Living in the fog belt, I can grow artichokes. Today, May 1, the high temperature was 57 degrees and the low temperature 57 degrees—and that with all day heavy overcast and stiff breezes. Officially, it’s the start of May Gray, soon followed by June Gloom.

Where are 80% of U.S. artichokes grown? Of course, in the Central Coast fog belt, notably around Castroville. If you’ve driven Highway 1 north of Monterey you’ve seen mile after mile of artichokes growing, often in view of the ocean.

If you’re an artichoke aficionado or a nerd like me who wonders about how things are done in big agriculture, you’ll enjoy this video. Ocean Mist Farms and the University of California show how they’re grown, harvested and prepared for market. Enjoy your next artichoke—it’s the season. Our ‘Globe’ artichokes are just starting since the plants were new this year.

Though I can grow fabulous artichokes, two blocks from the ocean is not the location for growing great tomatoes as documented in Growing Tomatoes in the Fog Belt. I do have a different plan for growing tomatoes this summer and will be posting on that soon.

Where artichokes thrive, usually lettuce grows well too. Here’s a hand-held bouquet of ‘Redina’ leaves picked recently.

Less-than-perfect leafy greens keep many critters happy, including two guinea pigs, three rabbits some ancient tortoises and until recently a passel of chickens. I drop off greens and hang them on the garden gate for pick-up.

Along with artichokes and lettuce, add celery to the list of crops that do well in the cool and fog.

And really, who can complain about the fog when these found their way to the kitchen last week? Strawberries are beginning a good run as navel oranges finish.

With the April floral bounty, I made 24 bouquets for my husband’s physical chemistry students as they head into finals. The bouquets are in gas collection bottles with a clever chemistry-themed poem penned by an anonymous alumnus.

You may enjoy seeing what other garden bloggers around the world harvested last week at Harvest Monday hosted by Dave at Happy Acres blog.

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