SLF - Autumn

Plant list for fall mums & asters

Our fall sales of plants and pumpkins is well under way in September and October. A beautiful day outside today afforded a great opportunity for picture taking. Here are some results.

Supertunia White in moss hanging basket (for rent!) and pumpkins in the background at the farmstand - Sept 20, 2003.	Dooryard at Spring Ledge Farm showing mums in 8 1/2" inch fiber pots, 9" fiber pots, bushel baskets, hanging baskets, display moss hangers and pumpkins. September 2003.
A closer version of above/ right picture. The pink/red hanger is a begonia 'Dragon Wing' grown from seed this year. Great plant for shade and part sun.	Edamame soybeans grown here at the farm - fall 2003. Delicious when boiled for 5 minutes in salt water. Cook the pod and all, then cool and squeeze the beans into your mouth right through the end of the pod. Similar to fresh lima or shell beans and a very healthy snack.
Brassicas for fall. Grown here at the farm, ornamental cabbages and kales provide great fall color that intensifies as the nights become colder. Very hardy to frosts and freezes, these will continue to provide color through Thanksgiving. Not winter hardy.	Our bushel basket mums (actually, they are planted in 1/2 bushels) are a great addition to front steps and porches. Huge plants, some varieties measuring up to 3 feet across, with hundreds of blossoms.
A calibrachoa plant (variety 'Colorburst White') that we grew as a display hanger for the front of the farmstand does very well in the cool fall weather. Another brand name for this fantastic plant is "Million Belles".	A true-to-color picture of our pumpkin display. A few hours after this was taken, we helped unload another truckload of pumpkins from Courser Farms in Warner, NH. They also grow great winter squashes and decorative squashes and gourds.
A look at some of our lesser known fall plants suitable for this are of NH. Includes pansies, which planted in the fall have a good chance of overwintering for early spring bloom. Also nemesias, osteospermum, calibrachoa, dianthus, sedum, flowering kale and cabbage and calendula.	A shot of our farmstand showing the 16" & 18" moss display hangers. In the foreground is a very nice combination of Calibrachoa 'Million Belles Terra Cotta' with Scaevola 'New Wonder'. Both of these are Proven Winner plants and both are very cold hardy, looking good usually through November. We definitely plan on having many 10" baskets of this combination available next summer and fall. For a closeup of the combination, click here.
Our Bacopa (Sutera) 'White Wonder' and Calibrachoa 'Colorburst White' display hangers.	A quick view of the apple display and the helpful staff. We buy apples from growers in NH, Vt., and Upstate N.Y.
Laurie on the tractor hauling some kids on one of her frequent fall tours for local pre-schools and 1st graders. Laurie spends time educating the kids (and the teachers and parents) about farm products, apple cider, carrots, cows, corn, and how we grow what we grow at Spring Ledge.	Miscanthus, a humungous ornamental, perennial grass which has become a focal point of the perennial bed on Main St. in New London. For a closer look, click here.
Some of the unique pumpkins grown for us by the Tim Courser from Courser Farms in Warner, NH. Pictured are "Cinderella" pumpkins 'Rouge Vif d'etamps' (the dark orange ones) and some other varieties that I don't know about. (I know...can you believe it? I should just make up some fancy name for them like...'Beige Vif d'etamps' and 'Chartreuse Vif d'etamps' or something.) Regardless, they are ornamental as well as edible, making for delicious pumpkin pies.	Oh boy, more winter squashes that I don't know...Well, the multi-colored one is a Turks Turbin, the others I'll have to ask Tasha about. These were grown by Courser Farms as well.
Isn't that a nice view? Wouldn't you like to live here? I sure would. Hey...I do live here!

OFF SEASON ITEMS: AUTUMN

Spring Ledge Farm's autumn begins cold and crisp in New Hampshire, it's time for warm cider and composting leaves. The vegetable season tapers off, only growing in the greenhouses now, and outside mums and pumpkins are ready for sale! The stand begins selling the many varieties of chrysanthemums late in August and continues until early November. Other fall items are corn stalks harvested from the corn fields, pumpkins, hearty squashes and gourds, decorative kale and cabbage and greenhouse tomatoes. Call the bee-line to find out what is selling. Stop by and pick up some late season goods at Spring Ledge Farm! See you there!