Planting Malabar Spinach and Looking Forward to Armenian Cucumbers
The end of one crop often marks the beginning of the next one! The kale and squash in these beds is being mown down with our BCS tractor as the first step in our bed preparation process. Once a crop has made it through its life cycle, we leave it in place and mow over it rather than digging it up. This chops up the plant matter which can then be left in place on top of the beds as “green manure”. As the plant decomposes, it adds organic matter back to the soil which is incredibly beneficial for the next crop that will be sown in its place.
Last week we planted one of our summer greens: Malabar spinach! Though not a true spinach, the succulent leaves of this tropical plant have a mild flavor similar to spinach. Malabar spinach (pictured above) is heat tolerant, making it a great leafy green option to grow during the summer season. Farmer Anna is really excited for this crop and can’t wait for you to try it! We should be making the first harvest within the next couple of weeks.
Do you remember the Armenian cucumbers we grew last year? We’re happy to share that our current crop will be ready for harvest in the next week or two! Though technically a melon, Armenian cucumbers taste and look similar to a standard cucumber. They’re a great summer crop due to their ability to tolerate the heat. The variety we’re growing this summer is ribbed and has skin that is a lovely light green color. We can’t wait to share them with you!
In Season at the Farm Stand: Eggplant, Watermelons (limited), Korean Melons, Long Beans, Okra, Sweet Peppers, Serrano Peppers (limited), Jalapeno Peppers (limited), Onions, and Cut Flower Bouquets (limited and only on Saturdays).
