Monday, March 21, 2011

Harvest Monday for March 21st, 2011.

There were slim pickin's for this Harvest Monday, but I'm thankful for it just the same. No pics of the harvest this time since we hit part of the three pounds of broccoli picked today for a side dish with supper tonight. During the last couple of weeks, we did enjoy some home canned green beans as a side dish with pork chops and tomato chutney. On another night, we used some homemade tomato soup I had put up as the base for a homemade spaghetti sauce. Both were very tasty! From our canned stock we've also been enjoying dill pickles, apple butter and crabapple jelly/syrup. We are down to the last half pint jar of peach preserves.

Currently I'm waiting for the salsify to mature (planted last year) as well as the Brussels sprouts. The Detroit dark red beets are another story. The leaves are about six inches high, and the root is hardly as big as a pencil. They just refuse to grow for me. So, that will be the last time I plant any of those three vegetables. I'll be planting something that I know gives me good harvests.

Have a great vegetable gardening day!
Veggie PAK

8 comments:

  1. Congrats on your broccoli harvest! I'm jealous. Broccoli sounds delicious right now!

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  2. Sorry to hear about the Detroit Red beets. I eat the greens of the beets too. They are tasty! Saute with olive oil, salt and pepper.

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  3. Veggie gardening is largely about experimenting until you find something that works for you - in YOUR garden. Growing salsify is pretty unusual - you must show us some pics of it - and tell us how you prepared / cooked it (assuming it does eventually produce a viable crop!).

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  4. I always hate then the root crops won't root up. that happens to me sometimes with radishes. Lots of nice foliage. Nothing down below. In the spring I don't mind as much though as I eat the tops as much as the root.

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  5. I am jealous of your broccoli. I started mine late and only manage to bring in enough to make a nibble here or there. Mostly the kids pick it and eat it before I can get to it. Oh well. At least they eat the stuff!

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  6. ~Holly~, Thanks! The broccoli was delicious.


    meemsnyc, I'll try the greens in a couple more weeks, just to give the roots their last chance at forming. The leaves sound tasty prepared that way!


    Mark Willis, you're correct. I experiment until I find vegetables that work good for me in my own garden. But as common as beets are, I have been trying to grow them for three years. I'm done with them now. I think the salsify might actually produce some roots that I can use. The tops have really sprung up and a few are about 16 inches tall and the rest are on the way. I will surely post some pics when that day comes.


    Daphne, I too have that problem with radishes and onions as well. I've heard that a boron deficiency in the soil can cause this, but mine is not deficient according to the soil analysis done at Blacksburg, VA.


    Barbie, even nibbles are tasty treats, though! It's great that your kids get to it first sometimes. They probably don't realize it, but they're building a solid foundation for their own gardens in the future by watching you in yours. You're setting a very good example.


    Thanks for stopping by, and it's always good to hear from all of you. Blogging is a wonderful way to share and learn new things about vegetable gardening so you can actually put healthy food on the table for your family or yourself!

    Have a great vegetable gardening day!
    Veggie PAK

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  7. My little garden is growing like crazy I just hope it makes it and doesn't get zapped by our hot days ahead. I actually snipped some collards early, couldn't resist, and they were so sweet and so tender. I made raw wraps with an amazing sunflower pate.
    Happy Harvesting!!
    Peace and Raw Health,
    E

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  8. Elizabeth, I had forgotten about trying the raw wraps since hearing about them last year. Thanks for reminding me about them! I have some wonderful, young tender leaves to try them with.

    Thanks for visiting and sharing your comment.

    Have a great vegetable gardening day!
    Veggie PAK

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