In a typical year we start hoping for a break in the winter rains sometime in early January so that the ground will dry out enough to allow us to get in and plant. Although the overall long term water picture for the state looks increasingly ominous, the dry weather has allowed us to keep on top of tasks around here like never before.
Weed control in over-winter crops like carrots, leeks, onions, garlic, favas, greens, and all of the items in your boxes this week, can be very challenging during a typical winter. Because the ground is often too wet to get in and mechanically cultivate with a tractor, we have to rely more on hand labor (hoeing). Weeds are also much more difficult to kill in the humid conditions during the rainy season. Weeds that are undercut with a hoe are much more likely to survive and take root again in a new location—we often joke that all we are accomplishing during winter is “moving the weeds around”. This year we have had no such problems—we have gotten in with the cultivating tractor in a timely manner and managed to stay ahead of the weeds all winter.
We also have been able to keep to our planting schedule like clockwork. Three weeks ago we planted our second block of fava beans right on schedule. Two weeks ago we transplanted celery and fennel as well as direct seeding a large block of carrots and Italian parsley. This week we are transplanting broccoli, cauliflower, chards, and mixed lettuces and direct seeding radishes, Tokyo Market turnips, mustards, cilantro, scallions, spinach and beets.
In addition, we’ve been able to work up a lot of ground and listed up beds for future plantings. So, while we desperately need rain, and we are more conscious than ever of our water use, we’re off to an unusually good start for the spring harvest season.
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