In My San Diego Garden and Kitchen

This was the week to harvest the Yukon Gem potatoes, about three months after planting. My husband FaceTimed with our two young grandsons in Massachusetts who watched with wonder as I pulled up the plants and searched for “buried treasure.”

I purchased two pounds of seed potatoes from Gurney’s, ordering in the fall with shipping in early March. I chitted them and then planted. See my post on Growing Potatoes from earlier this year. Two pounds of seed potatoes produced 12 pounds of gorgeous Yukon Gem potatoes of various sizes. They’re stored in the garage in the dark with good air circulation.

I selected the smallest ones—large marbles to golf balls and cooked according to size.

Fresh dill and frozen green beans from last summer inspired this Lemon Dill New Potato Salad. I added olive oil, minced celery and red onion as the potatoes cooled.

Our Dorsett Golden apples are homely but the yield is good for the small espaliered tree that screens the compost bins.

The Dorsett Golden apples make excellent applesauce and apple crisp. Here I added some strawberry guava puree for color and flavor.

Off bloom navel oranges at this late time will be juiced, though I’m hoping for enough good ones left on the tree for a batch of orange marmalade.

A hastily gathered “this-and-that” bouquet for a friend. Each of the flower elements are favorites from the late spring garden.