NOT WINTER BUT SUMMER

 It's not winter, so hoshigaki season is on the back burner. It is still available at the farm stand but not through mail order.  And now we switch our attention to things of summer like stone fruit and veggies.

The peach season has started but it seems that they sell almost as soon as they are brought into the farm stand.  Don't worry, much more is on the way.  A few lucky customers were able to snag some of the Springrose or Springcrest peaches.  There will soon be Maycrest and Junecrest.  Then we will start harvesting Flavorcrest and Regina peaches.  

Apricots are happy this year.  I'm not sure why but something in the weather we were handed was agreeable to them.  Robada and Royal Rosa apricots sold out quickly.  Now we are bring in Blenheim (Royal) and Patterson.  Both are excellent varieties.

It is an unusual year. Not only do we have a good harvest of apricots but there are also respectable nectarines on the trees.  Meaning they are not quite as scarred up and cracked as we normally have.  There will be a limited amount of white Jade nectarines in the near future.

Loquats are now producing small, sweet and juicy fruit.  Between the large brown seed and the firm yellow skin is sweet juicy flesh.

SANTA ROSA plums are starting ripen.  These are the most popular and sought after variety of plums. They  have a distinctive flavor and enticing fragrance. They are both sweet and  sour at the beginning of the season.  Later ones are all sweet and juicy.  

We are now offering flowers.  The fresh flower bouquets are coming from La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis. The bouquets are garden fresh and contain colorful in-season blooms.  Come check them out.

Slowly the gardens are starting to produce.  Green and yellow summer squash have both made their debut.  A few Sungold cherry tomatoes are getting ready.  Sorry, but big tomatoes and cucumber are weeks away.

 Last fall we dried and massaged persimmons to make hoshigaki.  The ones that did not sell were stored in the freezer.  We will be slowly selling these at the farm stand.  Most of the hoshigaki that we will be selling are firmer or not as sugared as we like.  Nonetheless they retain the favor of hoshigaki.  We cut firmer hoshigaki  into strips and are sold in snack bags.  All this this say hoshigaki is not available through mail order at this time.  Most likely mail order will be available late November and December.  People are encouraged to look for the 2025 Mail order form in October and send their order in early.

 

 Hours

    Tues thru Sat  10:00 am to 6:00 pm

    Sunday 11:00 to 5:00

    Closed on Mondays 

Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard.

Apricots:

 Patterson:  This apricot has good flavor and can be used for canning, baking drying and fresh eating.  When ripened it is both flavorful and sweet with tangy background. 

Blenheim (Royal): Old and very popular variety. Although small, this variety is aromatic and full of flavor.  Don't be fooled by the greenish shoulders the Blenheim is juicy and sweet with tangy background. Customers keep coming back for them. Blenheims are used for canning baking, drying and fresh eating.

Loquat:  A subtropical fruit popularized in Asia.  Loquat are small round or pear-shaped fruit that grow in clusters.  They are covered with a downy orange skin. The flesh is also orange containing 2 to 4 oval brown seeds.  The taste is tangy, sweet and juicy. We often refer to these as memory fruit.  Children walking to school would sampling them from landscape trees along their route to school.

 

PEACHES

 Maycrest:  Yellow freestone peach.

Junecrest: Yellow freestone peach.

Flavorcrest: Yellow freestone peach.

Regina: Yellow freestone peach.

PLUMS

Santa Rosa:  Old sought after variety for their rich aromatic flavor.  Early season Santa Rosa have yellow flesh that is sweet tart. Late season Santa Rosa have red flesh and are all sweet.  Soon their fragrance will fill our farm stand. They are great for fresh eating and have been known to win jam contest for their flavor and sweet tart contrast.

  Hoshigaki :  These are whole dried persimmons.  They were hand massaged while they dried over a period of four to eight weeks.  Some are firm, others are soft and moist.  All are coated with naturally formed white persimmon sugar.  No sugar added and no preservatives used. We strive to make the best hoshigaki without any shortcuts.  This takes time and attention during the drying season.  Hoshigaki are now available in the farm stand.  Contact us for large on-farm pick-up orders. (916) 791-1656 or email at otowochard@yahoo.com. 

 Hoshigaki strips:  These are pieces of hoshigaki sliced for easy snacking.

 Hachiya Pulp:  Frozen Hachiya persimmon pulp is available. Often used to make cookies, puddings and breads.  Many customers put it on yogurt and oatmeal  or add it to their smoothie.

