Garlic Scapes, Snow Peas, Kale and Tomatoes

Garlic Scapes

Now that we're into June, the garlic is starting to send out scapes.  These are the "flower" portion of the garlic.  Not really flowers, though.  Once matured, the scapes contain lots of little tiny bulbils, each capable of becoming a garlic plant, although it takes a lot longer than if you grow from cloves.  They're best removed, however, as you will get smaller garlic bulbs if you don't.  They should be snipped off before they curl around twice.  One of the nice things about garlic scapes is that they're deliciously edible.  Taken young, they can be eaten raw in salads.  Allowed to get a little older and they become more fibrous, better for soups, stews, etc.  Mine are still young - they've only gone once around in the loop.  I picked off a couple and chopped the stem portions up fine to go in a quinoa tabouli for today's lunch.

Snow Peas

The rest of the garden is progressing well.  The snow peas are flowering and a few tender little pods are forming.

Zig Zag Snow Pea Fence

The fence is holding up well and I'm wondering just how tall these plants will be!  The lettuces in the zags are maturing and it's probably time to start seeding some new plants.  I'll probably sit them in the zags or in amongst the kale so they can take advantage of the shade.

A variety of kale plants.  The garlic bed is behind.

The kale plants are now providing us with good pickings.  In the picture above, the closer rows are younger plants - Vates and Russian Red.  Behind them is Lacinato with it's tall elegant plumes.  Then at the back are 6 plants of the winter kale - Siberian for one which has quickly become my favorite.  I can't resist picking off a leaf and eating it raw on the spot!

My crazy tomato frame

A couple of days ago, I erected the tomato frame.  My raised beds aren't deep enough to firmly hold stakes for the tomatoes.  The uprights in the picture are plastic-coated metal rods from Lee Valley Tools.  To the uprights, I've lashed bamboo poles using hemp twine.  While it looks pretty "Heath Robinson", it's amazingly sturdy.  Some of the tomatoes will climb to the top and drape themselves over the cross pieces.

Iris Thriller and unknown oriental poppy

June is the best month for flowers.  The oriental poppies briefly flourish, irises and asiatic lilies are at their best and peonies flaunt their frothy blooms.