| NATURE'S CALENDAR AT
HIGHLAND ORCHARDS |
| The season begins with the first blossoms,
covering the hillsides with their beauty and delicate fragrance.
It's a time of preparation for the hard work ahead. Planting must
be done for the many fruits and vegetables which will be harvested
throughout the season. In early May, rhubarb and asparagus are ready
to cut. |
| Soon, in late May, red strawberries ripen
as the first fruit of the land. The summer harvest is on in late
June as cherries ripen, and red raspberries and blueberries are ready
for picking. As the peaches form on the trees in thick clumps, they
must be thinned to allow room for proper growth. Meanwhile, tomatoes,
sweet corn and other vegetablesc are ready for picking. |
| HARVEST
CALENDAR |
| Crop |
Most Active |
| Apples |
Sept. 1-Oct. 25 |
| Blackberries |
July 15-July 30 |
| Blueberries |
July 5-Aug. 10 |
| Cherries |
June 22-July 4 |
| Grapes |
Sept. 1-Sept. 20 |
| Peaches and Nectarines |
July 20-Sept 1 |
| Pears |
Aug. 15-Sept. 10 |
| Plums |
July 15-Aug. 15 |
| Red Raspberry |
July 5-July 21 |
| Fall Raspberry |
Sept. 1-Oct. 1 |
| Rhubarb |
May 1-June 10 |
| Strawberries |
June 1- June 15 |
| Some of
the Vegetables |
| Cucumber |
July 5-Aug. 15 |
| Peppers |
July 15-Oct. 1 |
| Pumpkin |
Oct. 1-Oct. 25 |
| Spinach |
May and November |
| Squash |
June 25-Sept. 1 |
| Sweet Corn |
July 5-Sept. 5 |
| Tomatoes |
July 10-Sept. 15 |
Every year
is different.
Dates are approximate |
|
| When the peaches are ripe - soon to be followed by
nectarines, pears, plums, fall raspberries and finally apples, the
packing house operation begins, and many relatives and neighbors
work to grade and pack the thousands of bushels of bountiful harvest. |
| With apple season, the cider mill goes into operation,
pressing sweet juice from quality fruit. Cider is pressed as late
in the year as we have apples! |
| Even after the harvest, there is still work to be
done: pies baked and gift baskets made, trees to be pruned or planted,
equipment to be winterized, firewood cut, organizing ourselves for
the next season. |
|