Eureka Lemons:  These are very tart lemons. Great for contrast in sweet and sour recipes like:  lemonade, lemon meringue pie, sweet and sour pork, and lemon bars.

Yellow grapefruit:  Sweet tart grapefruit with yellow flesh.  This variety has great flavor.

Local Honey  Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard. Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard is also available.

⚘ Calendula  Salve and Lip Balm:  Wonderfully thick salve for healing dry skin, bug bites and scrapes.

Peach trees:  We have a few peach trees for planting.  Regina peaches are  a yellow freestone peach that is harvested around the end of June. 

Pakistani Mulberries:  Long dark mulberries. Very sweet. Available only to those on the request list. Call to get on the list.

Summer Squash:

Green and Yellow Zucchini.

Yellow crookneck  

Here is what we have from other producers:

Stoney Point Orchard,  Loomis, CA organic certified:

    Rio Red Grapefruit:   Juicy and sweet with a bit of tartness. Flesh is pink.

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.  Limited supply.

Fresh Bouquets of colorful in-season flowers from La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis. 

 

The California Persimmon Recipe Book:  Introduction to basic persimmon knowledge followed by recipes for the different types of persimmons.

 

 

 

 

FRUIT TREES FOR SALE

     Now is the time to plant bare root peach trees.  We have selected old time, flavorful varieties that are sweet, and juicy. Our summertime customers keep asking for them after the trees are empty. 

      Springcrest:  Yellow freestone peach. Early June harvest. Good flavor for an early season peach.  Sweet.  Self- fruitful. 

      Summerset:  Yellow freestone peach. Mid-August, late season peach. Sweet, juicy, melting flesh. Self- fruitful. 

     Gene Elberta:  Yellow freestone peach.   Mid to late July. Great flavor, sweet and juicy. Self- fruitful. 

     O'Henry:  Yellow freestone peach.  Early August. Great flavor. Sweet,  juicy, firm flesh.  Self- fruitful. 

      Fay Elberta:  Yellow freestone peach. Late July.  Melting, sweet, juicy flesh. Great flavor.  Self- fruitful. 

      Suncerest:  Yellow freestone peach.   Late July.  Red and yellow flesh.  Great flavor, sweet and juicy. Self- fruitful. 

      Regina:  Yellow freestone peach. Late June. Sweet and juicy. Self- fruitful. 

      We are happy to give planting directions if needed. 

         Although our winter hours are limited,  we have a good supply of seasonal fruit.  It is still citrus season. We have mandarins,  oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. 

    We are just about finished putting hoshigaki away in storage.  There are a few more boxes to knead and sort.  We are finding that many of these last of the season hoshigaki had a hard time drying.  Some got hard too fast, others never seemed to dry. Some have less sugar than we expected.  Many of these pieces will be cut into strips of hoshigaki for snack bags.  They make a nice sweet treat.  Gradually, we will be taking Hoshigaki out of storage to sell at the farm stand or through mail orders.  Hoshigaki is available in the farm stand and through mail order. Please contact us for large on-farm pick up orders.  For mail orders, please use our  2024   mail order form. 

    We are starting to prepare for our summer vegetable garden. We are excited that our tomato seeds successfully germinated.  Now we must watch and water them carefully for the next month.  Meanwhile we will be deciding where to plant them and start forming beds for the plants.  When the soil warms up we will directly seed summer squash and cucumbers.

 

     The orchard is starting to blossom. The workers are pruning peaches and plum trees between the rain storms.  They will also be cleaning up the brush, cutting suckers,  planting trees,  and cleaning the weeds around the base of the young trees. Ume have finished blooming and we can see tiny fruit on some of the trees.

   Please note, we will be closed on Sundays and Mondays till mid May.  We are open Friday and Saturday and have abbreviated hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.   Sorry for the inconvenience.  You are welcome to call me for special hours at (916) 300-0720, or (916) 791-1656. 

 

Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Open Tues,Wed and Thurs only two hours 11:30 to 1:30

Open Fri and Sat:   10am to 6pm

 

Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard.

 Hoshigaki :  These are whole dried persimmons.  They were hand massaged while they dried over a period of four to eight weeks.  Some are firm, others are soft and moist.  All are coated with naturally formed white persimmon sugar.  No sugar added and no preservatives used. We strive to make the best hoshigaki without any shortcuts.  This takes time and attention during the drying season.  Hoshigaki are now available in the farm stand.  Contact us for large on-farm pick-up orders. (916) 791-1656 or email at otowochard@yahoo.com.  For mail orders please use our mail order form. 

