Not much is growing in the garden right now. In fact, what is still green seems to be hanging on for dear life. Except that is for the mache, which seems virtually impervious to whatever winter throws its way.
We've developed quite a taste for this hardy winter green. Traditionally the whole mini-rosette is picked and looks so pretty in a salad. Best of all,The leaves are packed with so much flavor - fresh and floral, it's a wonderful thing to experience especially during this bleak time of year. Next winter, I may forgo winter lettuce all together and plant a whole bed of mache.
On a side note, the claytonia may be the hardiest winter green of all but it's not doing much of anything right now. I've tasted it and boy is it good. The leaves are fairly succulent with a wonderfully wild taste. I'm hoping that it will eventually take off as the days grow longer and the temperatures get a bit warmer.
Wow, I'm so impressed that this is growing through the winter. Do you have this in a cold frame or greenhouse?
ReplyDeleteThe mache does indeed look good, I'll have to give it a try here this winter. I've not heard of claytonia though, I will have to go look it up.
ReplyDeleteMache is a favorite in our winter time garden too. The plants thrive when everything else is completely stalled out. I intended to harvest some for dinner tonight and harvested my first mushrooms instead. Probably do a mache harvest tomorrow for some fresh salad. Mmmm... yummy!
ReplyDeleteMache is my favorite green for winter. It looks so tender and you think it will die with first frost, but it just keeps on going.
ReplyDeleteThe taste can be compared with the best spring lettuce.
I will have to try growing claytonia. I have never tasted it but if it can survive winter, I will give it a try.
I need to try it sometime. I tried it at my last house but with a mache that wasn't hardy enough for our winters. Sadly I forgot to get seed for it. I'm hoping to see it at one of the stores.
ReplyDeleteI have sowed claytonia so many times, and it always fails to germinate. I ordered more to try again this year. Thomas, when did you sow yours? Did you do anything special?
ReplyDeleteI have never grown mache or claytonia. I ordered some mache seeds this year but, forgot to order the claytonia. It looks like I'll be doing another seed order since there are now 3 items that I forgot!
ReplyDeleteoh, mache! is it not the most wonderful of the greens?
ReplyDeleteNot heard of either of these. May have to look them up.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby, however, tends to not like any greens other than iceberg lettuce. :|
Your mache looks fantastic. Let a few plants go to seed and scatter them around and you may never be without. The seeds need cold soil to germinate so they won't germinate until fall when you want them to and the seedlings can be transplanted to where you want them to grow. The Claytonia might naturalize in your garden as well, they are natives here and they volunteer in my garden every winter. I suspect that they need cold soil to germinate as well since they only grow in the winter. Funny, my Claytonia (aka Miner's Lettuce) isn't as big as yours yet.
ReplyDeleteMache is one of my favourite salad leaves, and I had not realized how hardy it is.
ReplyDeleteHow did the mache do last year without the hoophouse? I may need to try this one next year as it looks much hardier than what I had going LOL!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments everyone!
ReplyDeleteMeems - yes, the mache is growing in my hoop house.
Kelly - I didn't really do anything special. I direct seeded the claytonia in late august. This summer, I will probably start it indoors instead in order to better control spacing. They are a bit of a tangled mess when planted too closely.
I am going to finally try mache this fall. Pinetree Garden Seeds has two varieties, a French type and a Dutch type called Macholong. What kind of mache do you grow? It certainly looks like a beautiful, dense row green.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos! We also grow mache and claytonia through the winter.. as well as mustards, spinach, arugula, winter lettuces and more.. I've even started filling in the 'now-empty' spots of the frames and mini tunnels with fresh seed.. thanks for a bit of inspiration on a snowy day!
ReplyDeleteNiki
Your Mache looks nice! Your claytonia looks a lot further ahead then mine. I get hardly any direct sun from Nov. to early spring. Kind of hampers everything in the fall.
ReplyDeleteThat is so green! How does it taste? I am waiting for my kang kong (water convulvus) to get big enough for me to snip them. 2 more weeks...
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to pop in and say that I really enjoy your blog! My girlfriend and I (former Massholes, both) are embarking on a similar change of lifestyle way out in Washington State. It's really inspiring to see a hoop house spitting out green things under two feet of snow! I also appreciate your running harvest tally, that kind of information is really helpful in the garden-planning stages for amateur green thumbs. Keep up the good work, and sorry about the Patriots....
ReplyDelete-John
(yomesweetyome.blogspot.com)
what a great harvest! beautiful vegs. I am following your blog you are welcome to follow mine as well, Blessings jane
ReplyDeleteI tried mache a couple years ago and not a single seed germinated! I think I waited too late in the spring to sow it. I'll be trying it again this year.
ReplyDeleteThe mache is lambs lettuce? Very expensive seeds here but I've got some growing in my greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteI've also got mizuna, all year round lettuce and claytonia
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