Harvest Monday

There is more cabbage and Brussels in the garden than it seems. That's not to say that I can feed an army, or our small family day-in and day-out, but there is certainly enough that I need to work it into as many meals as I can during the week. That works out to lunches during the weekday and a couple evening meals. It is a good problem to have.

Spring is amazing. I suppose that goes without saying, but here I go. The longer days and nudges toward warmer temperatures have brought new growth all over the garden. The Purple Sprouting Broccoli looks noticeably more lush. The peas I put in the ground on the 5th of February are poking out of the ground. And the remains of winter Brussels and cabbages are starting to open in preparation for active bolting. Our kale is also preparing to go. We have some time, but the end is approaching.

It has been a good winter ride and now the sprint through Spring is upon me. No, its not a sprint. It is steady, even pacing. Now to have the discipline to maintain a good pace..

A beet in the hand.. also worth two birds in the bush?

The brassica dreams of seeds

Spaghetti for dinner. Just add red sauce.

Only a couple more to go.

A lunch buddy for days

Planting - Lettuce / Broccoli

Broccoli, take three

I started the first round of lettuce and spring broccoli this evening. I've had nothing but problems trying to start broccoli the last two years. Those years, I started the broccoli outside in the greenhouse. I think the wide swings of temperature in the greenhouse were too much for the young broccoli. This year they are in the house with nice stable temperatures. I'm interested to see what I get this time around.

Soil Blocks

I've had great success with soil blocks and will use them for everything that can be started in them. Last week I started tomatoes in 2" blocks. Today I used the 3/4" blocks for lettuce and broccoli. Blocks of this size are easily out grown, but they are also compact and allow me to start a lot of single seeds, resulting in more than enough plants, even with spotty germination. As it turns out, I've had great luck with germination in this manner and will have enough starts to share with all interested.

3/4" soil blocks - 160 total

Top Row (Left->Right): 

• Mascara Lettuce (x20); Territorial Seed
• Drunken Woman Fizzy Head (x20); Territorial Seed
• Marshall Lettuce (x20); 
• Italienischer Lettuce (x20);

Bottom Row (Left->Right)

• Valmaine Lettuce (x20)
• Fiesta Hybrid Broccoli (x20) (Pelleted)
• Broccoli Sampler from Cedar Grove Nursery (x20) (Not sure the exact variety)
• Blank, for now.

Spinach dreams - planting

The garlic bed, center, got some companions today:

Left to right:

Mustard - Wild Garden

Spinach - Spaulding (x3)

Spinach - Olympia (x2)

Behind them is our winter bed of kale & collards. In front is a Purple Sprouting Broccoli that its showing good spring growth.

Harvest Monday

We, through not aggressively eating our way through the garden, are still pulling much from it.  There are still beets, a few cabbages, loads of kale & collards, green onion, and Brussels. The carrots are mostly gone and the last of the broccoli was picked and its bed cleared in preparation for peas.

This post is part of the Harvest Monday collection over at Daphne's Dandelions. Head on over to see what is left of other people's winter gardens.

From a Brussels' point of view

Cabbage and Brussels on the block for the wok

Spring fever, first planting

We've been experiencing a full-on spring weekend. The sun was bright, non-shady areas warm. We planted the first round of peas in response. It isn't terribly early. They normally go in around Presidents day.

What went in:
10' each:
  Alderman (west, bear row)
  Super Sugar-Snap