 Hoshigaki strips:  These are pieces of hoshigaki sliced for easy snacking.

 Hachiya Pulp:  Frozen Hachiya persimmon pulp is available. Often used to make cookies, puddings and breads.  Many customers put it on yogurt and oatmeal  or add it to their smoothie.

Navel Oranges:  fresh, sweet and juicy oranges.

Eureka Lemons:  These are very tart lemons. Great for contrast in sweet and sour recipes like:  lemonade, lemon meringue pie, sweet and sour pork, and lemon bars.

 Kiwi:   Brown fuzzy skin.  Sweet, tart fruit. Green flesh with tiny black seeds. (Limited supply).

Yellow grapefruit:  Sweet tart grapefruit with yellow flesh.  This variety has great flavor.

Blood oranges: Sweet tart oranges that have deep red flesh.

Local Honey  Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard. Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard is also available.

⚘ Calendula  Salve and Lip Balm:  Wonderfully thick salve for healing dry skin, bug bites and scrapes.

Peach trees:  These are bare root peach trees.  They should be planted in the next few weeks.  See list above.

Here is what we have from other producers:

Pleasant Hill Farm in Lincoln, no spray.

    Navel Oranges:  Sweet and juicy, orange fleshed oranges.

    

Stoney Point Orchard,  Loomis, CA organic certified:

    Tango mandarin:  Sweet, tender mandarins. Thin tight skin.

    Blood oranges:  Sweet oranges with red flesh. 

    Meyer Lemons:  These lemons have dark yellow skin and are less acidic than regular lemons.  Known for their flavor and fragrance.  Skin is thin and is often used for its fragrant zest.

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.  Limited supply.

 

The California Persimmon Recipe Book:  Introduction to basic persimmon knowledge followed by recipes for the different types of persimmons.

 

ALMOST THERE

Thank you to so many new and regular customers for checking in on us during our slow season, February through May.  Offerings have been scant for a few months but it looks like we will have a plentiful supply of summer fruits.  The season will be starting with mulberries and ume by the end of May.  Apricots, loquat, peaches and plums will start in June.  Meanwhile we are still selling grapefruit, lemons, Valencia oranges and kiwi.

During this slow season we have been preparing summer vegetable gardens.  I am battling gophers and bind weed.  Hope to get a handle on this soon.  We are planting tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, peppers and okra.  All are starting to fill in the garden spaces. 

Now that new trees are in the ground our attention turns back to our existing trees.  With a heavy fruit set, we are busy every day thinning out the crop to increase size and remove blemished fruit.  We are happy with water we received during the rain season.  The trees look like they are taking a big refreshing gulp of water. The weeds are also growing like weeds. Unfortunately our mower is feeling its age.  One thing gets fixed and then another part needs replacing.  And so it goes.

 We continue to have a supply of hoshigaki (Japanese dried persimmons) in the freezer.  These are sweet and tender with traditional persimmon flavor.  They are coated  with hoshigaki sugar.  A sweet treat.  They are available at the farm stand and through mail order.  For mail order, please use our mail order form.

At this point it looks like the ume (Japanese plum) have dodged hail and freezing temperatures.  The crop looks good but as always, still some blemishes.  Please email at: otoworchard@yahoo.com or call us at (916) 791-1656 if you are interested in purchasing ume.  Harvest will begin in mid May and finish by mid June.

      Just a reminder,  at this time of year our hours are limited. Please take note. Outside of these hours, you are welcome to call me at (916) 300-0720 to ask if I can meet you.  You will have to leave a message if your number is not already identified in my phone.  We are often at the farm somewhere, just not in the farm stand.

REDUCED HOURS

Tues, Wed, Thurs:     11:30  to  1:30

Fri, and Sat:       10:00  to  6:00

Sunday:      11:00 to 5:00

Closed on Mondays

Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard

Hoshigaki:  These are whole dried persimmons.  They were hand massaged while they dried over a period of four to eight weeks.  Some are firm, others are soft and moist.  All are coated with naturally formed white persimmon sugar.  No sugar added and no preservatives used. We began peeling persimmons in October.  We peeled the last persimmons at the beginning of December. The hoshigaki is available in the farm stand. You may drop in for on farm pick up.  Contact us for large on-farm pick-up orders. (916) 791-1656 or email at otowochard@yahoo.com.  For mail orders please use our mail order form  for the 2023 season.

