Despite plentiful rains and cooler temperatures, the transition to summer continues and cool season crops yield to Georgia summer varieties. Asparagus season is over and those which were not harvested have matured and festoon their delicate tracery in the above picture.
I grow for our plate and friends and can indulge allocating growing space to attractive non producers. The yarrow’s shimmering tapestry attracts visitors.
And mullein thrives where it is allowed.
And a nearby sumac is favored by bees and bumblebees.
The lettuce is bolting and kale has passed its prime. Garlic and onions are maturing.
In the past I produced more garlic than we could consume, gift or replant. M. said preparing garlic was tedious. I found an Ultimate Chopper in v. good condition at the Thrift Store for $3. The lid was jammed and with the assistance of a helpful shopper we freed it. And it works great for chopping garlic and we have upped daily garlic consumption.
Some of the onion is also going to seed.
A favorite dish (and healthy too) is a saute of chard, onion and garlic.
Beans are growing well but it is disconcerting to see severed stalks which I attribute to mindless foraging of rabbits.
I have not done well with corn so I plant just a few this year and will observe.
The big summer crops for me are tomato, okra, sweet pepper, squash and melon varieties. The tomatoes were planted early and are doing well so far with no blossom rot (a problem last year) or pests.
But I probably should have planted okra and squash earlier. Okra grows prodigiously and this little plant should be robust within a few weeks.
Cucumbers are growing well, I neglected the blueberries and we should have some in a few weeks but not prolific, and the blackberries, of which there are many, are still some weeks from maturing.
And, all my rainwater tanks are full including the 2,100 gallon tank I installed a few weeks ago. Despite a warm winter and late freeze most of the pears and apple trees are bearing well. And my single peach tree has peaches – we are further north than most of the Georgia peach orchards and my tree must have received its quotient of chill hours.