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Growers planting fall crops say weather’s dry, temps cool
By Bobbie Whitehead
Area growers have begun in earnest to prepare for fall crops, having planted plenty of kale, collards, green beans, cabbage, pumpkins and squash, even though many growers still have summer fruits and vegetables for sale.
Cooler temperatures, though, at night during the past week and drier weather has slowed growth down some for some summer vegetables, some say.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in its weekly update reported that some Virginia counties have had rain, but most of the state suffers from dry conditions.
“It’s been too dry lately for the summer crops, and the cool weather may keep some crops from producing well,” said Margaret Mansfield, owner of Mansfield Produce on Nansemond Parkway in Suffolk. “The winter
Area growers have begun in earnest to prepare for fall crops, having planted plenty of kale, collards, green beans, cabbage, pumpkins and squash, even though many growers still have summer fruits and vegetables for sale.
Cooler temperatures, though, at night during the past week and drier weather has slowed growth down some for some summer vegetables, some say.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in its weekly update reported that some Virginia counties have had rain, but most of the state suffers from dry conditions.
“It’s been too dry lately for the summer crops, and the cool weather may keep some crops from producing well,” said Margaret Mansfield, owner of Mansfield Produce on Nansemond Parkway in Suffolk. “The winter
crops will probably get too much water. That’s how it usually works.”
In Isle of Wight County, grower Joe Joyner said crops need water, and if the temperatures had been higher during the past week, the crops would have suffered severely.
“We need rain terribly; it’s very dry now,” Joyner said. “If you just look in the fields, you’ll see the leaves on the plants look flat. That’s because they need water. My kale and collards need it terribly. Everything has a season, and we just haven’t had a good one this year. It’s been the worst year for corn I’ve ever had.”
Joyner and Mansfield both still have summer crops but have already planted their winter produce.
Mansfield said she has plenty of home-grown tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelons for sale.
But she has already planted winter vegetables and plans to have collards, string beans, Hanover, winter squash, and some cabbage. Mansfield’s pumpkins, a popular commodity, will be available by Sept. 15, she said.
Mansfield Produce, which is open seven days a week, has experienced an increase in customers this summer with people from Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk and even Gloucester coming by for fruits and vegetables, she said.
Joyner has planted Siberian kale and collards, which he said he should be able to begin harvest some stuff out before the end of the first week of October.
In Courtland, Grayson and Emma’s Garden Spot, too, has planted winter crops and expects to harvest and sell a lot of pumpkins and gourds. Typically considered a winter squash, spaghetti squash is already available at Grayson and Emma’s.
Other winter vegetables the Courtland market has planted include a few collards, and it will continue to sell zucchini as well as patty pan squash through September.
In Smithfield, Pam and Jimmy Oliver of Oliver Farms LLC, too, have fall crops planted and are taking orders for their fall butterbean crop.
For folks with backyard gardens, Glenn Slade, Surry County agricultural extension agent, said gardeners can still plant some snaps, Crowder peas, collards, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, mustard greens or field crest, depending on what they wants to grow.
In Isle of Wight County, grower Joe Joyner said crops need water, and if the temperatures had been higher during the past week, the crops would have suffered severely.
“We need rain terribly; it’s very dry now,” Joyner said. “If you just look in the fields, you’ll see the leaves on the plants look flat. That’s because they need water. My kale and collards need it terribly. Everything has a season, and we just haven’t had a good one this year. It’s been the worst year for corn I’ve ever had.”
Joyner and Mansfield both still have summer crops but have already planted their winter produce.
Mansfield said she has plenty of home-grown tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelons for sale.
But she has already planted winter vegetables and plans to have collards, string beans, Hanover, winter squash, and some cabbage. Mansfield’s pumpkins, a popular commodity, will be available by Sept. 15, she said.
Mansfield Produce, which is open seven days a week, has experienced an increase in customers this summer with people from Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk and even Gloucester coming by for fruits and vegetables, she said.
Joyner has planted Siberian kale and collards, which he said he should be able to begin harvest some stuff out before the end of the first week of October.
In Courtland, Grayson and Emma’s Garden Spot, too, has planted winter crops and expects to harvest and sell a lot of pumpkins and gourds. Typically considered a winter squash, spaghetti squash is already available at Grayson and Emma’s.
Other winter vegetables the Courtland market has planted include a few collards, and it will continue to sell zucchini as well as patty pan squash through September.
In Smithfield, Pam and Jimmy Oliver of Oliver Farms LLC, too, have fall crops planted and are taking orders for their fall butterbean crop.
For folks with backyard gardens, Glenn Slade, Surry County agricultural extension agent, said gardeners can still plant some snaps, Crowder peas, collards, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, mustard greens or field crest, depending on what they wants to grow.
Many local growers have already planted fall crops, such as broccoli, kale, collards, pumpkins, and squash, under drier than usual conditions.
