I started harvesting the all lettuce mix last week. The veggies I have growing under cover have taken off. The added heat and protection of the mini hoop houses have done wonders to speed up growth. The spinach (to the right of the lettuce) seems perfectly happy.
The wild arugula has matured well before the expected maturity date stated on the seed packet. I am very happy with how it has performed. The seed of this particular variety (Sylvetta) is the size of a grain of sugar. It's amazing that all of the ingredients for life can fit inside such a small package.
I started harvesting my second sowing of Hakurei turnips this past weekend. This batch is proving to be the best one yet since I was diligent about thinning this time. Most of the ones I pulled were close to their ideal harvest size (golf ball). I have one harvest remaining and will be sad when it is over. I highly recommend this tasty vegetable for the fall and spring garden.
The white stemmed pak choi has seen better days. The cold weather of early October followed by of the Indian summer we've been experiencing this past week have caused the crop to bolt prematurely. These are supposed to grow to several times their current size before doing so. I hope they are still edible.
I harvested most of my remaining Easter egg radishes. All of these went to my mother-in-law and next-door neighber. Radishes (though I'm not a huge fan of their taste) are very fun, quick and easy to grow.
Hakurei turnips have an amazing pearly white color. I also pulled up a few Nantes carrots to see how far along they are. I think they need at least a couple of more weeks in the garden before they will be ready to harvest. My fall carrots are taking MUCH longer to grow then I had expected and as was stated on the seed packet. I'm blaming it on the fact that my garden only gets partial sun. As the leaves from the giant maple in my backyard fall to the ground, my garden is getting more and more light. I wouldn't be surprised if my winter garden gets more hours of direct sunlight than my summer one.
If you'd like to see what other people are harvesting or mention your own, visit Harvest Mondays over at Daphne's Dandelions.
I have an oak over my garden that keeps it in partial shade also. Spring gardening is great, but summer and fall are rough since our leaves don't start falling until November and the season's over by then.
ReplyDeleteI love those turnips. Do you grow them for the bulb or for the greens?
Your greens look wonderful! Also, the radishes and turnips look pretty, too - but I don't like either one. Blech! I'm glad that you little season extenders are doing well for ya!
ReplyDeleteI have the same fascination with seeds, especially the tiny ones. It boggles the mind, doesn't it ?
ReplyDeleteNice harvest, Thomas ! Your crops are looking great. Those turnips are sooo lovely.
It's excellent that you are getting good light for the Fall crops.
What a nice set up you have there! Lovely garden, food, and photos!
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful photos. The lettuce looks wonderful. I need to start eating mine before it all freezes in November. I'm not going to cover it so I have to get going on it. I love the turnips too. I might have to try growing them again. I know they hate it in my garden for some reason, but if I grow them under row covers like the brassicas and radish maybe they will grow.
ReplyDeleteThomas, beautiful lettuce, radishes, beets... wonderful garden! I anticipate hearing about your future fig tree. ;) We picked 15 pounds this weekend: some to friends, grilled a few with goat cheese, and will freeze the rest until I can decide what to do with the rest.
ReplyDeleteOh, sigh. Green with envy. They are beautiful.Will you start selling :-)?
ReplyDeleteRibbit - I grow the turnips mostly for the bulbs but the greens are delicious as well. Very good in soups and stir-fries.
ReplyDeleteMarie - if I could make a living selling my produce...I'd do it in a heart beat. Why, are you buying? :)
Your photos of the turnips are so good that they almost make me want to grow some, but they aren't one of my favorite veggies. And the same for the radishes...
ReplyDeleteI am forever amazed by the power (magic?) of seeds. Not only are they amazing storehouses of genetic information, but they are a direct link to everyone who has grown previous generations of those plants and collected seeds before you - what stories they could tell!
Absolutely amazing fall garden, Thomas! Beautiful photos of beets, lettuce, and radishes. I can’t wait to see what you grow in a full season next year.
ReplyDeleteYour veggies are looking excellent. What do you do with the Hakurei turnips? I have had no luck with fall carrots yet and it seems my spring ones always get root maggot. I am aiming for a late June planting next year for harvest after the first frost.
ReplyDeleteHi Dan - I enjoy Hakurei turnips raw in a salad and steamed with a bit of butter..delicious! The bulbs and greens can also be sauteed together in a stir-fry.
ReplyDeleteI'm crossing my fingers when it comes to my fall carrots. I chose two types that are supposed to be pretty cold hardy. I'm hoping they will mature undercover.
Great job with those greens Thomas, they like your methods!!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try some of those turnips next year. To answer your question about my season extenders I did build them myself. The link for how I built them is @
ReplyDeletehttp://veggiegardenblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-i-built-my-poly-tunnel-finally.html
and
http://veggiegardenblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/how-to-build-cold-frame.html
Greetings from cold Wyoming after the hard freeze!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so yummy... oh how I love arugula!!!!