We have been blessed with another round of spring rains that have left us with adequate amounts of moisture. Most importantly, we haven’t received the severe weather our neighbors to the south have endured, like severe winds, hail and the episodic rains that can be extremely damaging to crops.
We’re thankful for the moisture as natural rainfall is always better than having to irrigate crops. Planting continues daily as there are more crops like corn, squash, pumpkins, and melons to get in the ground yet.
The asparagus harvest continues daily, and we believe the quality has been phenomenal this season. The yields have been quite good as well, allowing us to harvest extra to support several Twin Cities food shelves such as Harvest from the Heart in south Minneapolis with fresh asparagus.
If you’re lucky, you’ll even be able to find some purple asparagus at our Garden Center locations! We didn’t plant much of the purple variety as there isn’t a huge demand for it, but sometimes it’s fun to try something new. While the purple does turn to green once cooked, it does have a slightly higher sugar content and is a little less fibrous. Let us know what you think if you try it!
Ideal Growing Conditions
Unlike the last couple of years, the growing season is off to a good start. It has been a bit cooler than normal, but the growing conditions have been good. There haven’t been drastic swings in temperatures, which is always helpful not only with our flower production, but our vegetable crops as well. We have been out surveying some crops and it looks like we should be able to start harvesting some rhubarb and even some chub cucumbers within the next week!
You’ll be able to find these products soon at our Garden Centers and the Minneapolis Farmers Market. Locally grown season is starting, and we can’t wait to bring freshness to you.
And for everyone asking about homegrown strawberries? The plants are just beginning to flower, which means we are approximately 3 weeks away from the first harvest.
Memorial Day: The Unofficial Start to Summer
These warm and sunny spring days have everyone excited for summer and wondering when all of our road-side vegetable stands are going to open. Opening day is scheduled for Friday, June 21st! Let the countdown begin.
As we kick off the unofficial start to summer this weekend, let us remind you that it’s been a phenomenal flower growing season so far. Our Garden Centers are fully stocked with beautiful annuals, perennials, patio pots, hanging baskets, vegetable starter plants, herbs, and more!
Not sure what to plant? Let our staff give you some suggestions and make the entire planting process fun and exciting. We’re here to help and give you tip to make the whole process more enjoyable. We’re open all Memorial Day weekend, but will be closing just a bit early on Memorial Day to allow our staff a little extra time with friends and family.
