Today is the longest day of the year–15 hours and 18 minutes to be exact.
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Today is the longest daylight of the year–15 hours and 18 minute of arc to be exact ( according to theFarmers ’ Almanac ) . It is the prescribed root of summer on the calendar , however , many of our gardens have already begun to bring on summer bounty . I ’ve noticed from different billet and blogs that gardeners down South are already harvesting other tomatoes and the first squash . While folks in the North are posting photos of herb and gardens that I was enjoying about a month ago . So I ’m sort of in the middle here in the Mid - Atlantic and I ’m still harvest the last of the spring crops like cabbage , mustard greens , kale , and other leafy putting surface . My cilantro and arugula are flowering .
Other summer herbs and flower are flower already : the monardas , both M. didyma and M. fistulosa have just begun this week which has determine the the hummers a buzzin ’ almost as much as the bees ; other pollinators are busybodied with the fragrant lavender spikes ; while the foxglove have finished the hollyhocks are just hail into their full halo ; daylilies are showing off daily ; and nasturtiums have been putting out bloom for about two weeks . Butterfiles are jaw the butterfly weed which has just started to flower .
Spearmint , peppermint , orange mint and lemon balm all need to be reap for drying as soon as I can get round to that pleasant , aromatherapeutic labor .
In the vegetable garden , white potato have bloomed and the tomatoes are just getting ready to take form blossom bud . Chile black pepper have last come out to benefit some height . Onions have bring on dark-green tops about 8- to 10 - inch tall . The crepuscle - plant Allium sativum is yellowing and a few have even fallen over , which means that the garlic harvest is imminent . Once I dig those , I ’ll have a row to put in some traveler ( as in they travel over the garden worldly concern and take a batch of space)–like the vining melons and perhaps pumpkin or gourd . Or any of the extra plants that I never step up – which have been long - suffering in cells or marketpacks …
The cabbage cat have been assay to take over the genus Brassica and eating the kale , although they do n’t seem to bother the Swiss chard which is honking . The rainbow chard premix is one of my favourite – they are so vivid and colorful that I ’ve used them in flower bed . I will edit back the gelt and there should be a novel blush of development without the cat terms . In past garden , I ’ve had the kale hang on all summertime and then have a effective prime of ontogeny in the fall – so I am hoping for the same carrying into action .
All in all , we have had a near growing season so far , although it has been too hot too soon and not quite enough rain . I celebrate today – this longest daylight of twinkle – bringing us the summer time of year . Tonight ’s supper will be from the garden : salad with garden Green , herbaceous plant and edible flowers and some of the gorgeous chard – not sure yet whether it will be wilted with garlic and olive oil , eat on as a side , toss with alimentary paste or top a pizza – or perhaps I ’ll make chard rolls ( like cabbage curl – just remove the big root word and roll them up ) filled with grains and nut and herbs . ( /item/12719 / swiss - spinach beet - roll - with - quinoa ) Maybe I ’ll even get around to make some lemon balm biscuits for strawberry shortcakes . ( /item/13822 / homemade - strawberry - shortcakes - with - herb - and - whipped - emollient ) lionise the season and better get harvesting !
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Love the shaggy heads ofMonarda fistulosawhich are abuzz all day with pollinators–they are blooming much earlier this year. Both leaves and flowers taste like a spicy oregano.Photo/Illustration: susan belsinger
