Corn update: Aug 6th

 cool nights = slow ripening corn
  unfortunately, not ripe enough for us to pick for the weds market
Thursday we'll be on Nicollet mall; 9th and Nicollet
 10am to 3pm

8/2/13 Sweet Corn update

  This weekend
  Saturday only
   Minneapolis Farmer's market 6am-1pm
   Mill City Farmer's market 8am-1pm
  nice corn
  come early, buy often

Sweet corn report, July 26th
  the corn looks good; we're going to start picking Weds July 31st
the market schedule will look like this:

Weds, UofMn Farmer's market, Church street, 11am-2pm
Thurs, Nicollet Mall market, 10am-3pm
Sat, Minneapolis Farmer's market 6am-1pm
      Mill City Farmer's market 8am-1pm
Sunday, Minneapolis Farmer's market 6am-1pm

see you soon!!!

t

the nice weather has really brought the crops around.  the melons have more than quadrupled in size in the last week. 
  the sweet corn looks good and i there's a chance we'll have some ripe enough for the sunday minneapolis farmers market.
  stay tuned.

July 8th crop report

    finally starting to see silk in the sweet corn.  that means ripe corn in about 20 days; hopefully the weekend of July 27/28.   that's about 10 days later than normal.
  the corn crop is uneven, but improving with the warm weather and adequate moisture. 
   the last 10 days of hot dry weather has really benefited the vines; especially the melons.
the melons are just starting to set fruit now, so i expect the first ripe ones the middle of August.  about the same with tomatoes.
  19 varieties of melons
  50 varieties of tomatoes (yes 50)
   

crop report june 22

 i can not remember a season this difficult for getting crops planted.  i think most crops will be 10 days later than normal; at least.
  as soon as i could see pumpkin planting would be delayed, i started 2000 pumpkins and squash in trays for transplant; hopefully this coming week.
  i think this year soil compaction and weeds will be a constant battle.  thankfully, there's the 1949 Farmall C for close cultivation and breaking up the soil.  that tractor is going to get a lot of use this year.
  storm damage last night to crops was surprisingly minimal.  a lot of corn got blown down, however, at this stage, it will all stand up again.
  

  we sure need heat and sun.  however, a cloudy day is nice for transplanting.  we put the first melons out yesterday.  the clouds make for an easier transition for that little plant.  we'll transplant at least two more times. 10 days apart.  hopefully we'll get some heat and have melons early august.

  Finally back to planting today after more than two weeks of wet weather.  I'm behind by a couple weeks.  As a result, there is more to do in the next couple weeks than can be done.  So I'll pick away at it and hope.
   In spite of the wet cool weather, the early plantings have progressed nicely.   They'll need cultivation soon.  First i have to get some pumpkins and squash planted.

I attended an incredible bee class at the UofMN saturday.
 We are fortunate to have great research and instruction in our state.
 People came from as far as New York to attend.

  i'm not thrilled about snow in April, however, it does mean i few more days of sap run before the buds come out and its over.  so that's ok.
 i suspect the first planting of sweet corn will be on schedule; April 25th is my target date

Spring!!! syrup, bees, seeds

    for me, spring starts when the sap starts to run
    it started today
     bees to feed
    seeds arrive daily
  life is grand
      

It was nice and warm yesterday, so I went out to feed the bees before the cold snap.
All colonies are alive and doing well.  All boiling out the top, so the timing was right for giving them sugar cakes. 
   Our sales of honey have gradually increased.  We need more colonies.  I hope all will survive so we can split them in the spring instead of buying more.
  We grew buckwheat in the fall, partly for manure crop, and partly for the bees so they could go into the winter healthier and happier.  At this point it seems to have paid off.