News and Blog
May 20 Indigo Farms Update
One of the "joys" of farming is you get to work with what is given you. You never know exactly how things will be and what adjustments have to be made. Seven inches of rain in six days is not the ideal. For some crops it is just dandy but for small grain that is mature and drying, leafy cucurbits, tender young tomato plants that find super wet soil dangerous and beans that may end up competing with rapid growing weeds that thrive on heat and moisture, seven inches in such short time frame makes you look all around for potential problems. Even some insects love the extra moisture and warmth. Fungal concerns become a prime point of vigilance. Not to mention fields that are too wet to work.
NEVER THE LESS... the strawberries continue to look very good. Good ratio of blooms and green fruit to leaf vegetation. Little to no runners; that means the plants are still in a juvenile stage and can focus on producing fruit not vegetative new plants. There are some wet overripe fruit in the field. Now is a good time to take advantage of the get a dollar off for every bucket of bad berries you pick when you pick a bucket of good berries. The fields will be open this week, so don’t hesitate to come pick. You may need to check in and out at the produce market if the sign on the cart directs you.
Blueberries , Blackberries are being picked. Pick your own is still away off, maybe June 12th? Peaches are really y sizing up and getting color. They look good and I should begin picking at the end of the month.
If you like beans then now is the time to focus on getting them. Wax beans , October beans , half runners, string beans, etc. are coming off. Think tender squash and it is likely to be here. So the eating is getting better. The first sweet corn is here as well and tomatoes are not far behind.
The bakery keeps making bread and soon the prime fruit milkshake season will be upon us.
It looks good for the pick your own strawberry field. The plants continue to be in a healthy productive condition, little stress and very few runners. The size is holding up well on the Camarosa plants while the flavor is really good.
If you are not able to pick and want to put up berries you can buy them at the market. Prices can vary depending on what you buy. We sell culls as well. Many people do not realize that after the strawberries are picked they are graded. It cost us but it gives you more quality. As many of you know you get more strawberries from the paper pulp cups than the clamshells. Another way to get more for your money is to take advantage of our pick your own trade off. If you pick a bucket of over ripe fruit by cleaning the bushes you can get a $1 off the good bucket of berries you pick for yourself. This helps keep the field in better shape , the plants healthier and allows you spend less.
If you haven’t tried the strawberry bread at the bakery just know that after the strawberry season we will not be baking it until we grow more strawberries.
Blueberries! Yes , we have begun to pick the highbush varieties. We are also buying blueberries to supplement our own right now. Pick your own should begin about June 15.
Peaches are beginning to get some color. We anticipate picking to start around the first of June.
Blackberries are just beginning to ripen so it won’t be long before we begin to pick for the store.
Beans, squash and other vegetables are coming off the farm. Organic beans, squash, zucchini, potatoes, onions, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, radish, diakon, dandelion, cilantro, parsley are available by order ( call and make request. Please leave a contact name and number).
This is a good month for flowers and plants. Be sure to check with the garden center about any needs you may have. Please note that the Kudzu bug has many generations throughout the season. It is not likely to leave us alone. The damage it does is not as visible because it sucks the nutrition from the plant rather than eating the leaves. It appears constant vigilance will be required to deal with this misplaced insect.
Please note that you can check out Indigo farms on facebook. If you like this format it has more pictures and added information.
The strawberry field will be open this week. The plants look good , very good for almost May! This may well mean strawberry season gets a good opportunity to extend for two, three or four weeks with out the big drop in picking. The weather will be the main determining factor. Hope to see you.
Strawberry update April 24
The weather is getter a bit warmer after this cool spell. No frost which is great for the beans, tomatoes, corn etc. Some of those crops are very susceptible. The strawberries are in good shape. The cool weather not only takes some of the heat stress off but because the fruit has a good degree of ripeness it does not take away form the flavor. It does slow the green fruit ripening some but for April 24 that is not a problem. The weather is going to be very nice for the fruit later this week. There are lots of berries and people have commented on how good the flavor is this year.We took some berries from last Saturday and have kept them and are still eating them which gives us an opportunity to see how they do after picking. They are still beautiful but honestly they don’t seem to last any time after they go on the shortcake. They are there one moment and gone the next, which is a good indication of the flavor holding to the end. I recommend if you like to look at beautiful strawberries don’t try to keep them, take pictures or just come pick some more.
Here are some ideas, if you have a friend who could use a little brightening up, give them some strawberries, if you are feeling stressed out with the children then plan a time to take them berry picking and use the time to relate your own childhood adventures with them or ask what they would like to remember about their childhood when they get your age. If you or someone you know is having a tight time with money then ask about the clean /pick option. If you pick off any bad berries and clean the bushes, for every bucket of bad berries you get $1 off your bucket of good berries. This can help everyone.
Don’t forget the Garden Center, Produce and Bakery.
