Monday, February 8, 2010

Harvest Monday February 8th 2010

Looking at an overview of the whole garden, I can see both how parts of the garden are filling out and how parts are getting thin -- just a reminder of the rhythm that runs my days. There's plenty of stuff to be gathering, although I did find out why I have so little lettuce -- the sparrows are gathering every evening, apparently, to gnaw at my leaves. Short of sitting out there and shouting and waving my arms, I think I'm going to just have to start some new seeds and get them big before I put them out.


This week's harvest was a mix of old and new. Half a pound of Red Ursa kale, along with one of the Danvers half-longs.


A veritable boquet of color -- Nantes half longs, Atomic Red, Lunar White, and some Danvers half-longs.

Tiny Tom Thumb heads, just enough for a single serving. The rain has made the lettuce, chard, and spinach pretty filthy with splashed sand all in the leaves. I have to wash very carefully.


While this looks like a respectable amount of broccoli, it's from many plants. The heads are maxing out at 3-4", and I thought the Romanesco ones would be all pointy-swirly. Instead, they're just broccoli. Good broccoli, but still. . . it's not worth it, for the size it takes up. Some day, I'll get big lovely heads. I just have to work on soil fertility. The Calabrese variety plants are enormous, although the heads are wee. Some other year.


So that's it. If you want to see other folks' harvests for the week, go to Daphne's Dandelions where they're listed.

18 comments:

Meredith said...

Gorgeous carrot bouquet. And I think your broccoli is lovely, even if each individual head is small. :)

Daphne Gould said...

Those Atomic Reds look really pretty. I grew them last year and they just didn't grow well for me.

Jeff Vandiver said...

Oh my gosh, what a beautiful harvest of carrots! You sure do have alot of green vegetation in the garden. Everything's still dead here. :-(

Mr. H. said...

I'm so very jealous.:) Your "spring?" garden looks so darn good.

Annie*s Granny said...

My, your garden is looking lovely! I'm wondering if I might change my mind about planting Calabrese broccoli, as I've not allotted more than an 18" square for each one. I planted some last year, but the broccoli plants got all mixed up, so I never knew which variety actually grew! I think the Calabrese does have tiny heads, but continuous little side shoots.

kitsapFG said...

That broccoli looks simply wonderful! It is my favorite veggie and we blow through it so fast when it is on in the garden.

Dan said...

Man, look at all that veg! I need to move to CA. Nicely grown :-)

Michelle said...

The carrots are so pretty. Your atomic reds are so different from what I grew last year, mine came out orangey-red, you could hardly tell them apart from the orange carrots. They were good, but not as pretty as yours.

Your Romanesco is very off, it *should* be pointy-swirly, try some new seeds and grow them again, it's so good. And don't give up on the Calabrese yet, it should throw off lots of side shoots. The sprouting broccolis like Calabrese, De Cicco, and Piracicaba don't have large main heads.

The garden is looking really good for this time of year. Your new raised beds look like they are winners.

A.N.N.'s Educational Services said...

I see what you have been doing in your "spare" time.

Stefaneener said...

Thanks, Meredith. The broccoli tastes good -- nutty like homegrown; it's just tiny.

Daphne, I wonder if they're a slightly different variety? Mine are from Territorial.

EG, thank you -- we just don't have the same winter. I should post pictures of the hills now and in September -- then you'd see our "dead."

Mr. H., yes, we are weather-blessed. You did notice, however, that that is my ENTIRE property? Don't be jealous, Mr. "I live in the woods on a lot of land."

AG, nice new picture! I like the repeat sprouting heads -- and they do add up.

kitsapFG, it is a treat. I'm going to have to do something nice with it for dinner tonight.

Yes, Dan, everyone needs to move here. That's why it's so affordable *cough*. It's a nice place to visit. . .

Michelle, the red scrubs off, weirdly enough. I'd like to find one that's red through (maybe they're called "beets"). So I should do a different Romanesco next year, I guess. It's too late for me for this spring. I'll look for seeds before June. The Calabrese still looks pretty happy, but the side shoots are small too.

erika, yes, this is where it all goes, such as it is. Ha. Thanks for stopping by!

Heiko said...

I do like those carrots too. The Italians are not very adventurous when it comes to exotic varieties, so I can never find seeds for anything but just carrots.

Jan said...

Those carrots look great, love the different colours! I love to see the whole of peoples gardens, in fact I must take the camera down with me soon.

Ottawa Gardener said...

I've grown Calabrese before and I find the same thing. I think it's more a 'sprouting' broccoli. Nice looking harvest you got there!

Stefaneener said...

Heiko, we're coming your way this fall. Want me to bring you silly seeds?

Jan, it's hard to get good overviews but I like having them year-round.

Jackie said...

Hmmm...I'm wondering if there's any hope for my Early Purple Sprouting broccoli and Romanesco. Just planted out some seedlings that I started. If I get anything at all, then I'll consider it a partial success, at least.

You could try using those little green strawberry containers to protect the lettuce seedlings for a little while, until they are big enough to withstand the birds.

suzee said...

Wow! You added more beds since the last time I saw. Goodonya.

Those carrots are beautiful.

Dan said...

Expensive, nah... I could live on the beach and gorilla garden ;-)

Kristin said...

I really admire how you recall common or scientific plant names with ease. Since we took out the roses, we plan to put in another very large edible garden area and the photos from your balcony of your raised boxes give me some ideas to share with my husband. Kudos! Your hard work is paying off.