I planted beets early this season, hoping to harvest them late spring or early summer. Now, some of them started to bolt before the roots get large enough to harvest.

This is very frustrating and happens not only to beets but also to some leafy greens in spring. So, I googled! We tend to think high temperature as a reason for bolting, but, according to an article by Michigan State University, low temperature for a certain period before warmth is what primes the plant for flowering. This priming process is called vernalization. In the case of beets, they are receptive to vernalization if exposed to temperatures between 5 and 9 degrees for one to five weeks as seeds or young plants. This process can be reversed if plant is exposed to temperature above 17 degrees immediately after vernalization. Following vernalization, it starts to flower if it gets days of long daylight. I sowed beet seeds on March 3rd. Throughout March and April, temperature stays below 15 degrees, and it reached above 17 only in mid-May, based on data available online. Our farm locates on high elevation, and actual temperature may be lower by a few degrees than most part of the island, so our beets had most likely been in vernalization and were not reversed before the days get longer. The condition may be perfect to produce seeds, but not so to harvest roots… For next year, I will delay planting at the beginning of the season in order to improve spring harvest.

On our farm, potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes and burdocks are nicely growing. Snap peas finally started to flower last week and I am looking forward to harvesting peas soon. Lettuces are now ready to harvest and we will deliver our first salad mix to our local Ground Up Cafe next week. I started to plant tomatoes in the greenhouse. Cucumbers will be planted soon. Zucchinis are flowering!

I have been adjusting baking to summer temperatures by reducing water in pre-ferment and increasing salt in final dough. Sometimes our loaf still comes out a little flat but taste good. I may not be able to try new recipes in summer, but please stay tuned for fall and winter season for new bread.

At farmers markets we often meet customers who says they enjoyed their recent trips to Japan. With favorable exchange rate, it is relatively economical to travel there, and I myself am still amazed by seeing old and modern cultures coexist there.

Back in late 19^th century, though, Japan experienced a major societal change from old feudal system to modern nation.  One museum in Matsuyama City, Ehime prefecture popped up to our Instagram feed yesterday.  It is “Saka no Ue no Kumo museum” and it exhibits materials from the novel “Clouds above the Hill” by famous Japanese novelist Ryoutaro Shiba.  It is a story based on the true life of three young men, one famous poet, Shiki Matsuoka, two brothers, Yoshifumi and Saneyuki Akiyama who all lived in Ehime prefecture, and depicts their life as a poet and military officers (two Akiyama brothers) during dynamic societal change and major war against imperial Russia.  City of Matsuyama website says this museum is part of their vision of the entire city becomes “Roofless Museum”.  I enjoyed Mr. Shiba’s novels including “Clouds above the Hill” in my teenage years and am planning to visit the museum during my next trip.  If you have a chance to travel to Japan, you might enjoy visiting this place.

Our market schedule is as follows:

• Island Roots Farmers’ Market: Beban Park, 2300 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, 3 – 6pm on Wednesday
• AGI Market: AGI Hall, Gabriola, 10am – 2pm on Saturday

Thank you for reading our weekly newsletter. Have a wonderful June week!