Quick Garden Update - Crossroads

Per the request of some, all of you are delighted (I'm sure) to get an update on the Cannon Family Garden - Year 3.

1. Our pole peas are still growing like crazy. I had to create a frame with string runners to support them as they grew taller and taller. Unfortunately, due to the layout of our garden, it forms something of a wind tunnel that blows from the back yard to the west. This has resulted in our spindly pea poles all leaning east and bunching together. I've had to manually wrap some of their little runners around the westernmost strings and then prop them in place with a couple of spare posts so that they don't all smother each other in a big clump. I think I've got them effectively established now and hopefully blossoms and peas will be showing up soon.

2. I planted four rows of bush beans and they sprouted in less than a week! We've had very warm weather around here lately and I think that made a big difference. The picture below should hopefully illustrate to anyone who's not quite clear on the difference full sun vs. partial sun makes that full sun is the way to go.

3. Our spinach is a failure. It is miserably small and has become more and more yellow even after I restricted its water (I was overwatering until recently and starving the roots of oxygen, at least according to an internet gardening message board). The leaves have also started to brown and die. I think it's too hot now to plant any more so I'm thinking about ripping it all out and using the space for something else. Our carrots are kind of struggling so maybe I'll plant some more in the spinach/beets box. Unfortunately, this box only gets sun until about 1:00pm and then is shaded by our neighbors' mighty willow tree. This is my crossroads dilemma. Any suggestions?

4. Two of our nine broccoli plants have produced tops/florets. This is very exciting, though I am nervous about the reputation broccoli has for attracting bugs. None of my gardens have ever been successful enough yet for bugs to even bother, so if they decide to come along and complicate things then that will be a whole new learning curve.

5. Our corn sprouted within a week of being planted thanks to the warm weather we've been having. Every group of seeds I planted has begun to sprout. This should be interesting: Corn has never been a strong performer for us. I think I know the reasons why: Poor sun (= skinny, wimpy stalks) and poor pollination (= small, patchy, underdeveloped ears). This year the sun situation is much improved due to placement. And as for the pollination, I am trying my mother-in-law's approach of allowing four and five stalks to grow out of the same hole; no thinning! Her corn always turns out great and this technique really can't produce a sorrier crop of corn than we have had in the past. I think that this increase in density will help improve the amount of cross pollination that occurs and give us more impressive ears.