Summer Heat Hits Montville Farms

This summer's heat may already seem unbearable to some, but to farmers, it has been both a blessing and a curse.

Owner Ivan Bader said the high temperatures have actually pushed harvesting dates up for the season, with the heat ripening his crops early.

"It's been a very good thing," Bader said.

Bader Farm uses drip-irrigation, so with the dry weather, Bader said he is able to better control exactly how much water reaches his plants.

"We're 100 percent drip-irrigated," he said. "We just turn on the water and it drips by each plant so we can control the water that they get, which is better than heavier rains."

Bader said this has not only helped speed up his season but helped produce tastier vegetables as well. Tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, which Bader said he would normally leave for another two weeks, have been picked early. Jersey corn, peaches and eggplant have also matured sooner.

Jersey corn has grown particularly well this year at too, according to Owner Todd Kuehm.

"I think the dry weather helps it," he said. "If you get too much rain, it's bad for the plant and then it gets water-logged. It can take away the sweetness."

But overall, Kuehm said he does not think the warm weather has affected the taste of the vegetables on his Montville farm, or the farm he has in Wayne, on Black Oak Ridge Road. Kuehm said he feels the heat may actually have a negative impact on the crops.

"The plants don't want to be stressed," he said. "It's better if you keep them happy. With our drip-irrigation, we're watering between (rainfalls) so we're trying to keep the roots cooler to keep the plant happier because the root will take that water."

At Lotta Lettuce Farms, overhead irrigation is also used on some crops. Kuehm said he has had to be particularly cautious in the hot weather with when he waters the plants because the excess water can actually attract sunlight and dry up plants quicker. The time of day for watering is also important.

"Certain crops are a little more sensistive," he said. "We find ourselves watering a lot of the seeded items earlier in the day."

The heat has not only impacted plants but also bees, according to Owner Landi Simone.

"I'm getting phone calls from people complaining about honeybees in their swimming pools because bees are very thirsty and they're going for water, particularly water with minerals," Simone said.

Simone said Gooserock does have on-site water sources for the bees but they are still flying off the property. The heat has also affected the mating hives for queen bees, she said.

"I have to make them larger than I ordinarily would because queen cells are really sensitive to temperature," she said. "So in order for them to keep the queen cells cool enough, I have to put extra bees in there."

With two months of summer left, all three farmers are working to adapt to the weather to make the most of the season.