Summer Vegetables and Bees in the Garden: A Natural Alliance for Lush Growth!
With the arrival of the warm season, the garden at Podere Il Casale enters the peak of its productivity.
Benito, the guardian of our organic garden, has already planted and transferred from the greenhouse zucchini, tomatoes, eggplants, and many other vegetables — including various salad greens — which are now beginning their growth cycle, bringing color, flavor, and freshness to the dishes of our farm-to-table restaurant.
These crops are at the heart of the Mediterranean diet and thrive thanks to the sun, Benito’s care, and the silent work of the bees — essential allies in maintaining the biodiversity of the garden.
The Summer’s Star Vegetables
The Star Vegetables of Summer
- Zucchini: Among the earliest summer crops, they grow quickly and require well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Their flowering is abundant and continuous.
- Tomatoes: The true kings of the summer garden, they need warmth and plenty of sunlight. Their variety of shapes, colors, and flavors makes them a staple in any garden.
- Peppers and Eggplants (Solanaceae): These heat-loving plants grow best in fertile, sunny soil.
- Peas: Spring legumes rich in plant-based protein, fiber, and vitamins. They grow in green pods and are sown as early as late winter or early spring. Their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil makes them great for crop rotation.
- Radishes: Fast-growing and ideal for spring sowing. Crunchy and slightly spicy, they can be harvested just a few weeks after planting. Rich in water, vitamins, and minerals, they are perfect eaten raw in salads.
- Lettuces and Salad Greens: Lettuces, chicory, arugula, and lamb’s lettuce are essential in our garden. They grow quickly and are harvested fresh daily. Even though they don’t require pollination to produce leaves, the presence of bees helps maintain a balanced ecosystem, supporting the overall health of the garden.
Salad greens are also ideal for hot days: light, hydrating, and rich in minerals, they pair perfectly with other summer vegetables for healthy and flavorful dishes
Bees: the Silent Guardians of the Garden
In our o
rganic garden, the work of bees is essential.
In addition to pollinating vegetables like zucchini and eggplants, these precious insects contribute to biodiversity and the wellbeing of the plants.
Without bees, many summer crops would see a decline in both yield and quality. This is why it’s important to:
- Avoid chemical pesticides
- Plant nectar-rich flowers between rows of vegetables
- Leave wildflower zones to feed bees throughout the season
Growing with Respect for Nature
Choosing to grow summer vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, and salad greens in a natural way and in harmony with pollinators means protecting the quality of our food, the fertility of the soil, and the health of our planet.
A rich and healthy garden is born from the balance between human care, the strength of the earth, and the light flight of the bees.
