It’s early February. The ground is frozen. And we just planted tomatoes.
That usually surprises people.
Early February. Frozen ground outside. Tomato seeds going into trays.
Tomatoes take a long time to grow well. By the time you’re slicing one of ours in early June, it has had months of quiet attention: seeds started indoors, roots established, plants potted up and moved, light managed carefully while it’s still winter outside. Most of the work that feeds summer starts quietly.
There’s another step most people never see, and it matters. We graft our tomatoes, which means joining the top of one variety onto the roots of a sturdier one. It’s careful, hands-on work that helps the plants stay healthier and more productive over a long season. It takes more time up front, but it means stronger plants and better fruit later. It’s one of the reasons we have tomatoes earlier than most local farms, and keep them going longer.
Registration for the CSA helps us plan what to start in these trays. For what else grows in the cold months, see Greens in February. The farm store is open year-round, and more from the farm is in Field Notes.
