In the vegetable garden, early hard work is finally paying off with more than lettuce and radishes. Peas and swiss chard should be ready for your 4th of July dinner, early beets can be pulled along with baby carrots (a good way to thin the bed, if you haven’t already). High heat will cause spring crops to bolt so pick now and share the bounty.

Once lettuce or spinach begins to bolt – as it will with July’s high heat – leaves become bitter and inedible. It’s better to pick now and share the bounty.