We will have more full size tomatoes at Saturdays’ markets in Princeton and Peoria, as well as our market barn at the farm. Also lots of cherry tomatoes and some romas. Larger quantities soon.

The cool spring delayed the tomatoes by quite a bit. We have finally found our first few ripe small tomatoes. We will have limited quantities at market soon.

Now is the time to stock up on Plow Creek tomatoes.  Canning tomatoes are available at $16 / bushel or $9 / half bushel.  A bushel weighs almost 50 pounds.  These are the same tomatoes we sell at market, but with blemishes which you can easily cut away.  To place an order, call 815-646-4862 or use the online order form.

Plow Creek tomatoes and melons make another extra appearance at Valley Flowers on Monday from 8:30 to 2:00. A good sampling of other vegetables will also be present.

Note that our shade tent and tables are now less visible, since the city of Spring Valley has required us to set up in the parking lot rather than the sidewalk.

Plow Creek tomatoes make an extra appearance at Valley Flowers on Monday morning. All varieties will be in good supply, including large red slicing tomatoes, Brandywine heirloom and Be My Baby cherry tomatoes. Cantaloupe and a yet-to-be determined selection of vegetables will also be present.

Know your tomatoes Thursday at Valley Flowers!  The tomatoes will put on a show from 8:30AM - 1PM.  Stop by to view our seven different home-grown varieties: Sunshine and Daybreak red slicers, Orange Blossom yellow slicers, Plum Crimson romas, Washington and Be My Baby cherries, and Brandywine, a large heirloom variety.

We also plan to bring a good supply of sweet corn (Lancelot, one of our favorite varieties), along with cantaloupe, sweet onions, garlic, new potatoes, green and yellow beans, and an increasingly colorful selection of peppers: green, red, yellow, jalapeno, banana and “chocolate.”  Berries are in short supply, but early arrivals may find some blueberries and blackberries.

Bread and cookies from Plow Creek Bakery will also join the party.

Come find your Plow Creek Produce safely sheltered under our new tent Thursday morning at Valley Flowers in Spring Valley from 8AM to 2PM, rain or shine.  You can find blueberries, red raspberries, tomatoes (cherry and full size), cantaloupe, onions, potatoes, garlic, kale, cucumbers, zucchini, and green and yellow wax beans. We will also have Plow Creek Bakery goods.

Sorry, we are between plantings of sweet corn, but expect more next week.

It’s beginning to look a lot like summer here at Plow Creek Farm. Stop by Valley Flowers in Spring Valley Thursday 8:30AM - 1PM to select your favorite colors and flavors: Blueberries, Red Raspberries, Blackberries, Sweet Corn, Cherry Tomatoes, Cantaloupe, Green Beans, Peas, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Lettuce, Potatoes, Garlic, Herbs and lots of other veggies. Plus, Bread and Cookies from Plow Creek Bakery.

We picked some sweet corn for Monday lunch. Delicious! I will be bringing a small load of sweet corn to Princeton Farmer’s Market Tuesday. Market opens at 8:30. I will also have blueberries, blackberries, red raspberries, cherry tomatoes, muskmelon, fresh garlic, green beans and other vegetables, and Plow Creek Bakery goodies.

Today we spotted the first cherry tomatoes, earlier than we can remember. These are a new variety for us - Be My Baby yellow cherries. The Fedco catalog includes such quotes as ‘better than Sungold’ and ‘a passionate work in progress’. It could be an interesting June!

Monday was our tomato planting day. We had a great crew out in the field: Heather and her dad, Erin, Meg, Neil, Jim, Kevin, Meg, and Katie.  We planted Daybreak and Sunshine (red slicers),  Orange Blossom (yellow slicers), Brandywine (heirloom, large pink), Washington Red and Be My Baby (cherry), and Plum Crimson (Roma).  A few have flowers, but we don’t really expect ripe tomatoes until some time in July.  It seems like a long wait. (Sigh.)

Today’s raspberry harvest has been better than initially thought and we will attend the Peoria Riverfront Market this Saturday from 8AM to Noon. The performance will include red raspberries, seedless watermelon, red slicing tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, cucumbers, onions, potatoes, herbs, kale and swiss chard.