Still Many Pecans, NO Peach Crop in 2024

    The 25 F frost of March 27 did more damage to our peach trees than showed up at first, since peaches were at the petal fall stage, and get hurt by temperatures below 32 F at that stage.  So we will have NO peach crop in 2024.  Hopefully we'll have a peach crop again in 2025.

   Asian pears were in full bloom due to the early spring, and the frost killed almost all newly-set young fruit.  A few flower buds were still opening, and I estimate we'll have about 15% of a full Asian pear crop (maybe 300 pounds of Asian pears over the season instead of 2000 pounds).

   Most European pear varieties were also in full bloom, so we'll have no crop of our early-ripening pear varieties, 'Sunrise' and 'Blake's Pride'.  We will have some 'Harrow Sweet' pears as some fruit buds were still opening.  Our latest-blooming European pear variety, 'Shenandoah', was still in the bud stage, so we should have a full crop of that variety.  So our pear season will start later this year, about mid-Sept.

   We should have a very good apple crop this fall.  Some open apple blooms were killed by the frost, but many more flowers were still in the bud stage so were protected from this frost.  I'm still very busy pruning all our apple trees and blackberry bushes.

We still have many harvested, cracked pecans for sale in 4-pound bags. Excess shell fragments are blown off, as shown in the sample box, so each bag contains over 3 pounds of nutmeats.

   We still have many harvested, cracked pecans for sale now.  Pecans store well for several months in a fridge, and for over 6 years in a freezer.  We sell cracked pecans in 4-pound bags, which are over 75% pecan kernels and under 25% shell fragments.  Each bag has the equivalent of 6 pounds of in-shell pecans, and when you pick out the pecan kernels, you get 3 pounds or more of nutmeats.  Each bag costs $19.32 + sales tax.

    Asparagus is starting to grow well now, and some days I harvest it 2 times per day.  I break each spear where it snaps off easily, so almost the entire spear is tender and usable.  We have some asparagus for sale now and for the next 7 weeks or so, until early June.  Asparagus is limited so you do need to phone 620-597-2450 a day or two ahead and order it.  Asparagus is just $2.90 per pound + tax, harvested.

We grow 'Jersey Knight' asparagus, an all-male variety that produces many thicker spears that are tender and delicious.

   Revised projected sales dates for all our crops are shown in the updated sidebar at left under Crop Sales Seasons.  That also tells which crops we sell harvested, and which crops we sell pick-your-own.

    From Dec. 16 to June 14, we're open by appointment.  During these dates, phone 620-597-2450 a day ahead and leave a message on our answering machine saying the day and about what time you'll come, and what you want to buy.

   You can make an appointment to arrive here between 10 a.m. and noon or between 1:30 and 5 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, or between 2 and 5 p.m. on Sundays, but please state a specific approximate time in your message. Then I'll be out in the sale building to meet you when you come.

   If you want a return call, you must state your phone number in your message, or we won't know it.  Our phone is a landline that rings in our house, so you may get our answering machine if you call during the day, and we return calls after dark.  We'll answer the phone if you call while it's dark or very cold, so please do not call after 10 p.m. or before 7 a.m.  Thanks.

   As always, we take cash or checks for payment, but NO credit cards or debit cards, and no "apps".  We don't use a smart phone, and have no phone line to the sales building.  So please bring your checkbook or enough cash to cover the amount of fruit you want to buy.  Thanks.