Peas

The peas are looking good.  You can see from the photos that they need some training to work their way up the trellis.  But I’m confident they are good learners.

Tomatoes

The tomatoes are coming up slowly but surely.  They are at about 16 to 20 inches right now.  Last year, the tomato plants reached about 4 to 5 feet so they have a ways to go.  At the point, I’m more concerned about the root strength than the height.  A 5 foot plant needs a really strong root structure.

In one of the pictues, notice a huge batch of tomato plants (almost looks herb like).  I left some tomatoes on the ground at the end of last year and tilled them into the soil in the spring.  Much to my amazement, they are growing.  They aren’t in a great place to grow 4 feet, but I am letting them grow just to see how they fare.

Chard

After a couple misses, some of the chard is finally coming up.  I’m not sure why it didn’t all sprout (I usually don’t have chard problems), but the few buds look good.

Spinach

No complaints on spinach.  This is the second week that I’ve been able to cut the outer, larger leaves for spinach salads.

Radish

The biggest radish came out of the ground.  Take a look at the pictures above.  It’s about 2 inches in diameter.  I happened to go to the Green City Market today and found 3 inch radishes, but I’m happy anyway.  The radishes have a great spicy punch and are really crisp.  I also replanted another 16 radishes that should be ready in about 3 weeks.  They are just that easy to grow.

Rocky Top Lettuce

The rocky top lettuce has grown a lot in the last week.  You can see about 3 to 5 different varieties growing.  In another 2 weeks, I’ll start to trim back for baby greens and let some other plants grow for fuller heads.  I also replanted Rocky Top today.  I am growing this batch in a shadier area of the garden.  I’ll grow the lettuce all summer, but it needs a reprieve from the hottest sun.

Planted Today:

I’ll have a longer description of each variety but I planted basil, pumpkin, watermelon, and two varieties of cucumbers today.  All from seed.  Descriptions on the way.

Also notice the permaculturephotos.  I have taken one bed and I’m growing — in random — a variety of herbs, lettuces, radish, etc.  I’ll write up separately on my lessons on permaculture.

Related articles:

1. On the Farm, June 19, 2009
2. On The Farm, June 26, 2009
3. On the Farm, June 12, 2009

If you follow @GreenCityMarket on Twitter, you were notified that Cannon Drive was closed this morning for the Wrigley “Start Early Run” Race.  Walking through Lincoln Park, I was caught up in the action.

Caught at the Wrigley "Start Early Run" Race on the way to the market.

Sometimes you have to stop and smell the flowers.  In my case, I stopped to photograph ducks in the North Pond of Lincoln Park.  I walked all the way up to the edge the pond — about 2 feet from the ducks — and they just sat their while I took a picture.

Ducks of the North Pond, April 2009

Sorry about the side track, back to the market.  Luckily for us, Growing Power is able to start their vegetables in a greenhouse or cold frame (I should have asked) so they have a variety of greens ready to eat today.  I picked up both the arugula and salad greens.

Salad Greens and Arugula from Growing Power at the Green City Market

It’s rare to get scallions this early and they really smelled good (and strong — my entire bag smelled like scallions.  I also picked up mint and sorrel leaves from Nichols Farm, both of which looked great.

Mint Leaves from the Green City Market

Sorrel Leaves from the Green City Market

Scallions from the Green City Market

And finally to round out my Green City Market trip, I picked up Green Offerings bunch of tulips.  They’re very closed now (I purposely picked them like that) so hopefully I can watch them slowly open all week.

Tulips from Garden Offerings at the Green City Market

And since I was one of the first 200 to show up, I received a basil pot!  This one will go on my kitchen counter in a small pot.  Thanks Green City Market!

Basil Pot, a gift from the Green City Market

It’s far too nice to be inside today.  I’m back outside to enjoy the weather before it starts raining tomorrow.  Have a good day!

Related articles:

1. Friday Weeds – April 10, 2009
2. Friday Weeds – April 17, 2009
3. Friday Weeds – April 24, 2009