So summer is almost over and you may think, that's the end of fresh vegetables. If you think that, you would be wrong. In fact the Fall season has more options to grow vegetables. It is a lot easier to grow in the Fall. One reason is the ground temperature is already warm. Which means if you direct seed in the ground, they will germinate faster. In the spring time, the soil temps can vary from day to day depending on how many cold fronts come down. A lot of the warm season crops need a soil temp in the 70's. And we definitely have that plus some in September. Another thing about Fall is you can grow just about everything that you do in the Spring plus the cooler weather crops.
You just need to keep in mind that once a frost hits, the warm weather crops are done. Unless you cover them. Lots of crops for the Fall can take mild freezes and some even taste better after a frost hits them.
Here's some of what we plant during the Fall: Summer Squashes, Pumpkins, Cukes, Potatoes, Onions, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Acorn Squash, Butternut, Spaghetti Squash, English peas, Yard long beans, Lettuce, Kale, Swiss Chards, Arugula, Cabbage, Nappa, Bok Choi, Spinach, Carrots, Turnip Greens, Mustard Greens, Apples, Persimmons and many more.
It's always my favorite time of the year.
Here is a problem that happens every year as schools start back. Yesterday, a local Rancher was reaching out to us for assistance in selling his meats. He was stating how slow it is for him. I'm pretty sure this is his full time job and his only source of income. We told him that it's the same for us too. I'm not real sure why so many people stop buying fresh, local meats and produce. Maybe because of the activities that are going on with school, people in general just don't cook as much. Just a guess on my part. But I do know that if a fresh market goes out business, it's this time of year. We have been doing Handyman jobs during the Fall and Winter to hold us over. Without the Handyman jobs we wouldn't be able to keep farming. I don't know if the Rancher has a back up plan to keep income coming in. But he will probably need to soon. I appreciate everyone that continues to buy from us year round. To me, it doesn't make since for so many people to just eat out all the time. This is one reason so many Ranchers and Farmers are forced to stop. You would think after the virus showed how fragile our food supply really is that more people would start growing their own food and or buy from local producers. But what do I know? I'm just a Farmer trying to keep my dream alive.
