The Colors of Summer in the Organic Garden of Podere Il Casale
Summer in Tuscany transforms the organic garden of Podere Il Casale into a vibrant display of colors and scents. Day after day, the Tuscan sun ripens our vegetables naturally, bringing out authentic flavors and nourishing produce cultivated with care through organic methods.
Tomatoes, Eggplants, Peppers, and Summer Greens Take the Spotlight
In our summer vegetable garden, the rows of tomatoes begin to load the branches with red and juicy fruits —perfect for summer recipes and traditional preserves. Right beside them, eggplants grow strong and glossy, ready for the grill or to become the heart of a creative farm-to-table dish.
Every morning, we harvest fresh salad greens like lettuce, arugula, and radicchio. Their mix of colors and textures adds freshness to our dishes and energy to every plate served at Podere Il Casale.
Squash Blossoms Signal the Season Ahead
Bright yellow squash blossoms have started to bloom, standing out boldly among the deep green leaves. They mark the beginning of a new cycle, as the plants slowly prepare their fruit for the September harvest. Watching them grow teaches us the value of patience and the importance of caring for every stage of life in the garden.
Garden Highlight: Asparagus at Rest
One of the lesser-known wonders of the summer garden is the unharvested asparagus. Asparagus is a perennial plant that can live and produce for about 10–20 years. After the spring harvest, the plants develop tall, feathery stems (the “spears” become full stalks). In autumn, the aerial part (stems and fronds) dries out, and the plant enters a state of dormancy. Meanwhile, the roots survive underground and will serve as the base for the new spears of the following year.
We are now in the phase where the plants form a tall, light canopy, almost like a small feathery bush. This is the time for flowering and pollination. The plants bloom, and if pollinated, the female ones produce red berries containing seeds. Asparagus is a species with a clear distinction between male and female plants.
How can we tell the difference between female and male plants?
During flowering, males have only stamens, while females have both stamens and pistils. After flowering, females produce red berries, while males do not. Another way to distinguish them is by observing the spears: males tend to produce more spears, which are slightly thinner. Females, on the other hand, produce fewer spears, which are thicker and more fibrous—and if not harvested in time, they can become woody with a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Benito loves to describe the difference between female and male asparagus with a metaphor that has become proverbial at the farm: “The female asparagus leaves a bitter taste in the mouth… like a woman does when she leaves.”
A little piece of rural poetry, showing how even the vegetable garden can stir deep emotions.
Come Visit Our Organic Garden in Tuscany
Whether you’re passionate about organic farming, curious about seasonal vegetables, or simply looking to reconnect with nature, we welcome you to Podere Il Casale. Walk through our vibrant garden, taste vegetables just picked from the earth, and enjoy the generous rhythm of the Tuscan countryside.
Read also: Farm to Table: https://podereilcasale.com/en/lets-talk-about-farm-to-table/
Read also: Life in the Organic Vegetable Garden: https://podereilcasale.com/en/life-in-the-organic-vegetable-garden-of-podere-il-casale/
