Edibles - '09 - Part 2

The only reason I planted the snow peas was the price was out rageous this winter like 5.99 per lb up here. I almost picked one up, and croaked.....

My dad grew his up twine that were attached to the side of the garage where the gutters would be. Saved room in the gardens.

OK ... now, don't all be hatin' ..... ^_^

I finally got some dirt worked and planted some of the veggies on Monday and Tuesday ... and lookie lookie!

Spaghetti Squash

This is a wide view of the squash patch.

Spaghetti Squash (12 o'clock)
Cantalope (3 o'clock)
NOID Winter Squash (6 o'clock) Green & Orange
Acorn Squash (9 o'clock)

The Swiss Chard.

It's supposed to be Fordhook Giant, but I always thought FG was white stemmed, not colored. Maybe they will be more white when they get bigger.

Things are going to be pretty tight!

Here are the eggplant ....

Lavender Touch to the left
Viserba to the right

Tomato seedlings

Romas to the left and big ones to the right.

Basil will go along the edge where the Tequila Agave are now.

Spaghetti Squash Patch

Wish you were closer, Will! Looks great!

Thanks, Victor!! I haven't had time to garden much when I was "working for others," but now that I work for myself, I can indulge once again. Boy did I miss it, I didn't realize how much!

I am going to grow these up fences to save space.

Cucumbers

Straight Eight to the left
Marketmore 76 to the right.

The board you see down the middle is the last remnant of the sandbox my father built for us kids some 45 years or so ago. Obviously long gone.

Acorn Squash

Tollie's Sweet Red Peppers

Still have the Piccante Calabrese (hot), California Wonder (sweet) and Bhut Jolokia (mondo hot) to plant.

Think I might do the Bhuts in containers.

I planted some Brussel Sprouts ... even though I don't like them .....

Maybe I will like them better having labored to grow them????

I still have broccoli and kohlrabi to plant .....

Down to about 1/2 of the seedling stock. Amazing, the amount of traffic coming to pilfer through them ..... all to grow in their yards! ^_^

Cannot believe how much grew!! For the most part, all these seeds have come from the Round Robin Seed Box!

I am going to try and keep track of the amount of produce all this yields and see just how much money I saved at the grocer.

I have my fingers crossed for perfect growing weather all summer. Last time I grew veggies there was nothing but cold and rain all summer and everything developed mildew .... ugh!

Zuccini 'Black Beauty'

What a mess!! Between veggie seedling plantings I have been trying to bring things out of the greenhouse and finish the spring cleaning for the yard.

Allison's Begonia Rex 'Fireworks' center stage. Made it through another winter for me!

Wille you have done great!

Your garden is looking great, Willie! I love that you've kept the sandbox remnant. How cool to live in the same house!! The things you plant around "the remnant" are likely to have that intangible boost from the love that went into that project by your Dad. You'll see!

Thanks, Sherrie and Louise!!

I have so much fun doing it .... people think I am weird when I tell them I don't consider this "work." Maybe I am ..... ^_^

I hope I have done all the donors to the Round Robin Seed Exchange proud! I really do appreciate their donations!

Sherrie, Cyndie, Don S., Allison, Mona, Celeste, Robin, et all!! (I think I mentioned all the culprits responsible for the photos above)

Still a ton more already overgrown seedlings to plant ..... Basils, more tomatoes, other peppers, swiss chard varieties, sage, marjoram, oregano, herbs galore, rhubarb, leeks, chives, parsley, summer savory, ad nausium.

And that doesn't even touch on the perennials and annuals!

I've used that remnant to walk on so I don't compact the soil for years. All the plants have been planted with it, so, according to your theory, EVERYthing should be awesome this year!!! ^_^

Yep.......I'm sure of it!

The Round Robin - I have some of your seeds Willie! Well not seeds anymore. Butterfly bushes are on my list to go in the ground! Oh and - the Pacific Giants ARE IN!!

My husband and his kids think I am totally crazy - live and learn :-)

if you are here willie - well i can't bring myself to say/write it:)

your veggie garden looks great been waiting for pics after all the seed starting photo's

Looks great Willie, I love brussel sprouts, taste like little cabbages.

veggies do look great Willie... and yes that begonia made me drool again

:)

Thanks, everyone!! Glad you are having success with my seeds, Sherrie!

(ponders possibilities of that which cannot be written)

I guess I'll just have to figure out the right way to cook the b.sprouts. My guess is that they were not properly prepared (ie frozen, over-cooked, no herbs , etc) by mom? Is there a "best" way to prepare them? Have them raw?

Begonia cuttings in progress!

I like b sprouts best sliced in half and stir fried in a little olive oil and garlic. DH likes them steamed til soft.

No butter?

^_^

Dont think I ever ate them.......

I usually use olive oil over butter, not that I don't like butter.

The name of them dont sound appealing. But then again does Squash, Pea or Leaks sound good?

Well, I know b. sprouts are supposed to be "good" for you, and maybe after all these years I will have actually developed a taste for them. In any event, it's probably better to have some in ones diet, regardless.

I am guessing I will get more than one meal out of them, so I will definitely sauté some in evoo and garlic, and some others steamed.

Is there a definitive herb to use with them? Maybe summer savory?? .... I do have a bunch of herbs going.

I always thought those names were odd choices for veggies .... even with the spelling differences for the latter two, Sherrie.

Sherrie----too funny! Willie---can't believe you have all that in & growing! I dislike b. sprouts, but I have roasted them with oo & garlic, & they were sort of edible for me. DH likes them, but we have them MAYBE once a year.

I just heat them in the micro, no seasoning. The small ones are sweeter.

I LOVE B. Sprouts! I steam them and add a little bit of butter and a bit of sea salt into the pot (after I drain the water) and put the lid back on, wait a minute or so and then shake the pot to spread the butter. I also like them the way Debilu does them. Don't overcook them if you steam them. I bring the covered pot to a boil and then turn off the burner once the water starts to boil and the steam is apparent. After about 4 minutes, I drain the water, add the butter and salt and put the lid back on and let them sit for about a minute or two, off the burner. Yummmm.

Love your veggie garden, Willie. You've inspired me to take some pix of my own tomorrow. As to a great way to cook b. sprouts, this never fails to please the picky ones I live with: Halve the sprouts. Arrange in a single layer in a baking pan. Toss in some garlic cloves and a few walnut quarters ... or even smaller. Drizzle w/ olive oil and some coarse salt (we always use Morton's Kosher Salt, but fancy people can use sea salt LOL).

Roast at about 375 degrees, tossing every 15 mins or so until delicious.

I like them boiled with chicken broth.

Daisy - "fancy people"....LOL!! Moi??? Mais non!! The reason we use sea salt is that the grains are smaller than Kosher Salt and thus we get less sodium per "shake". LOL

I only use sea salt from the Hudson.

Yeah, that's the type the "fancy people" use. HaHaHa!!!