Friday Five: Dig in the Dirt

I became inspired last weekend to go outside!  NOT working so well for this weekend, but it got me thinking about my veggie garden and my herbs that I want to plant this year.  It is tricky with all of our fog and drizzle to have a beautiful and bountiful garden, however the following five plants will get your fingers digging in the dirt and have you eating healthy this summer!

    Please.... plant peas!

Peas are such a universal veggie and they make a tasty snack.  Pasta, salad, or one of the many different dishes you can find here. 

The best thing about growing Peas in our soggy, cold Northwest weather?  They hate weather over
85 degrees.  Perfect for our not-so-warm growing season.

    Go out on a limb and try the exotic Artichoke

Believe it or not, Artichoke need our cool wet weather to grow and thrive!  Also, they make wonderful dip. Like, seriously wonderful, delicious dip.

    Lettuce, grow lettuce.

This should come as no surprise that lettuces grows best in cool temperatures, but what is so great about lettuce is the many varieties they come in! Seriously, many many varieties. (Arugula, Romaine, Butter, Boston, Little Gems, Mache, Iceberg, Black-seeded Simpson, Butter crunch,  shall I go on;)

Lettuce can be harvested most of the season and leaf lettuce will regrow once the leaves are harvested above two to four inches in length.

    Do like the Swiss and grow Swiss Chard

This veggie is much like spinach.  You can saute, dress or soup it and it will be delicious.  Don't overlook it because you haven't tried it.  It can tolerate summer heat and even a bit of frost!

    Care for a Carrot?

Carrots love loose soil and need watering three times a week, which in our wet growing season is not a problem.  Try rainbow varieties and plant them from January all the way to June!

Now this means that we all need to go outside, despite the rain and dig in the dirt! It will mean a yummy eating season if we grow this spring!