Spinella Farm

Anna and I put the rest of the drip line down last night. It rained all around us after much of the afternoon was hot and humid. I turned on the water for about an hour and a half last night. There was a time when I wouldn't think of watering after dark especially on hot, muggy days and nights. But the drip is a different story. It allows us to water without getting the leaves wet and, therefore, avoid fungal diseases.

The Dr. Martin pole lima beans are already travelling up the trellis. They had a rough start but they are on their way and hopefully will give us a good crop.

The softshell beetles are hatching on the potatoes. I pick the adults as they are very tough to kill with a spray. But the soft shells are different story. They are less immune to the spray. I let them hatch out because sometimes you don't always crush all the eggs when you are killing adults. Once they hatch out it is easier to get greater control.

It was good to see and talk to my friends from West Cape May, Les and Diane Rea. The Reas have been farming for over three generations in Cape May County. Les's family grew lima beans for years in that area, I believe for Birdseye Frozen Foods. Now he and his wife have a little stand and attend farm markets around the area. They have been married 54 years and are the prime example of husband and wife working together on the farm. Both would give you the shirt off their backs if they like you. I'm proud to say that they are my friends and never too busy to talk to me when I visit them.