during the summer. :) |
The weedy patch in the foreground is part of the old herb garden, which has since moved up in the world. (Wrote about it in earlier posts.) I'm gonna run the two piggies we are raising for the table through it, and plant hopefully next year. Pigs are wonderful to use for working rough areas for next season planting; they love to root, and don't even know they are doing our work for us. :)
A couple weeks back, after Saturday morning market, we went to Fort Wilkins to catch a little of the War Between The States era re-enactments. Fort Wilkins is always fun to visit, especially to see how they lived in days gone by. I found the general store (among many of the other buildings) to be quite quaint. If you have never been to Fort Wilkins, it's definitely a good stop.
Well, I better run along. Y'all take care now, and eat your veggies. :)
