Nectarine (P. persica var. nucipersica) & Peach (P. persica) - Nectarines and Peaches are the same species, P. persica; the Nectarine is a variety of the Peach tree. They differ only by a single gene - Peaches have the gene and are fuzzy-skinned; Nectarines lack the gene and have smooth skin. Nectarines occur naturally on Peach trees and once in a while, a Nectarine tree will produce "mutant" peaches. The Nectarine tree is the same as the Peach tree, though the fruits are not.

Check It out at Botany.com

July 19 2012 Price List

Produce:

Peas $1/lb About a week?
Snow/Snap Peas $2/lb Snow available now
Beans $2/lb Soon
Tomatoes $3/2lb bag Available now
Potatoes $4/2lb bag Available now

Cucumbers (GH) TBA :(
Peppers/Hot Peppers TBA Small quantities
Raspberries TBA About a week?
Saskatoons TBA Couple weeks?
Strawberries Not available this year

Other crops will be added as availability is known. All orders are filled first come – first serve. Prices and availability subject to change due to weather and other factors out of our control.

For day to day updates – feel free to email, call or catch us on Facebook!

The canola is blooming, which means it is July already! This Patch update is coming to you from my lawn chair , during a quiet moment before the craziness that is also known as the Lyalta 30th Annual Ball Tournament begins. Our first game is at 7:30 pm then depending on whether we win or lose, again at 2:30 or 3:45 AM. Yes you read that correctly, we are playing under the lights tonight. It should be a crazy time - it always is. :)

A huge thank you to all our new and repeat customers who came to the greenhouse or visited us at Springfest and Aggie Days. We are pleased to say that we SOLD OUT this season!! Planning for a bigger, brighter season is already underway. Feel free to send us pictures of our plants in your yards and gardens for our brag book.

We started July with our second annual Canada Day Festivities, bigger and better than last year! A big thank you to everyone who joined us - it was so great to see you all. The weather was fabulous, so Grandpa Bert built the kids, (and some of the adults) a giant Slip and Slide with some leftover greenhouse plastic. It kept the kids busy, cool and clean all weekend! Unfortunately for the tractors and Greg's truck - we cannot say the same about staying clean. Grandpa got the big tractor (Fergason)stuck in the pasture. Then, just like the Corb Lund song, the Chev got stuck, and then the small tractor (Fergie). Nearly a whole day later, some help from the neighbour and his tractor - everyone made it out. Liam spent several hours with the pressure washer cleaning the mud from Greg's truck (and I am sure he hated every minute of it). We had our first fireworks display, I have to say it was pretty darn impressive for amateurs setting them off. :) To sum up the weekend - many laughs, too much food and maybe a few too many drinks were shared - we can hardly wait for the next one! Happy Birthday Canada!

The tomatoes in the greenhouse are just starting to turn red, I've snuck a few ripe cherries on the way by, there is truly nothing better. Greenhouse cucumbers are struggling, but they are also very close. The garden is finally starting to come along, now that we have had some nicer weather. I wil send out notices to everyone when we start picking. I don't imagine it will be too long.

We have decided to do a few more small crops in the greenhouse in the meantime. I've got my supplier trying to find some Mums for the fall. We are also growing some other potted crops, and maybe some houseplants before Christmas (glitter) takes over. :) Speaking of houseplants, I bought the prettiest foliage begonia I have ever seen today. I named her ruby - her leaves are red iridescent, almost sparkly. I will see if I can't propagate her to share with the world.

That's all for now, I will let you know when picking starts! Have a safe summer!