Leeks, Onions & Shallots

 Nearly all the beds are set for sowing and transplants.  Yesterday, though really windy, I set in some cippolini onions that we started indoors back in February, along with some leeks and new for me this year--red shallots.  I just love cippolini's roasted in balsamic.
And finally the asparagus is started to shoot. Asparagus is best in full sun in an open site but not too exposed to wind. It requires rich,  well drained, sandy soil and prefers a PH of between 6.5 - 7.5 and  needs cool winters during its dormant period to crop well in spring. After this past winter, we should have oodles of asparagus!  I'm told that the natural habitat of asparagus is maritime and it can be found growing wild in many seaside locations around the world.  It thrives in soils that are too saline for for many other plants and is an ideal plant for a seaside garden....so clearly this addition to my garden should flourish here on the ocean front. Gotta love Spring!


                                          The last of the cippolini's from last season.

In My Basket

Boy, it's been a steamy summer up here in the northeast.. but the garden is just loving all this heat..but then, so do the weeds :(  We could feed a small nation with all the zucchini, pattypans and summer squash and hot peppers we're harvesting! :)  This summer is zipping by, and I've been extremely busy in the garden and at farmers market.  I just planted our second sowing of root crop for Autumn--more beets, carrots turnip and kale. How are your gardens doing?

 

With the many squash in my basket this week, I made a very easy to prepare Vegetable Scampi over linguini.

And we are perpetually harvesting the basils... red ruby, lemon, genovese, thai & spicy globe.  I dry most of the basils..for our herbal dips & seasoning blends and of course our herbal soaps, but it just wouldn't be summer without some fresh basil pesto too!  The one nice thing about all this heat is herb drying is so much easier. Hanging to dry are the basils, oregano,sage,  sweet marjoram, summer savory,and  lavender,

This season at Farmers market we are offering our Chunky Garden Salsa, so many many hot peppers you'll find in my garden.  They'll also go into my Vintage Garden Hot Pepper Jelly, Herb Garden Hot Pepper Jam and our newest Garlic & Onion Pepper Jam.

For the very first season here in Maine our Kirby pickling cukes are doing just splendid! All of these go into our Wicked Good Pickles

So, it's been a very good busy summer for me so far,  but the thing I'm happiest about this year in Mama's Giardiniera are my grapevines. I can't wait to harvest them!  Stay cool.  Til next thyme.. happy gardening.