Valencia Oranges:  These oranges have thin skin and high juice content. Used for  juicing or fresh eating.

Persimmon:  Frozen Hachiya persimmon pulp.

Apricots:   Royal Rosa:  early apricot.  Mild apricot flavor, not as sweet as later varieties.  

Loquat:  Small but sweet and juicy with a citrus background.

Ume:   Often referred to as Japanese plums (They are more closely related to apricots.) Ume are sour and must be pickled to be enjoyed.

Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard. Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard.

⚘ Calendula  Salve and Lip Balm:  Wonderfully thick salve for healing dry skin, bug bites and scrapes.

Here is what we have from other producers:

Stoney Point Orchard in Loomis, Certified Organic:

Ruby Red Grapefruit:  Sweet-tart and juicy with pink flesh. Great flavor.

Valencia Oranges:  very juicy and sweet. Great for juicing or slicing.

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.  Limited supply.

RETURN TO REGULAR HOURS

 It has not happened for a few years.  The timing was just right.  We actually have a few cherries to offer some lucky customers.  Although we are delighted to have cherries from our orchard we recognize this as a bright beginning of a new summer season that will be less productive than usual.  Seems that all that rain we are so thankful for, did not allow the peaches, plums, apricots, or nectarines get a chance to pollinate.  Their production will be very limited this year. 😢

The gardens are mostly planted.  Tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, beans, eggplant, peppers and okra are starting to grow.  I am battling bugs in my cucumber, long bean, and okra rows.  I've had to reseed and try to get past the tender stage.  Meanwhile the weeds don't seem to have any trouble with bugs.  Weeding keeps me busy in addition to trying to trap a hungry gopher.  The tomato vines are quickly filling their cages and I am starting to harvest squash.

WoodRose Country Garden made their first delivery this week.  They offer lettuce, spinach, spring onions, fresh garlic, and several herbs.

We are about finished harvesting ume, Japanese sour plums.  There is one old tree with small fruit left to pick.  We are also getting ume from the neighbor.   Red shiso, often used in ume processing, is available as plants at the farm stand. 

WEEKDAY ROAD CONSTRUCTION:  The water line is being replaced on Eureka Road in front of the orchard.  Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, you may have to enter Eureka Road past the barricade at either Barton Road or Auburn Folsom Road depending on where the crew is working on that day.   Please drive carefully.

Please note that we have now returned to regular season hours:

 

Tues through Sat  10:00 am to 6 pm 

Sunday  11:00am to 5:00 pm

CLOSED ON MONDAYS 

Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard

Hoshigaki:  These are whole dried persimmons.  They were hand massaged while they dried over a period of four to eight weeks.  Some are firm, others are soft and moist.  All are coated with naturally formed white persimmon sugar.  No sugar added and no preservatives used.  They should be stored in the  freezer if not consumed within a day and definitely kept cool at all times.  You may purchase these at our farm stand or order them using our mail order form.

Cherries: Very limited supply. 

Peaches: Very limited supply. 

Valencia Oranges:   Juicy, sweet with some tartness.  These are juicing oranges and also good for eating fresh

Yellow Grapefruit:   Flavorful and juicy.  Sweet tart with a wonderfully bitter background.

Eureka Lemons:  These are the tart lemons.  Great for lemonade or Lemon Meringue Pie.

Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard. Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard.

⚘ Calendula  Salve and Lip Balm 

Dehydrated grapefruit and lemons

Summer Squash: zucchini and yellow squash

 Plants:  We have a few plants available.  Red tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, paste tomatoes, shiso, flowering quince and California Fuchsia.

Here is what we have from other producers:

WoodRose Country Garden  in Granite Bay, organic practices:  lettuce, spinach, spring onions, basil, Italian parsley, cilantro, rosemary, oregano, thyme and fresh garlic.

Top O' the Hill Apiary in Granite Bay: Honey🍯. Top of the Hill Apiary also has bees wax 🐝.

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.

Stoney Point Orchard  in Loomis, certified organic: pink grapefruit.

Sunnyslope Farm in Granite Bay:  Japanese Ume plums:  These small very tart apricots are pickled for Japanese  cuisine.  They are commonly pickled in salt, sugar, honey, or alcohol.

Kijani Farm in Granite Bay, organic practices:  Red beets, Red Russian Kale.

