Oh, the greenery

The garden is bursting with green.  The several types of lettuce have grown tall and hearty.  I go out each evening to pick the fresh greens for a salad.  I also clip leaves for use in packing lunches to take to work.  There is nothing better than the strong flavor of fresh arugula.  The beets are growing well.  I was going to thin them but when I look at the base of the plant, it looks like many stalks create one plant.  As I have never grown beets before, I have decided to leave it be and see what happens.  How exciting!

The eggplant has all but expired.  It appears some pest took a liking to the greens.  I sprayed with organic, home-made spray (some liquid soap, water and vinegar), but it may have been too late.  The watermelon is spreading out beautifully and there is one small bud starting.  I have previously had no luck with watermelons but I am hopeful that placing it front and center in full sun will make the difference.

The beans did not make it.  First it was the pests, then I think it was the cold and lack of steady sun.  I have one or two cucumbers that are flourishing in the same trough.  The tomato growth is still stunted.  We now finally have heat and sun, so I am hoping that the tomatoes take off.  Last year we had a bumper crop, this year its a bummer crop!

The carrots -- second planting -- did not make it either.  I have no more seeds and so it seems there will be no carrots.  The zucchini in the side lot this year is doing poorly.  It was droopy and did not really start to grow well.  I cut the artichoke back to the soil which freed up the sprinkler head, the cure for the zucchini I hope.  Although it sounds so pessimistic, the garden is doing great.  I have sweet peppers growing, hot peppers blooming, stevia climbing high, strawberry plants reaching out, onions cresting the top soil and green, green everywhere.

Everything looks wonderful, feels great and tastes even better.