touchtheearthfarm.com Blog

Well, Punxatawny Phil saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter! I don’t know about you folks, but I’m ready for the growing season, thank you very much. Enough already of the cold! Of course, last year we got most of our snowfall from mid-February on, so Phil just might be right.

We’ve had some high winds and low nighttime temperatures again, and those are taking their toll. The tatsoi and raab, which have done such a great job through the winter, are starting to give up. The kale and the chard are rallying, however, as are some of the hardier small lettuces and the spinach.

During the high winds this week, both low tunnels blew off, and the sheep shelter flipped. The high tunnel, however, continues to hold its own, and I’m quite pleased. The red lettuces and spinach in there are maturing, though ever so slowly with the still-short days. The turnip tops look lush and beautiful and will begin appearing in market bags this week in the mixed greens. The bok choi looks terrible. I don’t know if it was the particular variety I planted or if it just isn’t suited to high tunnel growing, but it will not be making its debut any time soon, if at all.

The first sowing of radishes is suffering from spotty germination. Not a big surprise since it is so early, but radishes should be coming in the next 4 weeks or so. Carrots are growing painfully slowly, but they’ll be ready early spring as well. I’m anxiously awaiting warm enough soil temps to begin sowing spring turnips, as I have an amazing new variety for folks to try. Hakurei is a small, sweet white turnip that is the most delicious thing you’ve ever tasted! I’ll be planting rows and rows of these just as soon as the market garden is ready to work.

So, bah humbug to Punxatawney Phil and his predictions. This impatient gardener wants to grow!