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The snaps have sprouted
- January 7, 2023
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We’re going to try planting early snapdragons in an unheated tunnel this year.
If you remember from a months-ago email, we had a virus get into the snap bed last year so 1) we needed a new place to plant the snaps and 2) it’s never too early to have snapdragons in your house.
And the seedlings have just started to show in their trays. Little specks of green. So cute.
(If you have a burning desire to start some seeds right now, you could start cilantro or parsley. Hold off on everything else. Or do what I do, and just shop for wayyyyy more seeds than you’ll need this year. We do have some seed packets available in the store now if you want to go that route).
We’re also getting the tunnel prepped. Since we won’t be planting anything in there until the snaps, there’s no rush.
But new irrigation lines will be put down, more compost, and stakes and trellises will all need to be put in before the snapdragons are transplanted in. The plastic was put on now so that the ground stays warmer.
If we do everything right, and nothing out of our control goes wrong (looking at you Mother Nature), we should be planting in mid-March and will start cutting in June.
How to plant lettuce:
- Make a straight row with a string
- Lay out your lettuce plants
- Plant your lettuce plants
- Leave the empty plant containers next to the newly planted plants. Lettuce plants are so emotionally attached to the containers that they just can’t deal with the containers going bye-bye.
This only applies to lettuce that is planted inside tunnels. Fully outdoors lettuce is confident enough to grow on its own. All other types of plants are a-okay growing without their old empty containers being nearby.
I actually don’t know why the empty lettuce packs hang around for weeks by the planted lettuce plants. Or why the empty packs are immediately picked up for all the other crops.
But our lettuce is pretty darn awesome, so maybe the crew is onto something.
Some seasonal inspiration:
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The high tunnel is empty!!
And no, not the one destined for tomatoes. It's another empty tunnel.v
I know it doesn't seem like spring is close - it's still too dark.
Although temperature-wise it does...
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About Highland Orchards
Completely surrounded by suburbia, our small farm has been growing beyond expectations since 1832, just north of Wilmington, Delaware.
Growing a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, Highland Orchards provides true “farm fresh” for the community all year. If you want to shake the hand of the farmer who grows for you, here is the farm! With plants in the ground or under cover in tunnels, we grow for every season. A family farm, we have three different generations involved in running the farm right now.
Come see us to eat fresh, eat local, and eat well!