LIMITED PRODUCE OFERINGS

    Since there is not much variety to offer at this time, we are continuing slow season hours.

    Slowly, the plants in the hot house are leaving to get used to being outside day and night (hardening off).   We need to do this before planting them in the ground.  Most of the tomatoes are in the garden.  We have a few extra tomato plants that we are selling at the farm stand.  Peppers and eggplants may be available later.  With the warm weather we are now starting to direct seed cucumber, squash and beans in the ground.  While I patiently wait for the seeds to germinate, the weeds make sure I have enough to do.

     Apple and pears are about finished blooming.  Now citrus are blooming.  Visitors to the farm stand notice their fragrance fills the air.

    The grass in the orchard grew very quickly once we got a warm sunny week.  Tosh is busy going up and down the rows mowing the grass with the tractor.  This is a job he enjoys.

The Farm Stand is now on modified winter hours.  Short hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Regular hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.    Please call to arrange for other options (916) 300-0720.  We hope to go back to our regular hours by the end of May.  At that time, there may be some loquat and ume.  The vegetable farmer may even surprise us.

HEADS UP:  There is a sign at Eureka and Barton Road.  "CLOSED FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION. 2/13 TO 4/28".  I believe it is a water project.  At the present time you are allowed to get to our driveway from Barton Road onto Eureka.  Just tell the person directing traffic that you are going to the farm.

 

 SLOW SEASON HOURS

TUES, WED, TH:   11:30 TO 1:30

        FRI, SAT:        10:0 TO 6:00

               SUN:        11:00 TO 5:00

CLOSED ON MONDAYS

 

 Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard:

Hoshigaki:  These are whole dried persimmons.  They were hand massages while they dried over a period of four to 8 weeks. Some are firm, others are soft and moist.  All are coated with naturally formed white persimmon sugar.  No sugar added and no preservatives used.  You may purchase these at our farm stand or order them using our mail order form..

Yellow Grapefruit:   Flavorful and juicy.  Sweet tart with a wonderfully bitter background.

Eureka Lemons:  These are the tart lemons.  Great for lemonade or Lemon Meringue Pie.

Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard. Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard.

⚘ Calendula  Salve and Lip Balm 

Dehydrated grapefruit and lemons

APPLES IN BLOOM

 

ORANGE TREE IN BLOOM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is what we have from other producers:

Top O' the Hill Apiary in Granite Bay: Honey🍯. Top of the Hill Apiary also has bees wax 🐝.

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.

Lupi Farm in Granite Bay (no spray): Meyer Lemons: These are fragrant and tasty lemons.  They are a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange.   They are favored because they are lower in acidity and  sweeter than the regular lemon.

Stoney Point Orchard  in Loomis, certified organic: pink graprfruit and navel oranges.

 

STARTING OUT SLOWLY

        Starting in June we will return to our regular hours. Please keep checking our hours as they may fluctuate depending on the availability of personnel.  By the way, we are still looking for someone to work in and around the farm stand.  If interested in this position, please contact us.

        The Ume, Japanese sour plum, harvest is starting to wind down.  Please let us know if you need any this year. The ume look cleaner and larger this year but the crop is not so big.  We also have smaller speckled ume from a no spray farm in Loomis and small conventional ume from a Granite Bay farm.

        It is just a tease. We have a few peaches.  They may be gone before you know it.  Spring Rose, an early white peach, had a very short harvest.  Sold out quickly.  We are harvesting Springcrest and Maycrest now  Both are yellow fleshed early peaches. We should have a limited supply for about a week.  I am hoping we have a small but decent crop of Junecrest. Then we will have to wait till the Flavorcrest, Regina and Red Haven start to mature about mid June.

        We are waiting patiently for  Loquat to ripen adequately.  Loquat are a subtopical fruit that ripens in late spring.  It is only about an inch in diameter  and orange in color.  Between the downy skin and the large seeds is juicy sweet sour flesh.  So refreshing after a winter absent of fleshy fruit.  Their season is starting and so far we have only picked a few.

        On the horizon are apricots, figs and summer squash.

        WoodRose Country Garden in Granite Bay is supplying us with vegetables. Lately it has been lettuce, spinach, beans, peas, onions, potatoes, and herbs. There is a rumor that their tomatoes will be early.

        Our own gardens are off to a slow start. Please be patient. They are just getting their roots established.  This summer we should be feeding you squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, okra and peppers.

