As summer hits its stride, the garden at H&H Fine Food Farm has been buzzing with life, lessons, and a few surprises. July brought peak tomato season, a bounty of peppers, some squash experiments, and the early signs of what looks like a promising berry future. Here’s a look back at what we’ve been up to this past month.
Tomato Talk
Tomatoes stole the show again this year—and gave us a few twists along the way.
- Early Girls and Pink Girls were rock stars in late June to early July, but by July 27, we pulled the plants to make room for a second round of Big Beef.
- Big Beef has been tasty, though not especially productive. In contrast, Park Whoppers have been real workhorses, still blooming as July wraps up.
- Chocolate Cherry and Yellow Gold (thank you, Mike!) have been the cherry tomato MVPs for snacking and salads – sweet, productive, and still going strong.
- Our first ripe tomatoes appeared in the second week of June, with steady harvests through mid-July. Production is slowing now, and we’re harvesting earlier to avoid cracking.
- Pests and worms showed up mid-month, so we’ve been vigilant in keeping them at bay.
- Consistent sprays of Epsom salt solution every 10 days seem to be helping the plants stay strong.
Pepper Power
July was a banner month for peppers:
- Bell peppers are thriving, with vibrant reds appearing by mid-July.
- Jalapeño and poblano plants have been steady producers since early June – healthy, hearty, and full of flavor.
Legumes & Squash
The legumes and squash brought variety to the garden this month:
- First row of zipper peas (planted mid-May) was ready to pick by July 20. Don’t worry Emily there will be plenty more. We’ll plant a second batch in late August!
- Zucchini and yellow squash went in by mid-July.
- Spaghetti and butternut squash were added on July 20, and we’re excited to see how these late summer plantings perform.
Okra’s Moment
Okra had its summer surge:
- Daily picking began on July 20, and it hasn’t slowed down since.
- Thriving in the heat, okra continues to prove itself as a reliable summer staple.
Berries in Transition
Blackberries
- Blackberry season wrapped up in early July with a solid harvest.
- Old canes have been pruned and tipped, setting the stage for next year.
- New Ponca blackberry plants (planted March 2025) look strong and healthy—promising signs for seasons to come.
Raspberries
- The red raspberry plants from Mark are thriving.
- Cal-Ark starts from Gregg Hohn are slower to establish, with smaller canes, but they’re holding steady.
Muscadine Watch
By mid-July, netting went up as muscadines began to ripen. Unfortunately, early signs suggest a 50–60% lower yield compared to last year. Henry is keeping a close watch as the season unfolds, and we’re hopeful the vines will surprise us.
Looking Ahead
With the height of summer behind us and fall approaching, our focus is shifting to:
- Planning cool-weather plantings
- Preparing for second harvests
- Building soil health for the next season
Thank you for following along with life on the farm! Whether you’re a fellow grower, a friend of H&H, or simply curious about what’s sprouting—we’re glad you’re here.