Spring vegetable plantings are starting to come to the end of their annual life cycles- my spinach, chard, and mustard greens are just about "done"- they are growing taller, flower buds are forming, and in the case of spinach, the leaves are changing shapes- they become much more triangular. I know the lettuce will be next.
That means it's time to think about new plantings! This can be a hard transition for beginning gardeners- the plants you've babied for months... now I'm telling you to pull them out?! Yes- they are not going to be producing much for you to eat, and they will instead put all of their energy into making flowers and then seeds. Chard leaves will still taste the same- so harvest them all before you pull that tall, sculptural stalk out of the garden, but lettuce usually becomes quite bitter. Plan to buy seeds or purchase 6-packs at a nursery or garden center (or even Rainbow grocery!). Often the 6-packs have many more plants than you might want, so share with your neighbors :)
Need an idea for what to do with all those greens? I made this soup with lots of chard, some kale and mustard greens and it's surprisingly delicious! You really need to carmelize the onions...
http://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/basic-green-soup
May
Beans (these can be difficult to grow in our climate)
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots (seeds only)
Cauliflower (long season)
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Parsnips (seeds only)
Pea
Radishes (seeds only)
Zucchini
Pumpkins (these take up a LOT of space)
Tomatoes (suggest only trying cherry tomatoes for any chance of ripening)
June
Beans (these can be difficult to grow in our climate)
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots (seeds only)
Cauliflower (long season)
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Parsnips (seeds only)
Pea
Radishes (seeds only)
Zucchini
Pumpkins - thru June 15 (these take up a LOT of space)
Tomatoes (suggest only trying cherry tomatoes for any chance of ripening)