April 15, 2012
The fields should be open Monday through Saturday. Field opens at 8:00am. Please bring a container to put your berries in after you pick. The fruit is heavy, nice large berries and easy picking. Unlike most years when I encourage you to wait to pick in volume, I think now is a good time to get started with volume picking.
Note: the one row of strawberries beside ( east side) the two rows with white plastic is a different variety. When you pick these berries be sure to pick them fully ripe. This variety takes longer to reach full flavor than the other varieties.
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We will be at Myrtle’s Market in Myrtle Beach
Wednesday , Friday and Saturday.
Don’t forget about Asparagus, Garden peas, greens, spinach, beets and for organic lettuce, organic turnips, organic chard, organic radishes, organic strawberries. are being picked this week.
Thank you for your interest.
April 15, 2012
The fields should be open Monday through Saturday. Field opens at 8:00am. Please bring a container to put your berries in after you pick. The fruit is heavy, nice large berries and easy picking. Unlike most years when I encourage you to wait to pick in volume, I think now is a good time to get started with volume picking.
Note: the one row of strawberries beside ( east side) the two rows with white plastic is a different variety. When you pick these berries be sure to pick them fully ripe. This variety takes longer to reach full flavor than the other varieties.
@
We will be at Myrtle’s Market in Myrtle Beach
Wednesday , Friday and Saturday.
Don’t forget about Asparagus, Garden peas, greens, spinach, beets and for organic lettuce, organic turnips, organic chard, organic radishes, organic strawberries. are being picked this week.
Thank you for your interest.
In an effort to stay better connected with our customers, we now have a Facebook page! We will do our best to keep the website and the new page coordinated in their updates, though they will probably vary somewhat.
Head on over and give it a "like!" https://www.facebook.com/IndigoFarmsMarket And if you haven't already seen the Garden Center's page, then check it out and "like" it too: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Indigo-Farms-Garden-Center/200209116761706?ref=ts
April 8, 2012 Strawberry Update
The fields should be open Monday through Saturday. Field opens at 8:00am. Please bring a container to put your berries in after you pick. The fruit is heavy, nice large berries and easy picking. Unlike most years when I encourage you to wait to pick in volume, I think now is a good time to get started with volume picking. The weather should be warm enough with lots of sunshine that will help the flavor of the fruit. Although it will be cooler than some weeks we have had in March.
Note: the one row of strawberries beside ( east side) the two rows with white plastic is a different variety. When you pick these berries be sure to pick them fully ripe. This variety takes longer to reach full flavor than the other varieties.
Take a look in the bakery. We have something new in the strawberry line, Strawberry bread. Ask for a sample.
We will be back at Myrtle’s Market in Myrtle Beach
beginning this Wednesday ( April 11 ) .
Don’t forget about Asparagus, greens, spinach, beets and for organic lettuce, organic cabbage, organic turnips, organic chard, organic strawberries. Garden peas are being picked this week. They are really good in a salad.
At this point the blueberries, blackberries, plums and peaches look good. The fruit is really growing for this time of year. I am thinking the high bush blueberries may come in early this year. Perhaps at the later part of this month.
We are planting tomatoes now. We hope to have a strong supply of regular and heirloom varieties. Don’t over look the small grape and cherry varieties. They often have excellent flavor and really do well in salads.
Thank you for your interest.
April 1 2012 Strawberry Update
The fields should be open Monday through Saturday. Field opens at 8:00am. Please bring a container to put your berries in after you pick.
After three decades of growing strawberries I am still amazed each year to observe the process. I am also humbled as I attempt to affect certain changes. It reminds me of going down a familiar river that can change every trip and surprise you at every turn. What may seem routine as you pick strawberries every year is in reality a complex cooperation of numerous factors. It all begins with the soil and much of it’s unseen activity. Each year’s distinctive character holds it’s own package of reasons to be vigilant. Just like the river you have to be ready to respond to the "whatever" in a timely manner. Thankfully, the season has come through with a good beginning. We have lots of fruit, plants are in good shape, flowers still coming and the flavor is good for early berries. We are still working on the parts of the field condition wise but even that is showing progress.
Now is a good time for Asparagus, greens, spinach, beets, kale, kohlrabi and for organic lettuce, organic cabbage, organic turnips, organic chard, organic strawberries. Garden peas are just a few days away from harvest! They are really good in a salad.
At this point the blueberries, blackberries, plums and peaches look good. The fruit is really growing for this time of year.
We are planting corn. This year we are introducing a new super sweet, Silver Duchess. I like the name because for years people have grown to like and ask for Silver Queen. Silver Queen is a normal sugary type. That is good but it loses it’s sweetness quickly because the sugars turn to starch soon after harvest, especially in heat. The super sweet types retain their sugars much longer. I think you will like Silver Duchess.
Thank you for your interest.
