WHAT’S IN SEASON
The start of the heat-loving summer vegetables and fruit has begun. July marks the time when basil, cucumbers, eggplant, summer squash (including zucchini), green beans, and the season’s first early tomatoes will emerge.
Within a month the tomato season will be in full force. Ripe tomatoes will feel heavy in the hand and be slightly soft to the touch. Basil is best stored in a container of water outside of the refrigerator. Peaches, nectarines, and plums are at the height of their season and should be stored in a cool place, but preferably not the refrigerator. For the most part, fruit will taste better un-refrigerated.
Ongoing summer harvests will include lettuces, beets, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, and chard.
Early August brings even more varieties of tomatoes, plus onions, potatoes, the season’s first melons, and corn. Corn is a seemingly simple vegetable but in actuality there is a lot to know about this summer favorite. One aspect of organically grown corn that everyone should know about, like it or not, is the corn earworm. These worms are difficult to control in both organic and non-organic growing situations. The earworm is harmless to you, but will cause damage to a previously pristine ear of corn.
They are usually only found on the tip of the corn and they make deep trails wherever they eat. You may have noticed that in many grocery stores the tips of the corn are cut off. This is done to remove the worm; however, cutting the tip of the corn causes it to become dry and damages the eating quality. The best way to handle this pest is to expect that it will be there and when you are ready to eat the corn, cut the tip off yourself and enjoy your succulent, sweet summer corn.
~ Jen Ellermeyer is a Truckee resident and the CSA manager for Mountain Bounty Farm, which provides a year-round community supported agriculture program that delivers fresh, delicious, seasonal produce weekly to your area, (530) 292-3776, mountainbountyfarm.com. Comment on this column below.
