It's Tomato Time!

We have started to harvest the first red, ripe tomatoes of this summer season! The plants are growing strong and the fruits are sweet and juicy. It’s time to start enjoying tomato and cucumber salads at every meal, BLTs, pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil, pizza, ratatouille…the options are endless!

Our tomatoes are now available for purchase at the Hunger Mountain Coop, Plainfield Hardware, and Bragg Farm. We have a limited availability of "seconds" tomatoes available for sale at the farm on Mondays and Thursdays from 12 - 5 pm. These are first come, first serve and cash or check only. Pre-weighed 10lb flats for $20. As production peaks later this season there will be an abundance of seconds available for sale at the farm.  

As part of Open Farm Week, we will be hosting our second annual Tomato Trot here at the farm on August 12th. It is a 5k trail run that winds through the woods and fields of Cate Farm. Run or walk the 5K from 4 - 5 pm, which will be followed by a farm social from 5 - 6 pm with light snacks provided. Cross the finish line and you receive a pound of our tomatoes! Word of mouth is our preferred advertising so please help spread the word to your friends and family.

Keep cool out there!

Flint & the Cate Farm Crew

Sunshine & Shivers

Spring is here, but we’re not in the clear from the occasional night of freezing temperatures. In the last week there has been scattered frost throughout central Vermont and the forecast says Wednesday night into Thursday morning threaten some truly chilly temperatures. Here are a few tips to protect plants from these brisk blasts:

  • Wait to transplant cold sensitive plants (tomatoes, peppers, marigolds etc) until the frost free date for your growing zone. We generally use Memorial Day weekend at the farm, but keep an eye on the weather into June in case there is an outlying cold snap.

  • Cover plants already in the ground with a row cover, sheets, tarps or plastic. The thicker the cover, the better it will protect against the cold. You can also place plastic buckets or containers over plants to protect them from the cold. 

  • Use wire hoops with row cover, plastic, etc. to create a tent around the plants so that the cover does not come in contact with the plants.

  • Cover plants in the afternoon before freezing temperatures are expected. This helps to trap heat around the plants.

  • Some plants are more cold hardy than others.

    • Onions can withstand cold snaps in the 20s. Brassicas (kale, broccoli, cabbages etc) can tolerate moderate freezes if they are well established and have been hardened off. Basil is very sensitive and does not do well if temperatures drop below 40 degrees.

    • Harden off plants by gradually exposing them to the elements (wind, rain, sun & cold). The transition from the luxurious, protected environment of the greenhouse or a windowsill to the outdoors should be made incrementally. 

How to Harden Off Seedlings

Wishing you the best of luck during these cold snaps!

Plant Sales at the farm continue through the first weekend in June, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 am - 2 pm. We continue to pot up more plants to keep the benches full!

Flint and the Cate Farm Crew

2023 Plant Sale Dates: Fridays & Saturdays, 8 am - 2 pm

May: 
19th & 20th
26th & 27th
June: 
2nd & 3rd