Spring Crops

Today I officially ended my spinach harvest. Pulled out the whole plants (Bloomsdale and Maropa) and cut off the remaining leaves, most of which were little tiny pointy guys from the bolting process. Also pulled out the whole cilantro plants - going to seed as well and i'm not trying to harvest coriander. Overall, didn't get a big crop from either - think they just need to be put in the garden earlier than my community garden can turn on the water. But will definitely try to grow Bloomsdale next year (pot on porch?) since the it has such a rich, delicious flavor.

The cilantro is in a vase of water by the window - hopefully that will keep it fresh until we use it all. We made a Tasty breakfast of huevos rancheros this morning with the spinach and a bit of the cilantro.

Somehow, miraculously, the lettuce in the garden is still growing like gangbusters! It is in the 90s outside, and we are still harvesting. Most of it is under the romanesco brocolli, whose leaves have reached a 3 foot radius (no, I'm not exaggerating). Even the lettuce in the sun though is still going. Looking at the package, the variety in full sun is Grand Rapids which is described as "slower to bolt than other loose-leaf varieties". Nate likes this varierty, but i'm not so crazy about its taste - kind of tastes like dirt to me! Not sure I'll grow it again, but fun to be harvesting lettuce well into July.

Spinach

Mmmmm made a tasty salad with strawberries, pecans, blue cheese and some home grown spinach. Got to enjoy it while it lasts - think the spinach is on its way out.

Bolting

Question of the Day: What does bolting spinach look like?
It is June 18, and here in Denver, my lettuce has been doing great! I have a carpet of green and red lettuce that seems to replace itself every time I pick it. The spinach has not been quite as productive, and I feel like, with temps rising into the 90s, its only a matter of time before everything goes to seed. I'm seeing some suspicious signs of bolting of the spinach . ..