REGULAR  SEASON HOURS:

TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY  10:00  TO6:00

SATURDAY                              10:00 TO 6:00

SUNDAY                           11:00 TO 5:00

CLOSED ON MONDAYS

  Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard

Valencia oranges (limited supply) for juicing or just eating.

Yellow grapefruit :  sweet tart and very flavorful

Eureka lemons 🍋 these are sour

Peaches:  Junecrest, Springcrest and Maycrest:  yellow freestone

Loquat:  one inch orange, subtropical fruit. Sweet sour flesh between downy skin and large seed. (limited supply)

Red Beaut plums: yellow fleshed early plum. (limited supply)

Robada apricots: Large firm apricot with a red blush and aromatic (limited supply)

Hachiya:  frozen pulp 

Ume:  Japanese sour plums. These need to be processed with sugar, salt, honey or alcohol.       

Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard. Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard

⚘ Calendula Salve and Lip Balm 

 

Here is what we have from other producers:

Stoney Point Orchard in Loomis (organic certified): Pink grapefruit.

WoodRose Country Gardens in Granite Bay: (organic practices) Red, white and purple potatoes, beans, snow peas, 🥬lettuce, arugula, spinach, white bulb onions 🧅, green onions, Greek oregano, rosemary, thyme. 

Top O' the Hill Apiary in Granite Bay: Honey🍯. Top of the Hill Apiary also has bees wax 🐝.

La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.

UME SEASON

         Mid April freeze defined the outcome for many crops this year.  We see damage in some of the apples, grapes, plums and  persimmons.  There are no mulberries and no early apricots. With cool early morning temperatures we are just now getting our summer vegetable crops in the ground.  It's a slow start but maybe the production will last longer  into the fall.

         However little, recent rains 🌧 have been welcome.  The moisture has allowed us to reduce hours of irrigation and the cooler  temperature has reduced moisture loss due to evaporation.   Some areas received hail damage.  We managed to dodge a severe hail storm so far.

        The workers are now thinning Asian pears.  They are also busy weed eating around the base of trees.  Weeds are happy with the rain we have been getting.  We would like to get out and mow the row middles but that will have to wait till the tractor gets repaired. If you come for a walk in the orchard you will notice that we  have a healthy crop of weeds. 🙁

        We are now watching the loquat slowly coloring.  They are a pale yellow, not quite ready for harvest.

         Ume (sour Japanese plum) is getting some size and a little less green.  The crop is lighter than last year.  Ume is used in Asian cultures to make pickles, jam, or flavorings for drinks. If you want ume, please let us know very soon so we can add you to our list.  Call us at (916) 300 0720 or send us an email at otoworchard@yahoo.com.  We may possibly get some ume from other producers.

        Vegetables have started to come in from WoodRose Country Gardens in Granite Bay.  This is a neighborhood farm that uses organic practices.   She is bringing us fresh potatoes, spinach, beans, peas, lettuce, arugula, and herbs.  Come check it out.

        Not too cold, not too hot, and just the right amount of sunlight.  This makes for happy hens that are glad to produce eggs.  If eggs have a season, it is now.  La Bella Vito Farm in Loomis has beautiful fresh brown eggs to show off.  Hope you will try a dozen.

        We are still looking for a part time worker.  If you know of a student, retired person, or someone who needs a little spending money we would love to interview him or her.  The job description is listed in the previous blog entry below. April 25. 2022.

SLOW SEASON HOURS:

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY  11:30 TO 1:30

FRIDAY, SATURDAY                              10:00 TO 6:00

SUNDAY                           11:00 TO 5:00

CLOSED ON MONDAYS

Since we are often at the farm anyway, you may call us to arrange for other times. 

Farm Stand:      (916) 791-1656

Mobile phone:   (916) 300-0720

  Here is what we have at the Farm Stand from Otow Orchard

Valencia oranges (limited supply)

Yellow grapefruit

Eureka lemons 🍋

Hachiya:  frozen pulp 

Ume (pre orders only)        

Honey 🍯 from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard. Bee pollen from bees 🐝 at Otow Orchard

⚘ Calendula Salve and Lip Balm 

 

Here is what we have from other producers:

Stoney Point Orchard in Loomis (organic certified): Pink grapefruit.

WoodRose Country Gardens in Granite Bay: (organic practices) Potatoes, beans, snow peas, 🥬lettuce, arugula, spinach, white bulb onions 🧅, green onions, cilantro, Greek oregano, rosemary, thyme.

