Thursday, May 23, 2013

What's growing now: Spinach, radishes, peas and more...

After the cold start this spring has been great for gardening here in southeastern Massachusetts. Enough rain, but not so much that things rot, and not too many crazy temperature fluctuations.
Here's what I'm harvesting and planting now:

Spinach and radishes:


The spinach stems are so tender  I blanch them with small radishes and eat them together with butter:


The peas are blooming (and the chive flowers are edible when young...).


and the broccoli rabe is almost ready to harvest:


Summer crops are in the ground-- here's one of the dozen mounds where I planted many kinds of summer and winter squash (I use rocks as labels because Sol steals the wooden and plastic ones):


Bush beans are sprouting-- these are Burgundy, and the stems are distinctly purple:


Some tomatoes are in the ground-- this is a potato leafed heirloom from aunt Sandy via my brother in law Adam:


While others are still hardening off on the front porch-- these are Mortgage Lifter and Sweet 100, along with a jalapeno and some moonflowers:


And the late spring flowers are enjoying the good weather too. This bicolor purple bearded iris came with the house when I bought it 21 years ago, but I planted the amsonia. They are both reliable, easy care flowers.