Winter is getting an early start here in New England, at least compared to last year. We were lucky that it got into the high 40's today, despite the fact that it rained all day. The soil thawed enough for me to go out and dig up the remainder of my leeks. These are the leeks that I transplanted out in August. I'm really impressed by how big they've gotten. I will chop and freeze most of it for later use.
Also, I harvested a good amount of Tuscan kale that had been left unprotected in the garden. The haul would have been a lot more if I had picked it before the temperatures reached down into the teens last week.
I also harvested some bok choy in the form of micro-greens. They were great in a Pho soup that I prepared for dinner tonight. I placed them in a bowl with some rice noodles and poured the hot soup broth on top, which scalds them just enough to render them cooked. Delicious!
Admittedly, I had started the extra-dwarf white-stemmed bok choy a few weeks ago with the intention of transplanting them into the hoop house. But with the present conditions being what they are, I don't think that they would have fared too well. Since it only took them about four weeks to reach this size, I think I'll continue to raise some micro Asian greens for the remainder of this winter. Having one grow light in operation doesn't seem to have a noticeable impact on our electricity bill and it will be nice to have some fresh greens in the dead of January.
This week's numbers:
Bok Choy micro greens - 0.30 lb
Leeks - 1.92 lb
Tuscan kale - 1.44 lb
Total this week - 3.66 lb
Total so far this year - 687.46 lb
I am fairly sure that we here in GA didn't even get to 40 degrees today. It spit snow at us for about an hour and was 27 degrees and very windy. I am originally from NH and it felt like New England here today. Brrr! Your greens look really good. I grew bok choy one year and really need to do it again. They grew great in the greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteWow! impressive harvest for winter. Your leeks look very tasty.
ReplyDeleteGreat Harvest, Thomas. :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are having the same weather we are. I have left my leeks in the garden. I will probably be out there with a hammer and chisel in January trying to get them out of the ground. Very nice winter harvest.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful harvest. Those leeks look perfect.
ReplyDeleteEven during cold mid-december, you manage to have a picture-perfect harvest. Those Asian microgreens look very tasty and fresh not to mention so vibrantly green.
ReplyDelete40 would be balmy and am in GA.. were at a .5 degree wind chill right now and three inches of snow..nasty out and i am a buffalo area native.. i think i lost any out door veggies last night after having been trying to save them thru the brutal cold last week but i think i lost last night.. hopefully i can save whats in the oversized hoop house that we call a gh..
ReplyDeleteYour leeks are just gorgeous! The whole harvest looks good but the leeks are particularly nice. I am eating from my grow light grown crops too this week. Baby greens are so refreshing when the menu is predominated with root crops and heavier fare.
ReplyDeleteMicro greens under the grow lights is a great idea. I need to do an experiment with mesclun mix of different greens and see how they do under the lights. Yours look great!
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing. Your talented to still be harvesting so much!
ReplyDeleteYour leeks and kale are incredible. What a great idea to use your baby greens in such a way, the soup sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteDid you get my email about the kale seeds? I just need your address...
your harvest look wonderful! My leeks will remain out there until spring, they came through okay last year and I'm crossing my fingers for the same this year LOL
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, I haven't checked that email in so long! I will do so tonight. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Those leeks will definitely be great for a beef soup or shanghai rice!
ReplyDeleteThose leeks are beautiful, nice picture! I never thought of freezing leeks, but it is a good idea. Especially when you have so many of them.
ReplyDeleteI will start spinach and other greens under lights for indoor production after the New Year, I am limited to the amount I can produce (Must set-up in my family room), but it is a great way to get some home grown in your life. I have never tried the pak (but I should!), just spinach and other lettuce mixes. We need 'grow rooms' Thomas. Ha! :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous harvest by the way, I was too lazy, and never dug the remainder of my leeks, it will be an experiment to see how they winter over I guess.
Awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou are truly the master gardener, Thomas! Those leeks are especially lovely. well, everything you harvest is especially lovely ;-)
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