Bringing in the harvest in April

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April started out cold, with crops a little bit behind “normal,” (whenever normal is!), and ended up warming quickly, with crops coming earlier than “normal!” (whenever normal is!) We were able to cut lilacs for the last weekend of April, when we usually see them for the middle to end of May.
The fruit trees seemed slow to start blooming and then came on all at once. We love the profusion of blossoms with their delicate fragrance and the promise of a fruit from each blossom. If all the blossoms fruited, it would be far too much weight for the tree, but it is staggering to think about all those blossoms bearing fruit. Some years, nearly every blossom does. By the end of April, we can see the baby peaches, apples, pears, and plums starting their journey from farm to table! 



All the leafy greens are doing well, and we are excited to see such beautiful lettuce, baby bok choy, and basil, among others. The basil has done particularly well in the hydro house, and we look forward to continuing bountiful and beautiful harvests of basil.
April also saw many days of planting new fruit trees as part of the orchard renovation project, and new raspberry and blackberry bushes as part of the bramble project. The new trees look so small—it is marvelous how they grow so quickly and can start producing fruit in 3-4 years.  And the raspberry canes, which look like sticks standing upright in the ground right now, will actually produce fruit this fall.
The outside of the barn has transformed into the spring flower market, with hundreds of bedding plants, perennials, and vegetable plants now ready to plant. From a high of 38 on April 1 to a high of 83 on April 30—what can I say? Spring has sprung!
Our staff have been busy seeding thousands of plants for outside planting, the hydroponics house, and for the store market for our customers. Everyone is ready to plant. The crowded conditions always get us excited about the growth happening around us. My grandfather would say, “We always think we can grow everything in the spring!” And then the reality of keeping up with everything happens.
We harvested a number of crops that overwintered outside—cilantro, kale, and scallions, among others. Rhubarb started growing and we started harvesting. Perennial herbs sorrel and mint were ready for harvest. I love cutting the herbs—the fragrance is wonderful! 

Peaking at the fig trees in the back tunnel has been exciting—they are showing great growth and there is the promise of an early fig crop in June. We hope so, yes, we do!
Our purple asparagus put in its first appearance on April 22. The beginning of asparagus season is always welcome, especially to our wonderful CSA customers who have made it through months of winter vegetables and are ready for spring vegetables. Thank you, all of you hardy folk who continue your CSAs and shopping through the winter! You are valuable support for our farm!
I should have started this in early April, because I know what happens once it warms up—the to-do list becomes miles long and there are not enough hours in the day! So, here it is, May, and I am writing about April. That’s alright—I still have a chance to get May’s article written on time.

 ~ Ruth




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