2024 CSA Newsletter #11
Last week was busy as I prepared for the return of students to the farm. I pruned the cherry tomatoes and cucumbers extensively. I had been doing a little each of the past few weeks, but it felt great to get them under control. It was probably the last major pruning of the tomatoes as we make the downturn in the season. It won't be long before we have to "top" the tomatoes to speed up ripening. I transplanted more lettuce, the radishes germinated, as well as the rhubarb that we seeded for next year.
The highlight of last week was heading over to Cornell's Homer C. Thompson Research Farm in Freeville for a "vegetable trial walk". It was great to hear from researchers, seed companies, and breeders about new tomato, pepper, cucurbit, and potato varieties being developed to thrive in an ever-changing climate with increased disease pressure. As a farmer who believes in "cultural controls" to limit disease impact, learning about new varieties that are being bred to minimize that makes me very happy. Especially since I get to share that with my students. You might remember me saying this, but we are growing 40-ish varieties of tomatoes this season. Well, at this walk, we got to see 50 varieties being trialed, and we are growing 2 of them!
Speaking of tomatoes, they are truly starting to shine and will be a highlight of this week's CSA share. The cherry tomatoes are beautiful and once again, there will be mixed, all-red, and all-orange boxes available. The beefsteaks and heirlooms are starting to pick up production, and this week there will be a small amount of sauce tomatoes available. They are going to be part of a "we don't have enough of any one type of nightshade" choice. That choice will also include poblano and shishito peppers, as well as some eggplant. There will also be bell/frying peppers, jalapeno salt, basil, kale, garlic, and hot peppers. If you are looking for some heat, the first orange habaneros and a super-hot variety named Red Devil Tongue will be available. Cucumbers will also be a part of the choice. This is probably the peak of the boxes of pickling cucumbers. The first planting is just about done. The new variety that we are trialing is just starting to produce, so I am not sure how they will yield compared to the other variety that we grow. This week will also be the return of rainbow chard! Lettuce will most likely return next week.
Have a great week!
-Farmer Todd