Cover Cropping and Harvesting Roselle Leaves
Look how tall our Sudangrass has gotten! Sudangrass is a type of sorghum that we are utilizing as a cover crop. Our soil has a high clay content which means it can compact easily, especially after an extended soggy period. The roots of Sudangrass are helpful in loosening up soil compaction, leading to improved soil structure, drainage, and an overall better environment for our crops to thrive. This lush green growth will add a lot of nitrogen-rich organic matter back to the soil when we mow it down for fall planting.
We’re harvesting a new leafy summer green for you: roselle. This crop (above) is an edible hibiscus variety in the same family as okra that grows really well during our summer season. Roselle leaves have a lovely tart, lemony flavor that can be eaten raw in salads or cooked. In Indian cuisine, it is often used in curries, chutneys, and pickles. We recommend trying our roselle leaves in this dal recipe or in this quick and easy pesto.
Due to the hurricane and recent wet conditions, we’re moving into a bit of a summer lull. This is typical this time of year though in years past it is usually due to extreme heat. Production has slowed momentarily while we wait for some of our late summer crops to come in. Despite the slow down, we still have plenty of okra and long beans coming out of the field! Farmer Matt’s go-to is a classic stir-fry flavored with soy sauce, fennel seed, cumin seed, turmeric, and ginger. Both of these veggies can be found at the Farm Stand.
In Season at the Farm Stand: Roselle Leaves, Okra, Butternut Squash, Jalapeños, Shishitos, Korean Melons, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Long Beans, and Eggplant.
