Dear CSA Members,
The big story this week is rain. It comes at a good time…“just in time” in fact. As of noon on Sunday, my estimate is 2 inches for us here on the farm. It’s perfect for our barley crop, which was planted January 9 and moistened by December rains. The germination rate was really good and the roots have been growing vigorously into that December moisture. But the plants are now a good 4 inches tall and are in need of water to keep growing vigorously and really take off. With a little warm sunshine which we should get this week, I’m expecting the barley to double in height by next Sunday!
The rain is also great for the trees we just finished planting the day before it started raining! In a normal “dry” year, we would have to tank water to the just planted trees with a 400 gallon orchard sprayer tank fitted with 2 long hoses, to get them started. Pulled by a tractor, the rig passes between rows with a man on each hose walking from tree to tree drenching the soil around each new tree. Rain is faster and better because it picks up nitrogen from the air and takes it into the soil.
There is one downside to this week’s rain; our Apache apricots are starting to grow, and are in what’s known as the “red bud” stage. The flower bud has swollen, and opened at the tip, revealing the red color of the incipient blossom.
(In peach trees this is called “pink bud”, as its blossoms are pink). Apricots, unlike their stone fruit cousins are definitely susceptible to brown rot blossom blight at their red bud stage. And this so called “Pineapple Express,” with its heavy rain combined with warm temperatures, is the perfect storm for a brown rot event in our apricots.
Hopefully, our compost and compost tea applications have helped to control the damage. As I am writing this, the rain has stopped and wind is whipping fiercely outside, which will help dry out the buds. We’ll know by next Sunday what damage, if any, may have occurred. We’ll keep you posted!
Organically yours,
