Some years we don’t really get “Fall” in the Sacramento Valley.  Instead, we just go straight from hothothot to non-stop rain — last year, for example.
We might have had a great summer this year, but it ended up being just average after the crazy heat in July hobbled it and the September rainstorm finished it off.  So it’s nice that we are having a glorious Autumn.  It started right on time and has given us a solid month of warm days and chilly nights:  absolutely perfect growing conditions for just about everything we grow this time of year.

October Moon over Fall Crops

Harsh dry winds often cause problems with our fall crops, but this year we only had a few weeks of blustery weather and just one day of extreme conditions.  Most of the crops have recovered nicely.

We harvested a beautiful fall crop of red and black grapes, and a heavy crop of big, pretty persimmons.

Now we are rolling into winter with mostly beautiful fields of beets, bunching greens, carrots, salad greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and leeks.  Our fall potato field is still growing nicely and will be ready to harvest in a few weeks.  We have barns stuffed full of winter squash and sweet potatoes.

We never know what winter is going to throw at us — and we have had some rough ones in the last few years.  But it sure is nice to catch a break for a month or two.  All in all, 2013 has been an okay year for us, and we needed it.

Thanks,Pablito