Figs

In 2012 we had a bumper crop of figs, giving us a taste of what could be. In the intervening years, too cold winters or late spring frosts have entirely killed back the tree or ruined the formation of fruit. Maybe this will be the year we break that string of bad luck!

In the absence of freezing cold, it probably doesn't help that our fig tree is not located in the sunniest spot. We're not sure where this fig came from! It grew up in the shade of a southern magnolia tree. So many marks against it, yet the tree is doing its best to do its part.

Fruits have formed, green and growing stiffly out from the branches. We'll see if they ripen properly, to be sautéd in butter and spooned over vanilla ice cream, as a topper for greek-style yogurt drizzled with honey, preserved as jams and chutneys, dried and eaten like candy.... is your mouth watering yet?!?

Refreshingly Cool Morning

Yesterday, late afternoon, the weather service issued a tornado warning for our area, along with predictions of severe lightening and strong likelihood of hail. We were lucky to miss out on the most severe outcomes while getting the benefit of a nice rain shower. (Nearby communities did experience strong winds, hail, and power outages.)

This morning I headed to the garden in long-sleeves. It was 58 degrees. I surveyed the over-wintered greens situation. In a word ... bolting. We're running out of time to eat those plants!

I removed the last of the romaine lettuce, setting aside tender leaves that remain sweet while discarding tough, bitter leaves and obviously bolting plants. Then I planted two 10' rows of rattlesnake pole beans in the newly emptied bed.

I picked a pile of chard and spinach. I think I'll make some sort of greens bake with them... eat some, freeze some. 

Rouse joined in the fun. He removed the bolted and nearly bloomed-out red russian kale and did some general weeding with the stirrup hoe. The yellow kale flowers were so pretty, we allowed them to stand in the garden awhile. The lacinato kale seems to be holding its own. I harvested the largest leaves.

Lots of green goodness to compliment our meals this week, but the garden is in transition. Before succumbing to the heat of summer, though, we look forward to radishes, mint and parsley, the last of the spinach, continued chard... and this afternoon EF will be here to harvest the first sugar snap peas!

Planting the summer garden

Last week we got busy and put some seeds in the ground:

• 1/2 row each - pickling cucumber and green finger cucumber, planted down the center of the bed, anticipating trellising or tying these plants in a vertical position.
• 1 bed full of delicata squash
• 1 row each - maxibel haricot vert bush bean and roma II bush bean
• 2 rows clemson spineless okra
• 1/2 bed early scarlet globe radish, scattered

And some starts:

Herbs

• 8 basil plants
• 1 stevia plant

Tomatoes

• 2 each, sungold and black cherry tomato
• 4 German Johnson

Peppers

• 2 jalapeño
• 4 hot banana
• 2 corno ti toro
• 4 poblano
• 4 shishito
• 2 marconi Italian

Rouse insisted

• 2 eggplants