Harvesting Asparagus, Still Pecans & Apples for Sale

   Asparagus is starting to grow well now, and some days I harvest it 2 times per day.  I break each spear where it snaps off easily, so almost the entire spear is tender and usable.  We have some asparagus for sale now and for the next 7 weeks or so, until early June.  Asparagus is limited so you do need to phone 620-597-2450 a day or two ahead and order it.  Asparagus is just $2.96 per pound + tax, harvested.

We grow 'Jersey Knight' asparagus, an all-male variety that produces many thicker spears that are tender and delicious.

   We praise God that we had only light frosts of 30 F on Mon. morning April 7 and 32 F on Tues. morning April 8.  Those temperatures provided some beneficial fruit thinning for our tree fruits, but fruit set is still too heavy.  We'll have to do much more fruit thinning with growth regulator sprays, limb shaking, and hand thinning over the next 6 weeks.

   Thanks to those who joined us in praying that temperatures wouldn't drop below 30 F!  As of now, we still have a developing peach crop, as well as growing crops of sweet cherries, pears and apples.  Projected sales dates for all our crops are shown in the sidebar at left under Crop Sales Seasons.  That also tells which crops we sell harvested, and which crops we sell pick-your-own.

   We still have many cracked pecans and 'Gold Rush' apples for sale now.  From Dec. 16 to June 14 we're open by appointment.  That means to phone 620-597-2450 a day ahead, and leave a message on our answering machine with your name, day and time you'll come, and what you want to buy.  You can make an appointment to arrive here between 10 a.m. and 12 noon, or between 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays.

   If you're driving on Highway 166, see our highway sign, and come up to our farm, you'll see the sign on our sales building saying we're open by appointment and to phone 620-597-2450.  You can call that number, which is a landline to our house, and if I'm in the house, I'll come out to the sales building.

   If it's nice weather I'm out pruning, so ring the bell on the sales building porch very loudly, and I'll come over to the sales building.  But if you know you'll be coming this way, please phone 620-597-2450 a day ahead and make an appointment.  Thanks.

   We had a great pecan crop last year, and will likely have pecans from Bill's pecan breeding program for sale until late Aug. or early Sept.  We also still have some bags of 'Kanza' pecans for sale now, and may sell out of those by late April or May.  All these pecans have large nuts, thin shells and great taste, and I give taste samples.

We still have a good supply of selections from Bill's pecan breeding program for sale, at left, and some 'Kanza' bags at right. The plastic boxes shows what the cracked pecans look like inside the paper bags.

   Pecans store well for 3-4 months in a fridge, and for over 6 years in a freezer.  We sell cracked pecans in 4-pound bags, which are over 75% pecan kernels and under 25% shell fragments.  Each bag has the equivalent of 6 pounds of in-shell pecans, and when you pick out the kernels, you get 3 pounds or more of nutmeats.  Each bag costs $19.70 + sales tax.

   We also have many harvested #2 'Gold Rush' apples in our cooler, and some #1 apples.  #1 'Gold Rush' apples keep in top condition for fresh eating for 10 to 11 months in a fridge when stored in the plastic bags I packed them in.  This apple variety gets sweeter after a month or two in cold storage, as starches convert into sugars.  #2 'Gold Rush' apples keep for 3 to 4 months in a fridge, and are great for cutting into slices for fresh eating, baking and making apple butter.

   Harvested apples sell for $1.48 per pound + sales tax for #1 fruit with no damage.  A 20-pound box of #1 fruit costs $28.57 + sales tax, and you save $1.00.  We have some very nice #2 fruit that sell for $1.18 per pound + sales tax.  A 20-pound box of #2 fruit costs $23.65 + sales tax, and you save $5.00 including tax over a 20-pound box of #1 fruit.

   As always, we take cash or checks for payment, but NO credit cards or debit cards, and no "apps".  We don't use a smart phone, and have no phone line to the sales building.  So please bring your checkbook or enough cash to cover the amount of produce you want to buy.  Thanks.