Len and Edith Rook are hoping the sun will shine until the start of the Carman, Man., farmers’ market June 22.
The Rooks supply a host of produce to it through their Dufferin Market Gardens, in addition to selling to wholesaler Peak of the Market each year.
Frosts, cool weather and rain have slowed the development of their plants that range from leeks to strawberries and peppers by about a week. The area received 14 millimetres of rain June 10.
Edith said the first strawberries will not be ready for picking until the last week of June, although a stretch of warmer weather could speed up their development.
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“I’d like some sunshine, plants need that to grow,” she said. “The rain is quite sufficient.”
The Rooks planted everything on schedule but were unable to transplant into the fields due to late May frosts that fell to –2 C and touched early strawberry blossoms.
Hoeing is impossible in wet fields, although their sandy loam absorbs more of the moisture than fields with heavier soils.
“With one day of sunshine we can get back on,” Rook said.
Brian Hunt, vegetable crop specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, was planting research plots in warm conditions at Carberry and Portage la Prairie June 11.
He is hoping for a reasonable year for vegetable producers this year.
He said most vegetable growing areas in Manitoba were spared the worst extremes of spring weather.
The biggest headache for producers now is delays in weed control due to showers. Thunderstorms were forecast early this week for southern Manitoba.
While some growers had concerns about damage to beets and onions, Hunt said these plants are highly tolerant.
“They might be laying down but they will come back,” he said. “Crops will recover in hot weather.”
