June on the Farm: Melons Are Planted and Summer Is Almost Here

Happy June!

We’re almost there. Less than 30 days until the official start of summer on June 21. After a stretch of unpredictable weather, it finally feels like the sunshine and warm days are settling in, and that has us excited for everything growing in the fields.

This past week, we were finally able to get our watermelon and cantaloupe planted. They’re now tucked into rows lined with black embossed mulch film, which plays an important role in the growing process. It helps control weeds, retain moisture, warm the soil and keep the melons from sitting directly on the dirt. The textured finish also helps keep the film in place through windy days and heavy rain.

Now comes the waiting game. Watermelons typically take 70 to 100 days to mature, while cantaloupes take about 80 to 90 days. That means we should be slicing into fresh, juicy melons right in time for peak summer. We can already taste it.

Alongside the melons, we also planted acorn, butternut and spaghetti squash. Most squash varieties take anywhere from 80 to 120 days to fully mature, setting us up nicely for an abundant early fall harvest.

In other field news, our leafy greens are thriving. The kale is already looking extra crisp and nutrient-packed this year, with big, bouncy leaves growing quickly. Kale continues to be one of our most productive crops because, when it’s harvested properly, just a few leaves at a time, it can keep producing for months. Last year, we harvested kale from early May all the way through October, and honestly, even we were surprised by how much it gave us.

Right beside it, our lettuce is thriving too, growing beautifully with all of the recent rain.

We also have some exciting new additions arriving in the market this week.

First up: fiddleheads. One of the most anticipated spring harvests, fiddleheads have a fresh, earthy flavour and a very short season, which means now is the perfect time to enjoy them while they last.

We’re also excited to share that Colasanti’s classic cinnamon sugar donuts and peach juice are now available in the market. They’ll be arriving fresh daily and can now be added to your subscription boxes and grocery delivery orders. We can smell them already, can you?

Pick up your local produce, peach juice, warm cinnamon donuts and a tub of Shaw’s vanilla ice cream this week for the perfect balance of fresh, sweet and local.