We let winter— and even part of spring—run its course.
The time has now come to send this note to remind those of you who have yet to sign up to do so and to give you a peek at what has been happening on the farm over the last few weeks.
The seedling greenhouse has been up and running since April 1st
and it is already almost full of trays at all kinds of growth stages. The leeks and onions we seeded first have already had a second trim and are starting to be planted out; the early tomatoes have been transplanted and will go into their tunnels within a week, with peppers and eggplants to follow shortly after. Everything else will proceed apace, depending on its germination date and how quickly it grows in the trays.
Brassicas (kale, cabbage, broccoli, and so on…) really are nature’s favourites
because they only need a few days to poke their heads out, and within just a few weeks can be set out in the field (in fact, they have already been there for a week). That is quite different from celeriac and parsley, which can take up to an initial three weeks just to germinate, and then even longer before they are ready to transplant before going out to the field.
Good news on the garlic front: it really likes
the spot we chose for it last year
and has pushed right through the protective straw we spread last November with no trouble at all. The harvest is looking to be a generous one.
Luckily, between the April rains and the early-May ones,
we still got some properly warm temperatures that let us work our plots. As usual, we make do with spring’s weather curveballs. Nothing new under the sun, Solomon would have said, and we agree…
Registrations are moving along, steady but unhurried,
so we invite you to sign up ASAP so we can plan the summer properly. If you are already signed up, we still have space, so please do not hesitate to nudge family, friends, and tutti quanti to join the harvest party that lasts all season at Arlington Gardens.
CSA deliveries will begin
on June 10-11 in the residential neighbourhoods (i.e., 22 weeks in Montreal West, Ville Mont-Royal, Westmount, and Côte-Saint-Paul), and on July 3-4-5 – for both organic baskets and loyalty cards – at Jean Talon and Atwater markets (19 weeks).
We look forward to meeting up with you soon!