[Market-farming] Early Summer Greens

Road's End Farm organic87 at frontiernet.net
Mon Jun 8 13:06:37 EDT 2009


Fast answer, I need to get back outside --

I do repeat plantings of lettuce every two or three weeks to have 
lettuce all summer. (My fifth planting for the season, out of ten 
planned, just got started in the seedling flats; so you should have 
plenty of time left.) The trick is not to leave it too long in the 
field, harvest it as soon as it's the size you want. I do use 
shadecloth (over hoops), which also (so far) keeps the deer off; and I 
adjust varieties in the summer -- summer crisps will do much better 
than Buttercrunch or Black Seeded Simpson. Simpson Elite is also very 
bolt resistant; unfortunately it is now Monsanto's seed, but I believe 
not patented, so if that bothers you put some extra in your first 
planting, let some of the plants bolt and save your own seed (which 
will take quite a long time, with that variety.)

Some people do get summer spinach with enough water and shadecloth and 
again frequent plantings, starting it young. I haven't had much luck 
with it, but may not have tried hard enough. I'd try Tyee.

I can't sell much in the way of exotics here either.

-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale


On Jun 8, 2009, at 11:49 AM, jay sleichter wrote:

> Well we started our market a month earlier this year. I have sold out 
> of all my lettuce (Buttercrunch, Black Seeded Simpson and Spinach)  I 
> was not planning on selling so much. In years past, greens were never 
> a good seller. This year I sold out every day.  I only made two 
> successions, because I ran out of room. 
>
> My question is this, It is June 8th, what greens can I plant and 
> harvest without them getting bitter?  I live in Kansas in Zone 5.   It 
> has been in the 90's, but it is more like the 80's for the month of 
> June. Today in is in the 60's.  I have more seed that I have already 
> mentioned.   Exotic greens probably won't sell well.  More straight 
> lettuce or spinach is an easy sell.
>
> I have read about the Summer Crisp or French Crisp Lettuce from 
> Johnny's.  Is it really  tolerant of hot weather?  If so, what 
> varieties to you suggest?  Growing methods that would make it easier 
> to produce good lettuce in the early summer. 
>
> I know I am chasing my tail in that I should have already made plans, 
> but maybe I can try somethings this year and be ready for next year.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jay
>
>
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