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Many Gardeners complained about the cold, wet, and late spring. However, some of the early spring crops did very well. The cool wet spring produced some of the nicest spinach in years with excellent germination. This continued until it got really hot and then it became bitter as it began to bolt (went to seed). Some gardeners buy extra spinach seed and plant again in late August when it again turns cooler, since the optimum soil temperature for lettuce and spinach is between 55 and 70 degrees.

Table onions, radishes, peas and other cool weather plants did well this spring. The cool crops of broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cabbage got off to a good start. In fact some gardeners are already seeing heads on the broccoli. In contrast, those who planted their beans too early, had to replant as beans do not like cool soil temperature.

Although some gardeners continue to pick rhubarb well into the summer, harvest should end the first week of July. This is especially true if the patch is a fairly new one. Just because the harvest is over, it doesn't mean that the care of rhubarb can be forgotten until next spring. Be sure to continue to cut off stalks that have gone to seed. Rhubarb plants require a lot of organic matter and large amounts of balanced complete fertilizer. Top dress the patch with well-rotted manure in the fall. If you need to move or rejuvenate the patch, wait until early next spring.

Asparagus is another crop that should end the first week in July. While rhubarb doesn't have any serious enemies, asparagus has the asparagus beetle, which can be deadly. One of the advantages of stopping the harvest early in the summer is that you can begin spraying before the beetle kills the young ferns. If you are into spraying, be sure to buy an insecticide that says it controls the asparagus beetle. If you notice deformed crooked spears, it's called shepard's crook. This means the beetle has affected the root of the asparagus.

One of the biggest mistakes a gardener can make is ignoring their asparagus patch after harvest. Along with controlling the beetle, one must also control the weeds. Hopefully, we will continue to have adequate rain during the summer. This will give gardeners the chance to pull the tough weeds out when the soil is moist. Weeds in asparagus are no different than weeds in the regular garden, as they will rob the plants of much needed moisture. Another reason to keep the asparagus free of weeds is that the asparagus beetle is not fussy where they lay their eggs, and the weeds will do just fine.

Now that summer is here other fruits and vegetables are ready for harvest. They include strawberries, blueberries, summer raspberries, red potatoes, broccoli, and the list goes on. Where did the summer go?

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