Summer Crops See Slow Start

Cooler temperatures in the region earlier this year caused certain crops to grow more slowly, according to local farmers, including Jim Card, owner and operator of Card Family Market Garden, of Nine Mile Falls. Card said he harvests weekly and grows dozens of different cool and warm weather crops, such as arugula, beans, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, several kinds of squashes and tomatoes, watermelons, and other produce. “We just started getting tomatoes within the last week.

Last year, we had tomatoes by mid-June. It’s kind of been upside down,” he said. Card hopes his watermelons will be ready next month. The cooler weather in May and June held back production. Plants that need warm temperatures to thrive, such as peppers, stopped growing during that period, he said. “It just stalled them out,” said Card. With temperatures hot again, many plants are starting to fruit, which causes a different set of problems for businesses like Card’s. “Now that the heat's kicking in, everything’s going to come on quickly,” said Card.

“That’s a good thing, but you might get everything all at once, and you might not be able to get rid of it before it starts going bad.” Card said he sells at farmers markets; he doesn’t have an avenue to sell in bulk, so when plants all ripen at the same time, there’s a risk that his goods will rot before he can sell them all. Card’s farm has more than 1,000 tomato plants; some of those tomatoes are in high tunnels, and others are open field. Typically, Card said the high tunnel tomatoes ripen earlier, enabling a staggered harvest instead of bulk harvesting.

This year, strangely, the tomatoes mostly seemed to ripen closer together, he noted. “Usually those tomatoes in the tunnels, we start getting them the first part of June, and they’re just now coming on. My crop tomatoes are just starting to ripen, too, so they’re catching up to stuff. It’s kind of weird,” he said. Other local businesses report different, individual experiences.

Mom’s Garden Patch, of Deer Park, is in its first year of business, and operations have been going “much better than I expected,” said Tina Kyser, owner and operator. The business sold approximately 500 plant starts and donated roughly 350 to the local master gardener’s program. “I didn’t get a chance to test the soil before I started this year. Usually, I test in the spring and the fall. I just put plants in the ground, and they’re actually doing really well and producing. I’ve got a lot going. It’s the biggest garden I’ve ever grown,” said Kyser.

The 10-acre farm is growing on a quarter acre. Produce includes several herbs, brussel sprouts, peppers, sunflowers, snapdragons, tomatoes, and peppers, said Kyser. Her favorite plant to grow is garlic. “I just harvested 500 heads of garlic, so those have been curing for the last couple weeks. Now, I’m in the process of cleaning those up,” said Kyser. Looking forward, Kyser said she’s excited for next year. She’s moving, expanding her greenhouse, and is just wrapping up work on the inline irrigation system. “Next year, by the end of the summer, we hope to have our farm stand up and operating,” she said. Mom’s Garden Patch can also be found at The Deer Park Market, said Kyser.

Meanwhile, Chattaroybased S & L Lavender Farm has seen roughly the same amount of business revenue this year as last, said Lance Perry, co-owner. “It’s not dropped, and it’s not picked up,” said Perry. As the business incorporates new aspects into it, other parts drop off, said Perry.

The cooler weather in May and June held back production. Plants that need warm temperatures to thrive, such as peppers, stopped growing during that period, he said. “It just stalled them out,” said Card. With temperatures hot again, many plants are starting to fruit, which causes a different set of problems for businesses like Card’s. “Now that the heat's kicking in, everything’s going to come on quickly,” said Card. “That’s a good thing, but you might get everything all at once, and you might not be able to get rid of it before it starts going bad.” Card said he sells at farmers markets; he doesn’t have an avenue to sell in bulk, so when plants all ripen at the same time, there’s a risk that his goods will rot before he can sell them all. Card’s farm has more than 1,000 tomato plants; some of those tomatoes are in high tunnels, and others are open field. Typically, Card said the high tunnel tomatoes ripen earlier, enabling a staggered harvest instead of bulk harvesting.

This year, strangely, the tomatoes mostly seemed to ripen closer together, he noted. “Usually those tomatoes in the tunnels, we start getting them the first part of June, and they’re just now coming on. My crop tomatoes are just starting to ripen, too, so they’re catching up to stuff. It’s kind of weird,” he said. Other local businesses report different, individual experiences. Mom’s Garden Patch, of Deer Park, is in its first year of business, and operations have been going “much better than I expected,” said Tina Kyser, owner and operator. The business sold approximately 500 plant starts and donated roughly 350 to the local master gardener’s program.

“I didn’t get a chance to test the soil before I started this year. Usually, I test in the spring and the fall. I just put plants in the ground, and they’re actually doing really well and producing. I’ve got a lot going. It’s the biggest garden I’ve ever grown,” said Kyser. The 10-acre farm is growing on a quarter acre. Produce includes several herbs, brussel sprouts, peppers, sunflowers, snapdragons, tomatoes, and peppers, said Kyser. Her favorite plant to grow is garlic. “I just harvested 500 heads of garlic, so those have been curing for the last couple weeks.

Now, I’m in the process of cleaning those up,” said Kyser. Looking forward, Kyser said she’s excited for next year. She’s moving, expanding her greenhouse, and is just wrapping up work on the inline irrigation system. “Next year, by the end of the summer, we hope to have our farm stand up and operating,” she said. Mom’s Garden Patch can also be found at The Deer Park Market, said Kyser. Meanwhile, Chattaroybased S & L Lavender Farm has seen roughly the same amount of business revenue this year as last, said Lance Perry, co-owner. “It’s not dropped, and it’s not picked up,” said Perry. As the business incorporates new aspects into it, other parts drop off, said Perry.

For example, the business recently held a lavender festival July 11-12. However, the business isn’t participating in farmers markets this year. “Me being the farmer, I can’t leave here. I’m tethered to all of the chores sun up to sun down. As you lose revenue in the farmers markets, you pick up revenue in the festival,” said Perry. The organic operation consists of approximately 8,000 lavender plants across 20 varieties on a drip system, said Perry. This is the first year that the farm has offered U-Pick to the public because the lavender plants were finally matured enough for that feature. However, the farm collected oils from lavender in previous years for its products.

S & L Lavender Farm also sells culinary buds, candles and wax melts, cleaners, hydrosols, lip balms, lotions, oils, roller balls, sachets, soaps, premade gifts, and related products. More than 90% of the products sold in the store are made at the farm, according to Perry. S & L Lavender Farm is the only fully mechanized lavender farm in Washington state, Perry highlighted. Because the entire harvesting process is handled by machinery, the end product translates to competitive pricing for the customer, he said. “Our pricing has got to be one of the lowest, but then we’re also 100% organic, unadulterated essential oils, and we’re here. That’s a big deal in the lavender world,” said Perry.

Of all the aspects of his business, Perry said his favorite part is selling and talking with customers. He especially enjoys helping customers who aren’t sure what they want and to “turn their mystery into options.” “Not only are they educated, but they leave with options, and they’re pretty excited about that,” said Perry. Although the S & L Lavender Farm doesn’t do farmers markets, their shop is open Thursday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 5307 E. Chattaroy Road. Both Card Family Market Garden and Mom’s Garden Patch can be found at The Deer Park Market, which operates the first Saturday of each month between May and October in Perrins Field, 315 E. Crawford.