Compiled by Vern Grubinger, University of Vermont Extension (802) 656-7534, vernon.grubinger@uvm.edu
https://www.uvm.edu/extension/horticulture/commercial
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD
(Westminster) We’re trying to figure out how to mitigate another rainy summer, if we have one (we’re due for a dry year!) but few good ideas yet. We do plan to keep lower-lying fields that flooded twice last year in cover crops until later in the season. But every year, it seems, our well-refined planting plan ends up with revisions.
We’re relying less on fresh greens and more on storage and root crops this season to even out our marketing and cash flow. And we’re working on a crop mix to accommodate a reduced workforce. We can’t find enough local help and our over-reliance on H-2A employees is becoming very costly.
Our Winter Market/CSA went well, and we sold a lot of greens from our hoophouses. Now the greenhouses are full of lettuce and kale seedlings aching to get out into the cold frames.
(Burlington) Mild winters are helpful for winter greens growth and happiness, which translates into CSA member happiness as well. Despite a few minor hiccups with spinach and kale germination last fall (surface salinity, perhaps?) overall production has been very good across all crops, and foliar spinach diseases have been minimal to date.
We changed our winter CSA distribution targets and dropped our price after losing many winter storage crops last fall, so it has been especially helpful that the greens have done well. Otherwise, our tables are fairly empty; down to carrots, beets, and potatoes.
Summer CSA signups are nearly on track, slightly behind the COVID frenzy, but fine in the scheme of things. Exciting to see cover crops greening up, and I expect we will be back out for tillage with the tractors in the next several days, picking up where we left off on March 15, our earliest start ever. Hoping for a moderate warm up with consistent snow melt!
(Hyde Park) The field is emerging from snow this week although there is another 5 inches in the forecast. The first spring we were here, we had snow through the first week of May but there has been nothing close to that the last 3 years. My snowboard gear has been taken out of my truck to make room for shuttling supplies around.
The tunnel greens are behind last year despite similar planting dates and healthier plants, which is weird because it seems like we have had more sun. So early sales of late winter planted greens will be a week or two behind, but they look vibrant and healthy. I used the paper pot transplanter a lot this year with success. It helps get a jump on greens production if done correctly and eliminates problems with early season germination and rodents eating seed. I finally nailed the timing of planting with it, so plants don’t experience a lot of shock can set them back.
I’ve been experimenting with “priming” spinach seed before directly sowing very densely; soaking overnight and drying the seed before planting - the jury is still out.
A couple weeks ago I frost seeded the garlic pathways with red clover but then we got a foot of snow, so we’ll see how it turns out.
We’ve had some season propagation house issues due to inefficient and time-consuming systems as our focus has shifted to infant care (and joy!). This has prompted me to consider more automation. It's a good lesson in when to just spend the money and sleep easy.
(Westminster West) Last of the recent snow is finally gone, garlic is well up with little loss, fertilized just before the last snow so that task is done.
The greenhouse is bustling with trays of seedlings, trays of ginger and turmeric on heated propagation benches starting to sprout and root before they go into the tunnel beds to mature. First year for turmeric! Finished up a thousand tomato grafts and we’re looking for a 100% success this year!
Proof that winters are getting mild lies in the over-wintered peas and oats which usually winter kill but this year they are still green, and I think ready to start regrow. This is different. Seed potatoes arriving soon.
NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND HIGH TUNNEL NEWSLETTER
Issue 2 of High and Dry is available at https://www.uvm.edu/~htunnel/. It contains articles on: New Video Series on Greenhouse and High Tunnel Construction, Time to Sample High Tunnel Soils, Diseases on Late Winter & Spring Tunnel Greens. Prepare a Biocontrol Plan for Aphids in Your High Tunnel Vegetables, and Using Pest Fighting Plants in High Tunnels: Awesome Alyssum.
POLLINATOR SUPPORT ON-FARM MEETINGS
Laura Johnson, UVM Extension Pollinator Support Specialist
- Join UVM Extension and the VT Tree Fruit Growers Association for “Spring Orchard Pest and Pollinator Showcases” May 9, Sweetland Farm, Norwich and May 10, UVM Horticultural Farm, S. Burlington. Both are 4:30-7:00 pm.
- Join UVM Extension and the VVBGA at a farm twilight meeting highlighting blueberry pollinators, pests, and bush management. May 22, Covered Bridges Berry Farm, Underhill, VT. Time: 4:00-6:00pm.
Questions? Laura.o.johnson@uvm.edu or 802-656-4827