(We are just now updating our webpage! This is the April 22 newsletter)

One of the highlights of spring is the arrival of the hummingbirds.  These little friends have made their presence known by “humming” around their feeders.  It is funny to watch them during spring as they dart between all the flowers and then back to the feeder.  It is almost like a child in a candy store!  For those of you who have these active birds around, if you have the space put a feeder out for them. It is easy to make your own hummingbird nectar.

• Bring 4 cups water to a boil.
• Stir in 1 cup of sugar and stir, making sure that the sugar dissolves completely. 
• Let cool, put out in a hummingbird friendly container, and enjoy the show.

4 cups will fill two standard size hummingbird feeders. If you only have one feeder use 2 cups water and ½ cup sugar.  If you have more than one hummer, think about putting out a second feeder out if you have the space.  These birds are very territorial and will spend all their energy trying to fend off other hummers. And any other creature they view as intruders no matter the size!  I often get “strafed” by the birds when I venture too close to the feeders.

Honest, there really was a humming bird sitting there when I snapped the photo!

 The last frost can occur anytime between 2 weeks before or two week after the “last official frost date”. In this area frost date is April 15, giving the last frost a window between April 1 and April 30^th to occur.  Since the weather has been colder than usual we have decided to be on the cautious side and not transplant any hot weather plants until the later part of that window. Some years it seems like we may have lost some valuable growing time, but this year it paid off. Last night we had a hard frost. Had we planted any warm weather plants they would have been killed or severely damaged. I guess toting those trays of seedlings in and out every day has paid off. The already planted and acclimated cold weather crops shook off the frost without a problem.

Vivienne Romaine lettuce

In fact, some of them more than likely actually enjoyed it! The cool mornings will encourage the cold weather plants to continue growing leaves rather than starting to bolt and flower.


Overwintered Swiss chard

The potatoes are coming up nicely and in another week they should be big enough to hill. By piling soil, compost, and straw on top of the plants we give developing potatoes, which grow above the originally planted seed potato, even more room to grow. And also protect them from the sun which would cause them to turn green and become inedible.

Blue potato plant

Although we thought we would start the deliveries earlier than last year to take advantage of the strawberries and asparagus, Mother Nature decided to delay her season by about two weeks, so we are….right back at the same times as last year. If Mother Nature plays nice we are planning to start the week of May 6^th.  This would give us a season running from May 6^th to September 16^th, with the make-up week starting September 23^rd.  Unless we hear otherwise we will keep the same days and times as last year for each location. We will send individual confirmation letters out the week before deliveries start.

Until next time,

Jeff and Sandra