We’re excited to begin Wednesday night markets this week. Several of the growers will be in the parking lot at Peterson’s Mill from 2-6pm with early season produce fresh from the garden 
First Wednesday Market
It’s Planting Time
The calendar says mid May, but the weather feels more like mid June! The soil is warm and the night time temperatures are safe for putting those transplants in the ground.
Many gardeners are surprised to learn that plants can actually get sunburned. If you have grown your plants indoors or purchased them from a greenhouse, be sure to harden off your plants before putting them in the ground.
This means putting them outside in a shaded area the first day and then adding an hour of sun each day for the next 3-4 days. You don’t need to do this if you purchase plants that are already sitting outside or if it’s going to be cloudy for a couple of days after you plant.
Symptoms of sunburn injury include white, bleached out patches on the leaves. These patches will turn brown and then the leaves will crumble off just the same as if they were frost damaged.
So many people were looking for asparagus plants at the farmers’ market last Saturday that I ran out! Good news is that I will have about 50 more plants ready to go this Saturday, 5/22.
Also available this Saturday:
perennials
heirloom tomato and pepper plants
herbs
heirloom cucumber, melon and squash plants
strawberry plants
Good news if you can’t make it to the market on Saturdays and want heirloom plants–Peterson’s will be stocking some of my plants in their greenhouse
Heirloom Tomato and Pepper Plants
The beautiful spring weather we’ve had the past few weeks had many of us hoping to plant early this year. Things like peas, lettuce, spinach–what we call ‘cool’ season crops are doing well. They actually thrive in cool soil.
That is not true, however, for the ‘warm’ season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, melons and squash. Some people consider Memorial Day the time when it is safe to plant these crops.
To grow properly, these need to be planted in soil that is close to 60 degrees, with night time temperatures above 50 degrees.
Starr will have her chemical free, locally grown, heirloom tomato, pepper, melon, squash and cucumber plants for sale on Saturdays, beginning May 15. She will be set up near the greenhouse in Peterson’s parking lot from 9-1:00, unless it is pouring rain!
You can get a catalog of descriptions of the varieties that are available by emailing her at:
rainbowsend@gardener.com
Don’t let this cool weather discourage your planting plans. Our earlier warm weather has begun to warm the soil and we need the rain! When the sun comes out again it will be planting time
Farmers’ Market News
What a WONDERFUL spring we are having this year!! We had our our first meeting with this year’s Farmers’ Market vendors and everyone is soooo excited and hopeful that this will be a good year for our gardens
The official first Farmers’ Market day will be Wednesday, June 16. We’ll be setup in the parking lot at
Peterson’s Country Mill
38964 Branch Ave.
North Branch
Wednesdays 2:00-6:00 and Saturdays 8:00-1:00.
