Spring on the farm always feels a little bit like chaos, and lately we’ve been fully in what we call “plant shuffle” mode. Every day seems to involve moving trays from one greenhouse to another, reorganizing starts, up-potting, making room for what’s growing faster than expected, and trying to keep everything sorted between plants destined for others in our community sold at the Helena Farmers Market and plants that will eventually head out to our own fields.
One greenhouse is packed full of veggie starts that will soon be heading home with gardeners around the community. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, flowers, and all kinds of vegetables are growing fast right now, and keeping everything watered, organized, labeled, and hardened off has become a full-time shuffle. Another greenhouse is dedicated to the crops we’re growing for ourselves here on the farm — the plants that will eventually feed our family and stock our market tables later this summer.
At this point in the season, we’re still being very cautious about what actually goes into the ground outside. Montana spring weather always keeps us humble. Right now, we only have our cold hardy crops planted outdoors: kale, swiss chard, onions, and beets. Our seed potatoes are also tucked into the soil, though they haven’t pushed through the surface just yet. Everything else is simply a waiting game. We’ve learned over the years that patience is usually rewarded this time of year, even if it’s hard to wait while greenhouses are overflowing with healthy plants ready to grow.
One thing we are especially excited about this season is that we already have a greenhouse planted with tomatoes and cucumbers for early harvests. Our hope is that after plant sales wrap up, we’ll be able to return to the farmers market earlier this year with fresh produce. After a long winter, the thought of that first harvest feels pretty exciting.
In the meantime, we’d love to see you at the Helena Farmers Market. You can find us at Fuller Ave and Neill Ave with veggie starts, garden plants, fresh farm eggs, and plenty of excitement for the growing season ahead. Whether you’re planting your very first garden or adding a few more tomatoes than you planned on (we understand), we always enjoy visiting with everyone and talking gardening. Spring is finally here — even if Montana likes to make us wait for it a little longer some days.