Hope Sprouts

10/17/2026

Hello gardeners! We’ve had some chilly nights already but tonight has the potential of being season-ending cold. If your garden is exposed (like the community garden in Moorestown) get out today and pick any tomatoes and peppers you can.
I have been racing the season trying to get a tomato out of a rare heirloom called Mar Azul that friends brought back from Spain in June. I’m headed over to the farmlette now to dig up the plants and put them in pots so I can bring them in and out. I am trying to see if I can get the tomatoes to ripen before the frost.
Garlic planters- it’s nearly time. Wait until after Halloween but before thanksgiving. If you haven’t ordered garlic to plant this year there is still a little time to do that, although stock is probably limited at this point.

09/02/2026

Hello gardeners! I hope everyone is enjoying all the yummies you’re growing. The first image was my breakfast this morning. The best time of the year is when you can eat your backyard! And if you’re like me your neighbors and friends are eating your backyard, too.
Couple of housekeeping notes:
1- Keep up with the weeding and trimming any dead or dying lower leaves on tomatoes. Some plants will be finishing up around now. Go ahead and pull them if they are on their last legs and are not producing.
2- Wow, we have had a lot of rain. While it’s great to see so much green in late summer this does have an effect on peppers and tomatoes. Hot peppers will have less heat, and tomatoes will crack. The best you can do is pick before the rain comes. If that big beefsteak tomato has a crack eat it quickly or make sauce to freeze for later.
3- too many tomatoes all at once and not up canning? Freeze them. Take a sheet pan and throw cleaned whole tomatoes (or cored tomatoes) on it and freeze. When frozen put in a ziplock bag in the freezer, then take out as many as you need for sauce all winter.
4- too many peppers? Slice in half or strips and dry peppers on a rack or in the oven on the lowest temp- or in a dehydrator.
Enjoy the bounty and happy gardening!

08/04/2026

Hello fellow gardeners! We got nearly 4” of rain in the past 24 hours and after waiting all these weeks for nice, ripe tomatoes the last thing you want are cracked & soggy ones. Go out and pick as soon as you can! Use the cracked ones first- in salads, sauces- whatever works. Pick anything that’s starting to turn and let them ripen on the counter or windowsill. There’s more rain coming later this week.
Some happy veggie pics from the garden.

06/21/2026

Good morning gardeners! How’s your garden growing?

I ate my first homegrown tomato from my garden yesterday! Yes, in June! This year’s winner of the first tomato of the season award is a newcomer (for me): Texas Tiny! The tomato lived up to its name, it was tiny but punched above its weight in flavor. They are going to be wonderful thrown into salads.

Happy gardening!

05/17/2026

To all of our wonderful gardening friends old and new and huge THANK YOU for supporting our crazy little plant obsession. From freezing rain to hot sunny days you showed up and we are so grateful! We are done for the season but while we won’t have any more market days we’re always here if you have questions or just need a little gardening support. There are no silly questions. We all were beginners and we all learn something new every season, so don’t be shy. We are here to help make your gardening journey a success. There is nothing better than eating what you grew yourself!
Quick planting tip of the day: water those tender sprouts. Especially when the temps get over 90 degrees (I’m looking at you, early next week). Try to give the ground a nice soak early in the morning and your plants will thank you by not flopping over like the divas they want to be by the end of the day. Soak the ground not the leaves if you can. Make your early morning garden ritual a peaceful start to your day.
Happy gardening, and many thanks!

05/15/2026

Tomorrow is our final market day for the season, and we’re ending it with a bang. We’ll have lots of peppers, tomatoes, and basil, plus some odds n ends that never made the list (usually because we had only a couple of them). So stop by the market and enjoy the lovely weather (finally!!!) 🌱❤️

Email from The County of Burlington The Burlington County Farmers Market Burlington County Farmers Market C E L E B R A T I N G 20 Y E A R S ! Every Saturday ~ 8:30am to 1pm Burlington County Agricu

05/14/2026

Have I mentioned how much I have hated telling everyone to wait to plant their gardens this season? Well, I’m done. Go plant before it’s 100 degrees, which it will probably be next week. We can’t win. It’s either cold and rainy or roasting. Welcome to our new weather pattern.
Despite the recent rainy weather we are still in an official drought. What that means is that while the surface of the ground may be wet it’s still drier than average deep down. Gardens, especially ones where you garden every year, benefit from nutrients like worm castings, compost soil, and regular feeding of plants for healthy growth. A happy and healthy plant is the base for a productive plant later in the season. Remember to plant this tomatoes deeply. We generally remove the bottom branches and plant about 1/2 the plant underground to ensure it has a good base. Peppers can be planted at the same level they were in their pots, or just a little bit deeper. Remember to remove any flowers or flower buds when planting. That helps the plants direct their energy into the roots. Pinching the tops of peppers helps make bushier plants, and bushier plants give you more peppers.
That’s all for today’s lesson. Go dig in the dirt and we’ll see you on Saturday for our final day at the Burlington County Farmers Market for the season. It’s going to be a beautiful day on Saturday!

05/11/2026

Thank you to everyone that came out on Saturday. This is our final week for plants for the 2026 season. We have one more day at the Burlington county farmers market- this Saturday, May 16 from 8:30 - 1:00. We are sold out of some varieties but still have plants available. Get them before they are gone! This is your last chance for plants. After next Saturday we are done for the season.
As for planting- looks like we are good to go after Monday. If you haven’t arranged a pick up or drop off please get in touch this week. Happy gardening!

05/02/2026

Good morning, my gardening friends! Welcome to another chilly weekend. I had planned to do some planting today but guess what? I’m not. Because it’s still too damn cold to plant the veggies. We have a few nights in the 40s forecasted and so I’m holding off until the end of next weekend. And so should you. It’s just another week. You can do it. This too shall pass.
In the meantime it’s the perfect time to get your garden beds prepped. Do all the things you say you’re going to do every year and then don’t because you’re in a hurry to get your plants in the ground. Amend your soil. Enlarge your beds so your veggies aren’t crowded. Go ahead and dig some holes and plot out where you’re putting the plants.
See you next Saturday at the farmers market!