NEWBURYPORT — If you like lettuce, this is the summer you've dreamed of.

But if tomatoes and corn are more to your liking, all the rain and cold weather we've experienced means it's going to be a longer wait.

While the rain may be a nuisance for some, local farmers have pulled on their rain boots, dashed outside and trudged through mud to plant with every brief break in rain Mother Nature has allowed. The dreary weather has caused problems, but farmers say that some crops are coming in early, and the leafy vegetables are flourishing.

The owner of Tendercrop Farm in Newbury, Matthew Kozazcki, said the weather has been a challenge. So far the crops that have done well are greens, such as lettuce. The tomatoes and corn are making an early appearance to Kozazcki's surprise, with the corn already well past the knees and showing the "silk." Kozazcki said he expects the corn to be ready as early as the third week in July, but he said he would prefer a drought to all the rain.

"I'd rather see it drier," said Kozazcki. "I like droughts better than floods; it's always easier to pump water onto the fields than get it off."

Cindy Adams, of Long Hill Orchard and Farm in West Newbury, said that her fruits, such as apples, peaches and pears, are doing great. The rain has delayed tomatoes, herbs and peppers. Adams said that they plant their tomatoes on a drip-line irrigation with plastic mulch wrapped around them in order to help hold heat in — tomatoes love heat, not the cold, damp days and nights that have hovered over the region.

"People wait to taste the first tomato of the season, and they are going to be delayed," Adams said. "The good news are the greens — lettuce, peas and spinach — are beautiful."

The corn has taken a hit on Adams' farm. She said that they had to replant it because the fields were too wet. However, Adams said that the corn will be ready the last week in July or the first week in August. People have been happy with the greens they have been able to get, and Adams has been giving out recipes to their customers, she said.

"People are thrilled with what they are getting. It's nice to be able to have fresh vegetables after the winter," Adams said.

The hay crop has been negatively affected by the rain, said Robby Bartlett of Bartlett Farm in Salisbury. By now, he would usually be done with the haying, but the weather has deterred him, Bartlett said.

"I'd be wrapping things up; instead, I haven't made much hay at all," Bartlett said.

Bartlett's crops have been doing well, but there will be a delay by about a week when the corn will be ready. However, things could turn around, if there are some sunny days with a lot of heat, Bartlett said. One issue farmers always worry about when the weather is wet is rot, but Bartlett has been keeping a close eye on his crops.

"Wet weather can promote disease in vegetable crops, (but) it hasn't happened so far," Bartlett said.

Tim Lamprey of Harbor Gardens was able to share some tips for people's gardens at home. He said that the greatest factor with all the wet weather is how well the soil drains the water. If the soil doesn't drain, then the plants will rot away. Lamprey said that new fertilizer should be added, and plants should be checked for diseases, fungi and insects.

"Excess of anything is not good for plants in general," Lamprey said. "We need Mother Nature to decide it's time to give the people of New England some warm weather."

LAMPREY'S TIPS

New fertilizer should be added to the soil because the old fertilizer has been washed away.

Check plants for diseases and treat right away.

Look for insects such as aphids, which feed on the new growth at the end of the plant.

Watch out for slugs; they are in abundance now.

Check plants for fungus and treat right away.