Field tomatoes begin! The dark maroon tomatoes with green/brown shoulders are Carbon, and the huge yellow tomatoes with the red starburst pattern are Gin Fizz. They both tend to grow funky, with lots of cracks, scars, and weird shapes, but the strong flavor and juiciness can’t be beat.
This Week’s Share:
Slicing Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes
Red Onions
Summer Squash
Bell Peppers
Garlic
Choice: Tomatillos or Hot/Frying Peppers
Recipe:
Beef Stuffed Pattypan Squash
The summer squash is not quitting anytime soon so lock in people! Try this recipe if you’ve been seeing the pattypan squash on the table but were too unsure to try it before now. The short, round, disc shape of these squash make them ideal for stuffing, and the farm store has loads of ground beef if you need it. This recipe also includes red onion and garlic!
Notes from the Field
Yellow onions are all harvested from the field now along with the red onions! The race is on to get them laid out to cure in the hot greenhouse, then clipped and stored in a cool room, while also harvesting all the shallots and large storage onions out of the field in the next week too. Onions of all types are just a kitchen staple, so we try to grow enough for the entire summer and fall, and some for winter too. We’re also full steam ahead on greenhouse seeding winter crops like brussel sprouts and cabbage, field prepping ground for fall kale and collards, and making sure the last set of fall tomatoes is weed-free and trellised up tall. Back to the field now!
What’s on U-Pick?
Reminder that U-picking hours are Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm. Please do not come to the farm on Sundays, as we do not have staff on site who can be available in case of an emergency. If the main gates are closed when you arrive you can follow the paved road to the right, and then follow the curve of the road back to the left. This will take you in a loop around the main deer-fenced area and up to the wash station/parking lot.
In the raised brick beds, also known as the Cleeland Garden:
Mint
Oregano
Calendula
Parsley
Greek Basil
Sorrel
Thyme, Sage, and Lemon Balm (to allow for healthy growback for these plants, pick the largest leaves from the outside, do not cut from the stem of the plant!)
In field “G” behind the pizza oven/parking lot:
new! Dill
new! Cilantro
new! Parsley
Italian Basil (the classic basil flavor)
Lemon Basil (looks like basil, smells and tastes strongly of lemon)
Thai Basil (dark purple flowers & stems, great for Asian recipes of many kinds)
Holy Basil (light purple flowers and stems, directly behind the Thai Basil, used for calming tea)
Any Flowers: Zinnias, Dianthus, Statice, Gomphrena, Bachelor’s Buttons, Celosia, and Strawflowers are still blooming for a little while longer!