This beginning vegetable gardener has broccoli!!! It's as exciting as my first tomato years ago, LOL.
The photo is 10 days ago, and the first 'head' is nearly ready to pick, and several more are forming. I wish now I had planted more but I was afraid of failure. My brussels sprouts are all just leaves... so far.
Congrats on the crop! I fully relate to your elation as I lifted my squash leaves today and saw babies. I couldn't be happier as I am also a new veggie gardener.
Unfortunately I didn't label and they are too little to tell if they are winter or summer squash. I planted both types. One lesson I am taking into the future is to label everything.
Again, congrats! .
I grew broc for the first time this winter too, and I performed my own happy dance when I saw th first little head! It's such an exciting moment! Congrats on your success, and it really does taste a heck of a lot better than anything you can buy!
I actually had my 3- and 5-year olds out there eating side shoots off the plants as snacks on a daily basis. It was that yummy!
congrats! I thought brussel sprouts were just baby cabbage?
Yes, they belong to the cabbage family... but they grow on a stalk. Here's a photo, not mine... and probably has a copyright but was found here: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/schaugarten/vargemmifera/Bvargemmifera2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/schaugarten/vargemmifera/Br_Sprout.html&h=700&w=453&sz=108&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=j5CsFsXevfJaqM:&tbnh=140&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrussels%2Bsprouts%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_enUS254US254%26sa%3DN
I grew sprouts last year and they take a long time, maybe just because I'm in MN. Good thing is they are very cold hardy and IMO are better tasting after a good hard frost or two.
I got some of the earlier maturing broccoli out too late this spring and the heads I saw the other day were about the size of a tennis ball. I don't know if I cut those that maybe some lateral shoots will develop or not.
I'm going to plant some seed here in the next couple of weeks to try for some fall broccoli, cabbage and brussel sprouts.
i planted some cucumber sprouts i had started the other day, was it too early? in florida do i have to go by the seasons it says or can i just grow all year?
Florida is a winter garden spot. Seriously most vegetables do better in Florida in late fall - winter for harvest in early spring. Summer seems to be restricted to heat loving vegetables. The Hpmestead area used to produce virtually all the winter tomatoes for the east coast. A lot that production has moved to Mexico and Central America, but the conditions still suit growing in that time slot.
Hey darius, Congratulations! How exciting! I'm happy for you!! I planted some too, But they are just leaves growing right now, Hope they do as good as yours down the road!!
ly057,
Sounds a bit late for starting cucumbers to me. There may be some substantial differences in gardening climate and calendar between Houston and Port St Lucie, I don't know, but it might be helpful for you to look at some gardening calendars written for a high temp, high humidity zone 9a-9b perspective.
http://www.settfest.com/files/DrBobRandallCalendar.png
http://www.settfest.com/files/Vegetable_Planting_Calendar_for_Harris_County.pdf (PDF)
I don't agree with everything on those calendars. Particularly the Harris County which recommends late March for cukes, but I think that is far too late. Next year I will start cucumber seeds indoors 48 hours (yes, just 48 hours) before I plant my huge 12-18" tall tomato plants on March 9-15 (depending on weather) and plant the cukes at the same time.
Cucumbers are like tomatoes in that they generally "shut down" when it gets too hot. Too hot in this case is daytime temps in the high 80's and nighttime temps in the mid-70's which is what we are getting in Houston and you are getting in Port St Lucie.
This message was edited May 28, 2008 9:48 AM
Good lookin' plant, Darius.
The leaves of the brussles sprouts are good eating, too. DW makes cabbage rolls with them.
We harvest the bs from the bottom up - removing leaves as we go. Last year harvested from Nov - Feb - the plants kept growing and making more.
Glad to see things are working for you at the new site.
Last night for a supper side dish, I steamed the first broccoli head... my, my, how tasty! For dessert, a small handful of just-picked strawberries from the yard. Yum.
Theres just nothing better then fresh picked! yum,yum!
I thought it was interesting that the tender stalks were much tastier than the florets. I wonder why?
They're actually my favorite part too, darius--I thought I was the only one not fighting over the florets! :)
Here you can do cucumbers now. but make sure they are in an area that gets morning sun and evening sun and almost nothing in the afternoon. It's still risky but its working for me
thanks bunny. ill post some pics of my raised bed soon for critiquing. this is the first time ive ever grown veggies, so im not real familiar with procedure.
lyo57 I'm sure mine probably looks a heck of a lot worse than yours right now. my boyfriend kind of stepped in a started screaming about black thumbs and took a strangle hold on my garden, so everythings all packed in and jumbled about. hopefully I end up with enough room for everything to grow well. HA he did just see how big okra gets and is as we speak building me two more veg beds to grow my full sun plants in. I would love to see your garden though and can't wait to see the pics!
