Succession Cropping – Harvest to Table

Early spring has arrived in the Sonoma Valley and Northern California. The first taste of spring wherever you live is asparagus. When the first shoots of asparagus appear, you can be assured the ground has thawed and the temperatures are going up, even if every so slightly. This is the third week that asparagus has

Pomegrante fruits near harvest Pomegranate fruits have a leathery hard skin; inside are hundreds of small seeds called arils, each surrounded by a juicy red pulp. The pomegranate can be grown as a bushy shrub or as a small tree. The fruits come to harvest from mid-summer through autumn. Pomegranate seeds, pulp, and juice are

Start tomatillo seed 6 to 8 weeks before you intend to set plants out in the garden. Tomatillos are a tender, warm-weather crop. Start tomatillos indoors 8 to 6 weeks before the average last frost date. Transplant seedlings into the garden two weeks after the last frost just as you would peppers and tomatoes. Tomatillos

August is a month of endings and beginnings in the kitchen garden. In nature, change is about. Summer will begin to fade in many gardens during August giving way to autumn and cool weather. In hot summer regions, heat may continue for several more weeks then give way to warm but not cool temperatures. In

Fruits are ripening by mid-summer. Keep fruit trees and vines thoroughly watered; avoid letting plants dry out, especially newly planted fruits and fruits growing in containers. Scavenging birds and insects will be looking for an opening as fruits ripen. Use bird netting or reflective tape to scare birds away; spray away insects with a strong

• Peel and chunk sunchokes, simmer in water with a squeeze of lemon until just tender about 10 minutes, drain and dress with lemon juice, olive oil, and chopped parsley. Add cubed avocado and sprinkle with crumbled bacon. • Cook sunchokes with potatoes, onions, celery, and herbs. Purée and add milk, cream, or butter to