This week we have a lot going on.  Seeding for the fall has started in the greenhouse with brussel sprouts.  Over the next two weeks we will also seed cauliflower, and broccoli.  They have to be started early because we have such high summer temperatures in Virginia.  The heat slows down the growth rate significantly, and we want to make sure that they have enough time to mature before frost.

In terms of planting; the 3^rd generation of summer squash, 2^nd generation of currant tomatoes, beets, lima beans and the 2^nd generation of sunflowers have all gone in. The dahlias and zinnias have started to bud.

We are still picking cherries, with well over 150 pounds brought in so far.  Bug battles are continuing and a new insect popped up for me this week called the pea thrip, which effects peas and beans.  I think I caught the infestation early enough that they shouldn’t be too much of a problem, though I may need to order some more green lacewings to take care of the last few.

We got our bees for the hoop house so that our melons can get pollinated. 

One of the new honeybees pollinating a melon blossom

Another melon blossom

We had to wait until there were a significant number of flowers on the plant to make sure that they had enough food. So far they are not very happy with their new home, adjusting to temperature etc. but they will calm down in the next few days, and in the meantime, they are working industriously.

The bees ship to us in this box which then converts to a hive.

      This week we are harvesting the last of the peas and kohlrabi, the first of the fava beans and pearl onions, fennel, turnips, broccoli, beets, frisee, lettuce, swiss chard, cucumbers and squash, and last but surely not least, cherries.