It is hard to believe, but the second half of the gardening season is happening right now. It seems that the older I get, the faster the time goes.
My usual indicator is the garlic patch. We harvest the garlic scapes in June. When the leaves of the garlic plants start browning in late July, it’s time to pull those suckers.
I typically harvest the plants and give them a few days to dry out. Then I cut off the stems and roots and polish off the dirt on the garlic heads with a towel. It is slow work, best done with some good music in the background, a cold beer within reach and the company (and help) of friends and loved ones.
Why do I call this the “Second Season”? Good question. Harvesting the garlic sets in motion a new round of gardening activity. Now that the garlic is harvested, it is time to plant the fall carrots in that plot. Harvesting and replanting will be repeated several more times as the various onion varieties come to harvest. I will start seeds of red beet and golden beet, many more carrots, and more green onions.
As this is happening, some of my hot weather crops are beginning to bear fruit. We have recently harvested three zucchini and two eggplants. In addition, we now have some lovely jalapeno peppers. The cool weather crops are now giving way to the sexier hot weather crops. The happiness factor is trending upwards.
So far, it has been a pretty good gardening year. Here’s hoping the “Second Season” is just as satisfying.
All the best in life and gardening,
Greg Garnache gcgarnache@gmail.com
