When it all starts
For me, it starts in January. There's equipment to be worked on. Tools to clean. Seed catalogs to browse and a new year to plan for. It's also time to put out the call for CSA signups. The sooner we start signing up folk, the sooner we'll know what we'll need for this year's garden.
February is when I start my seeds in seedling trays. I'll purchase a few from the catalogs [or the local farm supply stores], but the bulk come from seeds I've saved. My Dad got me started on saving seeds; as his father, before him.
I can remember, as a young'n, finding mason jars, full of of beans, tucked away in the walls of an old tobacco barn. We stash 'em in the freezer these days, they keep much longer - years even. B/c I have seeds - doesn't mean I need to plant them all this year. If the ground ain't too wet or cold, sweet corn gets planted.
It generally takes two to three months before plants are ready to set fruit. I prefer to grow my own transplants; saves money. I grow them organically and they won't be set outside, until they are ready. Too often, store-bought transplants are wilted from frost damage, b/c they've been put out [for sale] too early and have no protection from the cold.
March & April is when we start setting out plants. Row covers come in handy for the occasional cold spell.
June, will be the month when it's time for y'all to stop by for our 2022 CSA. We grow our produce seasonally. Meaning: watermelons in July - not May. Or snow peas in May, but not in August. Everything has it's time and schedule for when it's ready.
July is when it really starts getting hot. Blueberries will be in full production. Honeybees and other pollinators, busy foraging and pollinating. Sweet corn will be coming in... and ooh, those HOT peppers.
August finds us minus blueberries. Their season is past. But other crops are still strong. And there'll be plenty more fruit to pick in the coming months: grapes, figs, apples, pears, mulberries, chinese chestnuts, and persimmons. I consider the end of November to be the conclusion to our harvest season...unless it's a warm winter. But I really like a COLD winter, b/c firewood season, kicks in.
February is when I start my seeds in seedling trays. I'll purchase a few from the catalogs [or the local farm supply stores], but the bulk come from seeds I've saved. My Dad got me started on saving seeds; as his father, before him.
I can remember, as a young'n, finding mason jars, full of of beans, tucked away in the walls of an old tobacco barn. We stash 'em in the freezer these days, they keep much longer - years even. B/c I have seeds - doesn't mean I need to plant them all this year. If the ground ain't too wet or cold, sweet corn gets planted.
It generally takes two to three months before plants are ready to set fruit. I prefer to grow my own transplants; saves money. I grow them organically and they won't be set outside, until they are ready. Too often, store-bought transplants are wilted from frost damage, b/c they've been put out [for sale] too early and have no protection from the cold.
March & April is when we start setting out plants. Row covers come in handy for the occasional cold spell.
June, will be the month when it's time for y'all to stop by for our 2022 CSA. We grow our produce seasonally. Meaning: watermelons in July - not May. Or snow peas in May, but not in August. Everything has it's time and schedule for when it's ready.
July is when it really starts getting hot. Blueberries will be in full production. Honeybees and other pollinators, busy foraging and pollinating. Sweet corn will be coming in... and ooh, those HOT peppers.
August finds us minus blueberries. Their season is past. But other crops are still strong. And there'll be plenty more fruit to pick in the coming months: grapes, figs, apples, pears, mulberries, chinese chestnuts, and persimmons. I consider the end of November to be the conclusion to our harvest season...unless it's a warm winter. But I really like a COLD winter, b/c firewood season, kicks in.