As sweet corn season continues, this reporter wondered what exactly goes on inside that husk. According to The Ohio State University’s webpage, “A Guide to Corn Growth and Development,” a lot. Each corn kernel starts as an ovary, attached to a single silk that develops at the top of the ear about two months after the plant emerges. Pollen grains land on the silk and fertilize the attached ovary. As the plant ages, the resulting kernels go through five stages of development. Sweet corn is typically picked at stage three, called the “milk” stage because of the milky texture inside the kernels. In stage four, the “dough” stage, the inside of the kernels are doughier and moisture starts to drop. Things head downhill when corn reaches the “dent” stage, in which kernels take on a dented appearance as they dry out and there is “increasing starch deposition.” Sounds familiar. The final stage? “Physiological maturity.” Gotta love that euphemism.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Pick-your-own peaches, nectarines, Ginger Gold, Honeycrisp, and Royal Gala apples, as well as cut-your-own sunflowers. Check Facebook for daily updates. Already-picked peaches, nectarines, Ginger Gold and Honeycrisp apples, and flowers are available in the store, along with corn, tomatoes, pickling and regular cucumbers, green beans, zucchini, summer squash, green and jalapeño peppers from Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, New Hampshire.
Store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; pick-your-own is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road, 978-772-4139
Pick-your-own peaches, nectarines, Ginger Gold, Honeycrisp, and Royal Gala apples, as well as cut-your-own sunflowers. Check Facebook for daily updates. Already-picked peaches, nectarines, Ginger Gold and Honeycrisp apples, and flowers are available in the store, along with corn, tomatoes, pickling and regular cucumbers, green beans, zucchini, summer squash, green and jalapeño peppers from Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, New Hampshire.
Store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; pick-your-own is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Good Spirits Farm, 106 East Bare Hill Road
At the self-service farmstand (and adjacent shed) this week: raspberries, blackberries, pears, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatillos, kale, spinach, patty pan and delicata squash, and fresh herbs, including basil. Also the farm’s own honey, jams, wildflowers, herbal teas, lip balm, and hand cream. Fresh Chip-In Farm eggs in the fridge. Also flower bouquets with dahlias, zinnias, and sunflowers.
Self-serve stand is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
Pick-your-own raspberries; pick-your-own apples will open Sept. 13. Available at the self-service stand on the front porch are the farm’s certified organic apples, raspberries, Asian and Seckel pears, tomatoes, and peppers, along with the farm’s own honey, fruit jams, beeswax candles, herbal teas, nettle salt, and calendula oil.
Pick-your-own raspberries, and the outdoor sculpture exhibit, are open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday; pick-your-own apples open Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue, 978-456-8363
Pick-your-own apples; recommended varieties to pick are Macoun, McIntosh, and Cortland. Available in the store: Westward’s yellow and white peaches, nectarines, Macoun, Honeycrisp, Gala, Ginger Gold, and Cortland apples, Asian and Bartlett pears, watermelon, honeydew, strawberries, and mixed plums. Also Westward’s own corn, tomatoes (including heirloom and cherry), lettuce, kale, cucumbers, peppers, summer squash, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, beets, cabbage, beans, carrots, mixed potatoes, and mixed herbs.
Store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; pick-your-own is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road, 978-456-8291
From Cucurbit Farm in Acton: corn, tomatoes, including plum and cherry, zucchini, summer squash, carrots, cucumbers, celery, green peppers, Yukon gold potatoes, radishes, yellow and red onions, eggplant (traditional and Asian), shallots, garlic, scallions, delicata and butternut squash, mini pumpkins, sugar pumpkins, and flowers. Watermelon and lettuce are in the refrigerator. Willard Farm’s gourds, Polar Bear (white) pumpkins, and large “Cinderella” pumpkins are also available. Regular orange pumpkins are a mix of Willard and Cucurbit grown.
Self-service stand is open daily.
All produce listed is Harvard grown unless otherwise noted.
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
