Flat Tire Farms LLC

05/04/2018

Hey folks! Sorry I haven't posted for spring 2018 yet. I'll save the excuses and get to the point. We are on track to be at the Cape Farmer's Market out by the mall sometime in late June (Thursdays from noon-5 in the lot outside Macy's).

So far peppers (hot and sweet) and tomatoes (including cherry tomatoes) are planted. For those of you into crazy hot peppers, I'm growing the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion. The asparagus bed is in its second year, so I'm letting it do its thing for now. Blackberries are moving along, and expect a crop in June... hopefully. The cantaloupe patch is almost ready for planting. And the cucumber trellis is ready for planting. As many of you know, flowers are becoming our favorite... so we'll definitely have plenty of zinnias. In addition, we're going to try calendula, and sunflowers. I've been working on a permanent raised bed for purple cone flower (echinacea), yarrow, and chrysanthemum...and also added a bed for garlic. Hopefully those things will be available along with asparagus in 2019. Lastly, I'll also have eggs available at the market. Prices are yet to be determined.

Hopefully there'll be plenty of produce and opportunity to catch up over the summer. I look forward to seeing all of you! My lovely wife Melissa enjoys the market and plans to be there most Thursdays.

07/12/2017

Coming this Thursday to the Cape farmer's market

06/20/2017

Zinnias and cherry tomatoes

05/09/2017

02/22/2017

A freaky little Carolina Reaper.

02/21/2017

2017 crops.

Seedlings already sprouted:
- Chadwick cherry tomato
- Chinese 5 pepper (to sell as container plants)
- Lucifer's Dream habeñero
- Carolina Reaper pepper
- Polbig tomato (early crop)
- California Wonder pepper

Other varieties that we'll be growing this year:
- Celebrity tomato
- Benary's Giant zinnia
- Cracker jack marigold
- Skyway tomato
- Hale's Best Jumbo cantaloupe
- Early Fortune cucumber
- Poblano peppers
- Lunchbox peppers
- Contender, Provider, and Blue Lake bush beans
- Clemson spineless okra
- Dark Green zucchini
- Early Prolific Straightneck squash

Seeds bought from Johnny's Seed, Baker Seed, and Ferry Morse. Many of this year's seed selection are AAS winners from previous years.

02/21/2017

Random pics from the field and markets

02/23/2016

On the list to grow this year:

-Jasper Cherry Tomato
-Big Beef Tomato
-Early Siberian Tomato...hopefully
-Lunchbox Pepper Mix
-Tiburon Poblano Pepper
-Intruder Bell Pepper
-Joe's Long Cayenne
-Red Okra
-Clemson Spineless Okra
-Straight 8 Cucumber
-Benary's Giant Zinnia
-Athena Canteloupe
-Zucchini
-Pumpkin
-Butternut Squash

11/18/2015

What a year! We had some amazing successes, and plenty of opportunities to learn. Some of our highlights were the zinnias, canteloupe, basil, and cherry tomatoes. Right now we're finishing up any clean-up efforts and ground preparation for overwinter.

So what would you like to see grown next year? Any suggestions?

07/23/2015

We'll be at the Cape Farmers Market today. Sunflowers, Zinnias, cherry tomatoes, melons, butternut squash and herbs will be available! The market is noon to 5 outside the old Venture parking lot at the Westfield Mall.

06/18/2015

What we've been up to so far this year

06/18/2015

Flat Tire Farms-2015

Another growing season is already here! This year I’ve given more attention to ground preparation and warm weather crop cultivation. The biggest change this year will be the addition of ground cover, planters paper fabric, and black plastic mulch over the part of the field. This will significantly reduce weeds and undesirable plants from popping up and forcing me to waste time weeding and hoeing. Last year was a constant struggle against the weeds...and in some cases, it was a losing battle.

Several of the varieties I chose this year are hybrids. Hybrids are a result of naturally breeding two different varieties together. This is a natural process that involves pollination. The main advantage of hybrids is to breed characteristics of one variety into the other. For example, one plant may have excellent taste but low disease/fungus/insect resistance. A second plant may have mediocre taste, but excellent natural disease/fungus/insect resistance. The result means a great tasting vegetable that will be stronger in the field, and grow more reliably. Strong, healthy and vigorous plants are the first line of defense against pests, molds and fungi. This also means less usage of any OMRI approved pesticides like NEEM Oil.

Varieties I’ll be growing this year:

-Jasper cherry/grape hybrid tomatoes (AAS winner, 2013).

-Big Beef hybrid tomatoes (AAS winner, 1994).

-Porterhouse tomato.

-Sun Gold cherry/grape tomatoes.

-Intruder bell peppers.

-Red Burgundy Okra (Heirloom)...hopefully.

-Kentucky Blue pole bean (AAS winner, 1991).

-Athena cantaloupe/melons.

-Lunchbox pepper mix (...the small, brightly colored peppers).

-Waltham Butternut Squash (AAS winner, 1970).

-Alexandria zucchini hybrid.

-Sweet Success Cucumber (AAS winner, 1983).

-Benary’s Giant Zinnia.

-Teddy Bear sunflower.

-Greenburst sunflower.

-Luffa cucumbers (which we make into luffa sponges).

-Cinnamon Girl PMR pie pumpkins.

-Rival PMR jack-o-lantern pumpkins.

Most seeds were purchased through Johnny’s Select Seeds, Burpee Seed Company, and Lake Valley Seed Company.

About AAS: All American Selections is a trusted and independent organization that recognizes top performing varieties of flowers and vegetables with national and regional awards. Judging must be based on more than one remarkable characteristic. Some examples include: earliness, disease resistance, color, taste, length of flowering, and harvest.

http://all-americaselections.org//index.cfm