From the Farm: Preparation for Fall Crops
Summer is finally drawing to a close this year, but we’re afraid the heat is here to stay a little longer. While temperatures do start to fall in September, it is still a pretty warm month here in Georgia. As much as we enjoy the summer season, we’re more than OK with wishing it farewell this year. With a near record setting year for days over 90 degrees, we think people, plants, wildlife and everything in between are ready for a little relief!
We have filled up quite a few seed trays out at the farm over the last couple of weeks with fall crops like collards, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. We will continue to plant a few trays of these each week over the next three weeks in order to create a prolonged harvest window. Now that September is here, it’s time to go all out on the fall seeding. This week we’ll be seeding things like kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, kohlrabi, turnip greens and more! It is also time to start direct seeding things like carrots, beets, rutabagas and arugula. It doesn’t take long for seed trays to dry out in this heat, so remember to stay diligent with your watering in order to keep your young seedlings from wilting.
It won’t be long now until we start digging sweet potatoes and peanuts, and if the above ground foliage is any indication of the crop, then we should have some pretty nice production! We will be participating in a ‘farm to fork’ dinner later this month and have signed up to donate sweet potatoes and okra, along with a few other select items. This event will be a great opportunity for community members to connect with local farmers and enjoy a truly fresh and local dinner.
Since last month, our figs have come and gone and muscadines are slowly winding down as well. If you live somewhere farther north and are just getting into those seasons, all we can say is enjoy them while they last! These are two particularly special and delicious fruits with really short seasons, so you have to get your fill while they are around. We hope you all had a Happy Labor Day, and that you have a great rest of your September!
Brad manages our farm operations, which include our certified naturally grown farm outside Madison and the Kelly family’s plantation in Leesburg, Ga, known as Rock House Farm. Rock House Farm produces grass-fed beef, heritage Berkshire hogs, and two varieties of heirloom corn, among other crops.
We have filled up quite a few seed trays out at the farm over the last couple of weeks with fall crops like collards, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. We will continue to plant a few trays of these each week over the next three weeks in order to create a prolonged harvest window. Now that September is here, it’s time to go all out on the fall seeding. This week we’ll be seeding things like kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, kohlrabi, turnip greens and more! It is also time to start direct seeding things like carrots, beets, rutabagas and arugula. It doesn’t take long for seed trays to dry out in this heat, so remember to stay diligent with your watering in order to keep your young seedlings from wilting.
It won’t be long now until we start digging sweet potatoes and peanuts, and if the above ground foliage is any indication of the crop, then we should have some pretty nice production! We will be participating in a ‘farm to fork’ dinner later this month and have signed up to donate sweet potatoes and okra, along with a few other select items. This event will be a great opportunity for community members to connect with local farmers and enjoy a truly fresh and local dinner.
Since last month, our figs have come and gone and muscadines are slowly winding down as well. If you live somewhere farther north and are just getting into those seasons, all we can say is enjoy them while they last! These are two particularly special and delicious fruits with really short seasons, so you have to get your fill while they are around. We hope you all had a Happy Labor Day, and that you have a great rest of your September!
Brad manages our farm operations, which include our certified naturally grown farm outside Madison and the Kelly family’s plantation in Leesburg, Ga, known as Rock House Farm. Rock House Farm produces grass-fed beef, heritage Berkshire hogs, and two varieties of heirloom corn, among other crops.