Happy summer! We hope your gardens are thriving and bountiful. This sunny and hot stretch with warm nights is perfect growing weather, though very dry. Super long days (over 15 hours of daylight!) means plenty of photosynthesis - just add water! When Richard was just starting out as a farmer, an old-time farmer told him that central Vermonters are blessed with an average of 44 inches of annual rain, spread pretty evenly throughout the year. So true, considering the farmer’s adage that “gardens need 1 inch of rain each week.” Aside from the record 2+ inches of rain we just received, we’ve had a really dry Spring and Summer, so make sure to look at the forecast and water your garden accordingly. Inexpensive rain gauges, or even a tub placed in the rain, let you see exactly how much water your garden is getting; sometimes what seems like a soaking, heavy rain is only a quarter inch. Most well established plants do best with deep soaking every few days rather than a sprinkle every day. Test the moisture of the soil by poking your finger in up to your knuckle to be sure the ground is good and damp. Mulching around plants can also help to conserve soil moisture, while deterring weeds.

Here at Cate Farm, tomatoes are ripening, and currently available for sale at Bragg Farm, Plainfield Hardware, and Hunger Mt. Co-op. We will start selling our 10 lb. flats of 'cosmetically challenged' tomatoes (great tasting tomatoes with slight imperfections) Fridays and Tuesdays 8-12, starting July 24th. Self serve, cash or check only, $17 per 10 lb flat. First come, First served. Follow signs on Cate Farm Road to the pick-up area.

Happy Gardening!

The team at Cate Farm