how my garden grows

Kale, swiss chard, spinach, lettuce, chives, parsley and PEAS are thriving in the garden and on the dinner plate. Our zone 7b climate is by now quite lush and we've had our first set of days in the 90s. I'm hoping the weather will stay cool enough to keep enjoying the lettuces, spinach and peas that faded so quickly with the heat last year. I've already had a lot more greens this year and we've been freely enjoying salads from the garden.

Tomatoes are in the ground and starting to bloom. I've been sharing the left over plants with anyone and everyone that I can interest. There's only a handful left and it's been loads of fun to find homes for the others. It's amazing how many tomato seeds, plants and fruit that can be shared from just a few packs of seeds. I love it and happy to get others involved!

Brandywine tomato blossoms

Brandywine tomato plant (love that texture!)

Green Zebra tomato blossoms

Siberian kale

Romaine lettuce

Swiss chard

Little Gem Romaine lettuce

Freckles Romaine lettuce

Little Marvel pea blossom

Pea pods - my favorite from the spring garden

Royal Burgundy bean blossom

Spacemaster cucumber

purple asparagus

Greek oregano

purple cone flower

new stone path!

dinner

It's not over yet!

While I have been silent, the garden grows. The season has certainly turned, but that doesn't mean I'm done for the year - I'm working on my next harvest!


I've planted a whole new set of seedlings, which are slowly making their way to maturity. There's only one pepper left, but the carrots keep coming in from the summer. Most of the herbs are looking good still too - plenty of basil, rosemary, oregano and chives.

I'm most excited for the peas! I planted the same Little Marvel Dwarf Peas as in the spring, and they are blooming. I found a little trellis that's perfect for the pea plant vines.




Red Winter Kale, Purple and While Vienna Blend Kohlrabi, Cherry Bell Radish, and broccoli too. The seedlings are still small and I hope they keep growing for a full harvest! They looked quite magical this morning, with drops of dew remaining.



It's the time for lettuce and I have in the raised beds, in pots and everything I can think to grow it.




As the days grow dark and the air cool, pansies show their true color.