Ok, time to update my predictions for the season that I made in last week’s newsletter. As you may recall, I thought that some of the transplanted spring crops will be in shorter supply than usual. I need to update this prediction. Why? Because on Saturday and Sunday mornings we had below freezing temperatures here. Now normally this would not be a problem with the early crops; they are frost tolerant. But normally frosty temps are followed by cool to normal temps, NOT 96 DEGREE TEMPS! And as the capitalization implies, this is not a good thing.
Typically during the spring we have a few days in the 90s. This by itself will not significantly impact the production of cool season crops. But usually these 90 degree temps are preceded by normal or near normal temps, NOT BELOW FREEZING TEMPS! And as the capitalization implies, this also is not a good thing.
And to add to the capitalizations, early spring crops normally are not subjected to BLAST FURNACE STYLE WINDS with a relative humidity index IN THE NEGATIVE NUMBERS! The heat and wind are sucking all available moisture out of the ground and out of the plants! Their poor little roots can’t keep up. Now if they had been planted and growing for weeks this may not be a problem; it wouldn’t be great but it wouldn’t be horrible. Having these poor little recently transplanted plants subjected to this level of stress, to put it mildly, is a bit of a problem.
So my prediction that spring transplanted early season crops will be delayed and less abundant isn’t quite accurate. In fact, with the BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY THE OVER 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURES and the BLAST FURNACE WINDS we will have even fewer early season spring planted crops. Plants just aren’t designed to be transplanted, then subjected to temperature fluctuations of 65+degrees in a little more than 48 hours! Weeds on the other hand don’t seem to be negatively affected. So some of our little transplants may meet an early demise. This might be a good time to mention the fine print about crop failures…
Anyway, we put the sprinklers on the crops starting with what we felt were most susceptible – lettuce – and moved them to other susceptible plants as the day/week progresses. It is looking more positive as the week goes on with the weather forecast to be closer to normal and significantly cooler. Hopefully this will save them. Only time will tell.
On a positive note it seems like it will be a good week to transplant warm season crops. However, with this random spring it is a little frightening to put something in the ground that will parish in freezing weather. Is it possible to have frost after we hit 96 degrees? Let’s hope not.
Other than all hell breaking loose here on the farm things are going quite well.
A couple announcements:
We have free-range eggs available at the farm. If you are interested please let me know. Price is $5/dozen. Supplies are limited.
We still have shares available. Tell all your neighbors, friends, relatives and co-workers.
We are still taking orders for all other shares (egg, cheese, fruit, salmon, etc.)
Payment for your shares is due unless you made other arrangements.