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By stacey, May 30, 2011 6:40 pm

I have to admit, I did not have high hopes for the weather this Memorial Day weekend (pretty sure I’m not alone on that)! But it has been so nice, aside from those brief, spotty showers Saturday morning. The sunshine is a boon for barbecues, gardeners and garden centers alike. We need a little break from the wet to relax by the grill, visit with friends and family, and to add a little beauty around our houses – colorful annuals, hardy perennials, and a tomato or six.

Out on the farm, we’ve been lucky enough to continue planting in most areas. There are a few fields that look more like a swamp then a field, but the high, sandy soil here on the Ridge is a huge benefit. When asked about the weather, Farmer Tim will answer, “First it was challenging, then it was frustrating, and now it’s just unbelievable.” Things are still growing though! Yesterday we saw the first bloom on the pea plants – fresh peas in about three weeks!

In the market right now, we have fresh Kirbygrown asparagus, spinach and rhubarb. We also have three varieties of CA Apples: Empire; AC Mac; and Crispin. (CA stands for controlled atmosphere, a method of storage that keeps the apples unbelievably crisp.) I had a Mac for lunch earlier and it was great! The apples are absolutely delicious with Kutter’s cheddar, available in our cooler right now.

Walking around in the greenhouse area is so pleasant today. It’s warm in the sun with a little breeze, and there are flowers everywhere. Peony, foxglove, lupine, poppy, columbine and coral bells are just a few perennials in bloom. We have container gardens of various sizes for sale, perfect for Memorial Day, or brightening up your porch or deck. Stop by soon, some varieties are selling out!

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By stacey, May 23, 2011 11:03 pm

History and Nutrition

The brief season of our first vegetable is full of enthusiastic fans, and for good reason! Asparagus has been enjoyed as far back as 3000 B.C, as documented in an Egyptian frieze. Beloved by kings, early physicians, and ancient epicureans alike, asparagus has a lot to offer the modern vegetable eater! 4-5 grams protein and 3 grams of fiber per cup, an excellent source of folic acid and a very good source of vitamins B1, B2, B3 and B6, not to mention it’s high rating on a scale of deliciousness. Grilled, satueed, steamed, boiled, roasted, or broiled asparagus is delicious with just about anything. Beef, chicken, eggs, salads, pasta… The flavor of asparagus pairs especially well with garlic, rosemary, tarragon, thyme and lemon.

Try this simple recipe!

• Cut 1 pound of fresh, rinsed, Kirbygrown asparagus into even pieces.
• Heat 1 Tablespoon of olive oil in a pan on medium.
• Add one clove of fresh, minced garlic and saute briefly, then toss in your asparagus.
• Cover and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring now and then, until the asparagus is crisp tender. (My asparagus of medium thickness was done in 8 minutes.)
• Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt or to taste, and serve! I recommend a garnish of chive flowers or purple violas.

Variation: Toss with the juice of 1/2 a lemon.

Storage and Peparation Tips:

1. It’s best to use asparagus within a few days of purchasing to get full flavor and nutritional benefits.
2. To store asaparagus, wrap the ends in wet paper towel and then put the entire bunch in a plastic bag. You want to contain a little moisture so the stalks don’t get dried out.
3. Asparagus loves growing in the sandy soil of our Ridge Road farm, so make sure you rinse it well to avoid crunching on grains of sand.
4. Break off the white woody end before cooking to remove the fibrous part of the plant that grows under the soil.

More recipes to come!

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By stacey, May 9, 2011 8:38 pm

Peaches – Our early peach varieties are in full bloom right now! When you drive by the farm you’ll see rows of cloudy pink – those are the peaches and they smell fantastic. Peaches won’t be ready until July, but Spring is still a crucial time of year for our peach crop.  A hard frost wiping out thousands of peaches is a very real danger through the month of May, which would mean the end to delicious Kirbygrown peaches for 2011. How can you tell if it gets too cold? The morning after a cold break Mr. Kirby will go out to the orchard and open up a blossom. If the center is black, the fruit has been killed. This is also true of strawberry blossoms. As of this moment our peach crop is looking great – let’s hope Mother Nature is kind this season!

Asparagus - On a hot day you can practically watch the asparagus grow. This cold wet Spring we’ve had so far has slowed it down. Our first picking came in last week but it will be a few days before we pick again. If you’re planning to come by for asparagus before the weekend, call ahead to be sure we have it in. We also take orders by phone, which is always a good idea for large quantities (asparagus freezes and pickles well). Check our facebook page for updates!

Rhubarb – we’ll be picking some nice big stalks this weekend. Rhubarb pie anyone? Or sauce! Yum.

Spinach & Beets – if we continue to get warm sunshine for a while (cross your fingers!) we’ll have spinach and beets in two weeks.

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By stacey, May 3, 2011 3:22 pm

It’s too cold out there for planting annuals, but stop by the market this weekend (our displays will be complete by Saturday, May 7th) and find a gorgeous spring blooming perennial for your garden! These hardy plants will survive a WNY winter so you know they won’t mind a little Spring chill in the air.

Perennial Manager Jaime Brennan tells us about Amsonia hubrichtii, Thread-leaf Blue Star, the perennial of the month here at Kirby’s:

“The Perennial Plant Association has chosen Amsonia hubrichtii, Thread-leaf Blue Star to be recognized  for 2011. This beautiful and graceful perennial is also a native plant. Long lived, bug and pest free, it’s flowers emerge in May and June with clusters of steel blue. The long narrow leaves give the plant a look of a bottle brush that turns to a golden yellow in the fall.

Amsonia is a beautiful addition to any garden. It keeps a nice bush shape and I have seen many early butterflies enjoying it’s blooms in our garden along the east side of the greenhouse. Stop by to meet Amsonia today!”

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Some examples of perennials that are blooming in our displays right now:

(Mouseover for the name of each plant. Click for a larger image)

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By stacey, May 2, 2011 10:51 pm

“Zion” Osteospernum

Beautiful sunset-like colors.

Likes full sun or part sun.

Height: 16″

Care: Remove spent flowers. Allow soil to dry between waterings.

Uses: Containers, borders, rock gardens

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“Butterfly Deep Rose” Penta

Attracts butterflies.

Likes full sun,

Height: 18″ – 24″

Care: Heat tolerant, drought tolerant, fertilize regularly.

Uses: Containers, borders, garden beds

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“Mini Famous” Calibrachoa Double Salmon, Pink, or Blue

Likes full sun or part sun. Produces lots of flowers!

Height: 4″, Trailing

Care: Keep soil moist on hot days. Fertilize regularly.

Uses: Containers, window boxes

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“Beth’s Blue” Star Flower

Likes full sun

Height: 12″ – 14″

Care: Heat tolerant, deadheading not necessary, fertilize regularly.

Uses: Containers, landscapes

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“Fiber Optic Grass” Scirpus cernus

Creates a unique texture!

Likes full sun or part shade. 

Height: 10″ – 14″

Care: Heat tolerant, fertilize regularly.

Uses: Landscapes and containers

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“Picobella Carmine” Petunia

Likes full sun or part shade. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds!

Height: 8″ – 10″

Care: Heat tolerant, remove spent flowers, fertilize regularly.

ses: Containers, landscapes

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