One of the joys of living in our beautiful Mediterranean climate is walking out into the garden in July or August and picking your first juicy ripe tomato right from the vine. Last year I was still eating tomatoes past Thanksgiving, although they were not the full-flavored, superbly textured fruits they were in August.

But tomatoes are not the only vegetable (they're technically a fruit) that grows in our Napa summers. Beans, corn, eggplants, cucumbers, peppers, squash, melons and potatoes can all be started in May. As the days get longer and the soil warms up, now is the time to get our gardens ready for summer bounty.

Preparing for my participation in "Down the Garden Path," the Napa County Master Gardner tour, has meant many more hours in the garden as I try to get everything in good shape for the June 3 event. After our mild winter, it has been tempting to plant my vegetables earlier than usual, but I take the chance that more cold nights and late frosts will slow things down again. May is an excellent time to start, so don't worry if others have planted their gardens in April. Yours will probably catch up, and we have a long growing season in the Napa Valley.

Soil preparation is the key to a quick start and bountiful harvest. Before you have bought your first plant, or packet of seeds, make sure your soil is prepared. Don't till or work the soil while it is soggy from rain. Wet soil compacts and forms clods. Squeeze some in your hands. If it crumbles nicely, and is not sticky, get to work.

Weeding is crucial at this stage. The more weeding you do in the spring, the less work you will have in the summer. Adding compost, well-rotted manure and other soil amendments will give your plants a healthy start. This year I planted fava beans and red clover in some areas, covered with straw mulch, then turned it under in March. Living on the valley floor, I have very deep soil, but with a lot of clay. Every year I add as much mulch and soil amendment as I can, and over the years it has helped to create a well-textured, easy-to-work soil. I also mulch my planting beds, using a commercial bagged soil amendment, or compost from Upper Valley Disposal.

Whether to plant from seed or to use starts is a decision we each make. Root crops like beets and carrots are best started from seed, and of course if you got a head start with propagating your tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, etc., you have a larger choice of varieties by checking the seed catalogues. My preference is to buy starts at nearby nurseries and farmers markets. Our local sources have amazing varieties.