Harvets Monday 5/28/12

Another perfect day in the valley.  Lots going in, less coming out.  Strawberries, loquat, basil, onions, lemons, avocados, and apricots all making their way into our bellies.  Put in more basil seeds, onions, beans both pole and bush, sunflowers.  Coming soon, figs!

Last year I planted a few sweet peas in the garden, now I have more volunteers than I can handle.

Corn and pole beans coming along.

First tomatoes, sweet one million.

Potatoes, I've heard a few different views on when to dig'em up.  One said when they flower, another said when the leaves turn yellow.  Thoughts?

Boysenberries. I also had raspberries which everyone said are a piece of cake.  Well... not so much. the Boysen are all that remain.  Baby avocados below, should be ready by next year.

This years crop is still going strong!!!

Harvest Monday 5/21/12

Another week of more going in than coming out.  I planted more cucumber, basil seed, watermellon, we'll see?, corn, and zucchini.  Harvested my first apricot of the season, as well as loquat, chives, chard, tomatillo, the last beets, a few carrots, strawberries, avocado, and..., can't remember what else.  Things are pretty hot here right now, 97 Saturday, and 99 Sunday.  Read an article that said that this summer should be hotter than normal, well last summer was cooler than normal so anythinig is possible.

 First tomatillos of the season, TPW cut em up and served them for dinner, thumbs up all around.

TPW says "The juice ain't worth the squeeze when it comes to loquats."  As you can see they are pretty much all seed, and there are usually 3-5 seeds per loquat.  The boys like to pick them right off the tree and eat them, then spit the seeds as far as possible, or squeeze them and shoot them at eachother.  Either way, it's all good.  As you can see from the picture below the boys and I feel differently about the loquat!! 

Apricots!

Harvest Monday 5/14/12

Lots going in, less coming out.  Have finally faced the harsh reality, no more lettuce.  With the hot weather all of the leafy greens have bolted.  It was tasty while it lasted, but the heat lovers must go in!  I figue I still have 2-3 weeks to get the last of the seeds and starters in the ground before the real heat may start.  I usually try to get everything in by June 1st.  Here's a short list of what I harvested out of the garden this week:  Lettuce, beets, chives, chard, strawberries, avocado, basil, lemons (see picture below),

Maggie having a tough day.

This is looking down at the rest of the back yard.  Due to the fact that we live in a very dry and hot area, I try to put in a lot of natives and drought tolerant plants.  Pictured are sages, wildflowers, olive tree, and whatever else can survive with
minimal water and lots of sun.

Pumpkins have started.

A few apricots on the new tree, now if I can get them off before the squirrels do.

Lots of little guys on all of the citrus trees.  Looks like it's going to be a good year.  This year I'm going to make sure that I thin them early.

Mother's Day flowers.

Harvest Monday 5/7/12

 As I am pulling out the winter greens and putting in the summer crops I am finding out that I planted way to much lettuce, spinach and chard, oh well it's almost all gone.  The heat has finally kicked in, now maybe my beans will sprout?  Mostly putting in this week, though did get to take out a few things as well.  Avocados, beans, lettuce, spinach, some peas, strawberries, loquats, beets, a few last oranges, a couple of carrots, I think thats it..?. 

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 We were sent this Dwarf Meyer lemon tree when we moved in, it was basically a twig.  We have moved it three times, hopefully this is the last time.  Seems to be happy, new burst of growth.

 The girls out in the fields, the Giant has been brooding, ever time I get near her she gives me the stink eye and puffs all up.

First flower on the Burpless Cucumber, hope this year is better than last with the cucs!