June 1- 6th

We have had a spell of cool weather after a very hot May in which the temperatures reached above 80 degrees. It has been a welcome relief and a good time for planting seeds and transplanting tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers from the little greenhouse. It has been raining lightly off and on throughout the day, but not enough to keep me from the garden.

I have started to replant some of the raspberries that did not like all of the rain this winter. Their roots may have what is called Root Rot. It took one day to thoroughly investigate 1 1/2 rows and amend the soil with sand, peat and compost. I've also applied some Ammonium Sulphate to help keep the PH low.

The most of the corn patches are now about 3 inches high. I just finished planting 3 more beds. We enjoyed the corn so much last year, that I want to make sure to plant enough! Now is the critical time in order for it to be "Knee High by the 4th of July.

We are continuing to enjoy the Asparagus Patch. We'll probably stop harvesting in about one more week to let it start maturing. We are harvesting spinach, chard, lettuce, and some broccoli spears. The potatoes plants are starting to break through the ground and I am mounding up more soil around them as they surface. I planted 5 varieties - Burbank Russets, Yukon Gold, Red French Fingerlings, Banana Fingerlings, and Russet Nuggets.

I've planted lettuce, beets, corn salad, broccoli, Pok Choy, soybeans, fava beans, and a variety of dry shelling bean that is black and white and looks like the Yin/Yang symbol this week.

The first artichokes are putting on their heads. I thought we had lost the whole patch from the harsh winter, but most of them have survived! They have been such a success in past years that I have planted 8 more plants in a new bed. That gives us about 14 plants I believe.