Strawberries At Last

Finally, we have our first fruits of 2008. We began harvesting strawberries Friday at our Belleville farm. Saturday was the first day for pick your own to be open and we had record crowds turn out. So many, we had to close the patch at noon to allow the berries some more time to ripen. Not to fear, there are still lots of berries to pick, we just need to give Mother Nature some more time.

We also have a great selection of homegrown berries available in Eckert's Country Store already harvested. The berries are extra large this year, thanks to the abundant rainfall and cool temperatures. Supplies are great right now but they seem to change by the minute. Please call ahead or check http://www.eckerts.com/ to make sure we still have berries available.

We have been asked many times about why berries are so hard to predict. It is frustrating to us also. Because of the short growing season, berries are more impacted by spring weather than other crops. Ripening dates for Eckert's berries have varied by 25 days in the past 5 years. We usually harvest the first berries the first week of May, this year is the latest start date at May 23 and it has been as early as April 29. We try to predict as well as possible, but we always seem to be fooled by mother nature.

None the less, there is no comparison to a homegrown berry right out of the patch. Come out and taste them for yourself.

Cheers,

Chris

It's Time To Plant

Looks like we are finally getting a warm weekend without rain. Perfect for focusing our attention on the yard a garden. 2008 has been the wettest year since the 1920's. Here at Eckert's, we have received 22.5 inches. Planting has been delayed for many of us, but it is not too late.

This is the perfect time to put out your warm season vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. Annuals and perennials are also great this time of the year. We have a huge selection of all these plants plus "Knock-out Roses", trees and shrubs in Eckert's Garden Center.

If you need some advice on which plants to choose for your landscape, we have a great team on hand every day ready to answer all your questions. Bring in pictures of your lawn and home and get landscaping advice from Angie Eckert. Let us help you make your home beautiful.

Spring Time

Spring symbolizes the start of a new year and nothing says Spring more than the first homegrown produce of the season, white asparagus. We have a great selection of fresh homegrown asparagus, both white and green, available in our Country Store.

White asparagus is a German treat. The trick is to harvest the spears of asparagus before they break through the soil. To make sure the spears are as long as possible, soil is mounded up along the row several times through the spring. Every day, the rows are inspected to find little bumps where the spears are about to poke through. Then you go fishing for the spear with a knife under the soil. It is cut underground and pulled up by the tip. It is a real trick to harvest the perfect spear, but we have plenty of it available already cut and cleaned in the produce department.

You can also find some great recipes and complementary products in the store. Please stop by and let us help you "Spring" into 2008.

Cheers,

Chris Eckert