The Newfarm Forums

[Larry & Twila]

Time for a mid summer update...After the rains from 2 hurricanes, including over 15 inches of rain the last couple weeks, it has been a trying time here in Ga. The tomatoes are splitting, potatoes are rotting in the ground and the squash plants have been pummeled by the wind and rain. We're hoping it starts to dry out as we have follow on crops to get in the ground. We're eagerly waiting for the first melons to ripen, hoping there hasn't been too much rain to wash out all the flavor. The rain was also bad for the cucumbers, it spreads the virus' that kill the vines. But the broccoli seedling are under lights in the basement getting ready to transplant in mid Aug. We'll try another crop of beans, squash and cucs too.
We have had a beautiful crop of carrots and beets and cabbage, generally everything did real well with few exceptions. We know what customers want and that will dictate what we plant next year.
Our garlic crop didn't size up very well but we have enough good bulbs to sell and we'll save some for planting this fall.
The blueberries are ripening and nice sized and the fig trees are full of figs so we'll have those to sell also.
The biggest pest problems this year are Japanese beetles and squash bugs. I catch Japanese beetles and feed them to the chickens, the squash bugs we control with regular treatments of pyrethreum.
We're developing a nice client list for sales here on the farm and have had great luck at a market in Newnan Ga.
Tomorrow the crew from DIY network is coming to tape a segment on organics, watch for us on the small screen sometime next year.