Another Lost Season
Yesterday, we were placed on a tornado watch. The night passed, and the morning came, and we were fortunate enough not to have any touchdowns. Even though there were no tornadoes, the continuing heavy rains combined with the strong winds throughout the night and day took their toll on the farm.
With the ground being as saturated as it is, the plants had zero chance with the 30 mph winds. Most of the squash plant’s leaves became sails, pulling the plants out of the ground and breaking their stalks from their roots. In other places, the staples holding the weed barrier in place let go, allowing the fabric to rip across the garden, pulling the plants they protected out, and damaging the plants it landed on being ripped around by the wind. Many onions, Brussels sprouts, beans, and pumpkins were damaged or lost. Most of the corn was blown over, if not entirely out of the ground.
After the past 24 hours, the gardens are a lost cause past one of the pumpkin patches, with only damage to the leaves from the wind, some onions unbroken from the fabric landing in them, and a few winter squashes that squeaked by. At this point, when the ground dries up enough, I will harrow the areas and plant grass.
This is the second year in a row and three out of the past five years that the high rain rate combined with high winds has destroyed everything. I am finished trying to grow vegetables for our customers. The loss of time and money and the added frustration are enough. Next year, I will make a couple of raised beds and grow enough for us to be happy.
On the bright side, the potatoes held firm and look good. Win some, lose some, and take what you get with a lump of sugar to help the medicine go down. Another example is that we are not in control at the end of the day.
With the ground being as saturated as it is, the plants had zero chance with the 30 mph winds. Most of the squash plant’s leaves became sails, pulling the plants out of the ground and breaking their stalks from their roots. In other places, the staples holding the weed barrier in place let go, allowing the fabric to rip across the garden, pulling the plants they protected out, and damaging the plants it landed on being ripped around by the wind. Many onions, Brussels sprouts, beans, and pumpkins were damaged or lost. Most of the corn was blown over, if not entirely out of the ground.
After the past 24 hours, the gardens are a lost cause past one of the pumpkin patches, with only damage to the leaves from the wind, some onions unbroken from the fabric landing in them, and a few winter squashes that squeaked by. At this point, when the ground dries up enough, I will harrow the areas and plant grass.
This is the second year in a row and three out of the past five years that the high rain rate combined with high winds has destroyed everything. I am finished trying to grow vegetables for our customers. The loss of time and money and the added frustration are enough. Next year, I will make a couple of raised beds and grow enough for us to be happy.
On the bright side, the potatoes held firm and look good. Win some, lose some, and take what you get with a lump of sugar to help the medicine go down. Another example is that we are not in control at the end of the day.