Top O' the Hill Apiary in Granite Bay: Honey🍯. Top of the Hill Apiary also has bees wax 🐝.

La Bella Vito Farm is bringing us fresh🥚 eggs from pastured 🐔🐔chickens.

ORCHARD IN BLOOM

A little early, but spring seems to be here or summer is on its way.  White and pink blossoms are showing off the orchard.  If you would like to see the flowers, you are welcome to come for a walk.  This show will not last very long, so now is the time.  Soon we will see miniature green fruit on the trees.  Please check our modified hours listed below.

        We are preparing to plant new trees. Old trees have been removed and new holes are being dug.  Mulch is being delivered to the planting sites.   This year we are planting new apple, plum, peach, pluot and persimmon trees.

        With the dry weather the vegetable gardens have not had to fight so many weeds.  We are preparing the beds for planting.  In the hot house  we have planted tomato, pepper and eggplant seeds.  It is exciting to watch them germinate and show up as little green leaves and stems.

       In the farm stand it is definitely citrus season.  There are blood oranges, white grapefruit, and navel oranges from  our orchard.  Pleasant Hill Farm in Lincoln brought us Cara Cara oranges (pink interior), Navel oranges and Eureka lemons. There are pink grapefruit from Mihara Farm, in Lincoln. We also have a good crop of Kiwi for sale.

      Some people are looking for local honey at this time of year.  We have raw  wildflower honey from Granite Bay and unfiltered, raw honey from Lincoln.  The Otow Orchard  honey is sold out until the bees have a chance to collect more.  This should happen sometime in May or June.  Currently the hives are working in an almond orchard and then onto an orange grove before heading home to us.

       Slowly we are working on the finishing stages for hoshigaki. We are sorting and packaging them for sale in the farm stand or vacuum sealing them for longer storage in the freezer.  Since the weather is cool, we continue to fill mail order requests for hoshigaki.  If you would like to order, please click here for mail order form.

Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.

  SLOW SEASON HOURS

      Tues, Wed, Thur:      11:30 am  to  1:30 pm       
Fri, Sat:      10 am to 6 pm
Sun:            11 am to 5 pm
Closed on Mondays

    

WE ASK THAT YOU KINDLY DO NOT DISTURB DURING NON BUSINESS HOURS.   For other times please call my mobile phone.  You must leave a message if you are not already in my phone.   (916) 300-0720.  We are often here someplace and will gladly arrange to help you.  We normally return to regular hours in May.

Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:
Kiwi
Hoshigaki: dried persimmons
Citrus:  Blood Orange, Navel Oranges, White Grapefruit
Rosemary
Calendula salve and lip balm
Nuts:  Walnuts and Pecans 
Dried or dehydrated fruit:  apples, peaches, jujube

This is what we have from other producers: 
Pleasant Hill Farm:  Navel oranges, Cara Cara oranges, Eureka lemons
Mihara Farm:  Pink grapefruit
Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey(Unfiltered) from Nastase Honey Farm
Eggs from Two Feather Farm
        

APPLES, PEARS AND PERSIMMONS

        It is mid October and we have started the hoshigaki process.  The Hachiya persimmons are coloring up nicely so we are peeling and hanging them up on the racks in the sun.  Some have been massaged and are taking on their droopy wrinkled appearance.  Soon we hope the magic will happen and tiny sugar crystals will appear on the surface.  Wa-lah, Hoshigaki.  The whole process takes 4 to 6 weeks so be patient.
      Purchasing hoshigaki is not always straight forward.  We  hope to start selling the early ones by the beginning of November.   The premium grade usually shows up after Thanksgiving.  We are now accepting mail orders for people who cannot come to the farm to pick up their order.  Although we do not start shipping mail order till December, you must send in your order soon since we fill requests in the order received.  For instructions on how to get on the list for mail order please go to our mail order form page.    If you are purchasing a small amount of  hoshigaki at the farm, we hope to have a supply on hand.  If you are looking for premium grade or more than one pound, we ask you to call: (916) 791-1656 or email: (otoworchard@yahoo.com) for a pre-order.
      Meanwhile other persimmons are showing up at the farm stand.  Hachiya persimmons that were not peeled are ripening into soft succulent globes of sweetness.  Fuyu, the apple type, are just getting ready.  We have some of the brown fleshed varieties:  Maru, Nagamaru, Tsurunoko, Chocolate, Coffee Cake, and vodka.
       Not to be overshadowed by persimmons are pears and apples.  We have D'anjou and Comice European pears.   There are several varieties of juicy, sweet and crisp Asian pears (see the list below).  In the apple department there are red and gloden delicious apples.  Also the memorable Reinette Simerenko  and Fuji apples are available.  Sunnyslope Farm is supplying us with Fuji and Mutsu (Crispin) apples.
      White pomegranates are a specialty item that we are now harvesting.  While light creamy yellow on the outside the ariels are pink with a small core. These are sweet with no tartness.  Hope you will try some.  Red Pomegranates are on the horizon.
        Many summer vegetables have gone by the wayside.  Amazingly, the gardens are still giving us tomatoes.   It is time for winter squash.  You can bake, steam, microwave or blend them for a warm fall meal.  We are changing into cool weather vegetables.  BarleyOats Farm has begun to harvest winter vegetables.  So far we have had salad mix and Napa (Chinese cabbage).

Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.

  HOURS

Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 

Sun: 11 am to 5 pm

 Closed on Mondays

Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:
Plums: Casselman,  Elephant Heart, Empress
Apples:   Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Reinette Simerenko, Fuji
European Pears:  D'anjou,  Comice
Brown Asian Pears: Shinko, Yoi, and Olympic
Yellow Asian Pears:  Yali
Jujube:  Li
Quince
Pomegranates:  White (sweet and pink seeded) 
Brown Fleshed Persimmons:  Maru, Coffee Cake, Chocolate, Tsurunoko
Tomatoes:  Red, Heirloom, Yellow, Pink, Roma,
Tomatillos
Okra
Winter Squash:  Delicata, Red Kuri, Black Futsu, Kabocha
Chili peppers: Shishito,   Jalapeno,
Eggplant: Japanese (Limited supply)
Beans: Chinese long beans
Basil, Rosemary, Red and Green shiso
Olives (raw)
Calendula salve and lip balm
Honey from our orchard

This is what we have from other producers: 
Sunnyslope Farm:   Fuji apples, Mutsu (Crispin) apples
Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary 
Comb Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm 
Winter vegetables from BarleyOats Farm

FIGS ARE BACK

Figs are making their second appearance for the year.  Figs have two crops a year.  The first crop occurs in July.  After a rest, the next crop matures in late August and September.  The second crop usually has smaller fruit sizes.  This year our Brown Turkey and Penache Tiger Stripe figs are looking pretty good in the size category.  The Black Mission however are true to tradition and are on the small side so far this year.
       We are now harvesting Asian Pears, apples and Jujube.  A sign that fall is arriving.  We will still have grapes, peaches, plums, and pluots.  Peach season is coming to a slow close. We still have green Kelsey plums, soft Laroda plums, crisp Casselman and Cassie plums and a limited supply of Dapple Dandy pluots.
      The gardens are still producing tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, long beans, basil, peppers, and eggplants. We are starting to have some  winter squash.  Now is the time for Delicata winter squash.

Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.

  HOURS

Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 

Sun: 11 am to 5 pm

 Closed on Mondays

Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:
Yellow Freestone Peaches: Rio Oso Gem, O'Henry
Cling Peaches: Bowen
Plums:  Laroda, Kelsey, Cassie, Casselman
Pluots:  Dapple Dandy
Grapes:  Kyoho, Red Purlett, Thompson Seedless.
Apples:   Gala
European pears:  Bartlett
Yellow Asian Pears: 20th Century, New Century
Brown Asian Pears:  Hosui, Yoi
Figs: Brown Turkey, Green Penache Tiger Stripe and Black Mission 
Jujube: Sugar Cane, Li
Cucumbers: Asian cucumber, Lemon cucumber and Armenian cucumbers 
Tomatoes:  Red, Heirloom, Yellow, Pink, Roma,
Cherry tomatoes:  Sungold, Rosalita, Black cherry
Tomatillos
Okra
Summer Squash:  Zucchini, Crookneck, Tromboncino (limited supply)
Winter Squash:  Delicata, Red Kuri, Black Futsu
Sweet peppers (Limited supply)
Chili peppers: Shishito,  
Eggplant: Japanese (Limited supply)
Beans: Chinese long beans
Basil, Rosemary, Red and Green shiso
Honey from our orchard

This is what we have from other producers:
Peaches from Sunnyslope Farm:  Fay Elberta, O'Henry
Gala Apples from Sunnyslope Farm
Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary 
Comb Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm