Cold, Notwithstanding

The cold, miserable week meteorologists are predicting will allow us to shift to different kinds of work from what we would be doing if it were warm. In most any other spring, at this point we would be racing to get as much crop planted out in the field as possible, but with a "spring Nor'Easter' coming, we are holding tomatoes and tomatillos until it passes.

The only upside of this weather is that weed growth slowed, but when we (finally) get the first couple of days of warm weather, they will catch up fast.

This is the coldest spring that I have ever farmed. We’re averaging 7 degrees Fahrenheit lower than what is normal, and if the pattern continues for the rest of the month, I understand this will be one of the 10 coldest springs in Northeastern history.

I have to thank the great crews we've had so far this spring, including a big crew on Sunday - many who came for orientation stayed after. We got a lot of work done. This last weekend, we got all of the eggplant and cantaloupe transplanted. We just planted out the basil, and we're halfway through tomato planting, so it's been a pretty productive time.