We finally have had some sunshine, after many gray rainy days, so I made my way to the garden, to see what was happening. We actually have strawberries flowering! People are saying we are 3-4 weeks behind this spring, so who knows what our summer will bring?
I picked a huge bowl of over wintered collard greens that were going to seed. When the leaves are small, they are quite sweet and tender. With the bigger leaves, I remove the stem, and cook them longer - looking forward to braised collard greens tonight. I also discovered the stem and the flower seeds are delicious - tender, sweet, with a bit of a peppery bite to them.
Then walking around the garden, I made a few other discoveries:
This is the third year of harvesting chives from this pot....I do nothing to them other than to water them and they just keep producing. Now check this out:
Celery! I can't remember where I read this, but, apparently if you plant the end of a celery bunch it will grow - and it is!
Then I made another discovery. Now, some people would be horrified at this, I am thrilled!
It is baby Lambsquarter seedlings. Many people consider this a weed not worth keeping, but I can't get enough of it. Last year I only had one plant, so to see these babies made me very happy. Lambsquarter will grow quite tall and is great steamed, or tossed into a salad - in the old days it was called "poor man's spinach" which I actually like better than spinach.
And finally, some spring wall flowers - love the color!
Also in the garden, growing ever so slowly, is spinach, lettuce, brocolli, cauliflower, swiss chard, collard greens, parsley, and beets.
I can't wait to plant the winter squash, summer squash, and tomato plants, which are in the small green house, the carrots and beans I can seed right into the ground - at this point it is still just too cold in the evenings. I must be more patient...hopefully, fingers crossed next weekend? Praying to the weather gods...please give us a good summer this year! 🙂
Wow, how fantastic, Ina! You are doing really great with your plants. Sending good thoughts to the weather gods for you. 🙂 BTW, I had no idea on Lambs Quarters being tastier than spinach. Very cool!
Shirley
Thanks Shirley - back to another gray day today, oh well. I think Lambsquarter is one of those greens you either like or don't like - I love it!
What a beautiful garden. I have never heard of the celery thing. I will have to try it, it would be a fun experiment with my son.
Thanks Tracee - I did not have a garden when my kids were young...it is so good to get them involved so they can watch their plants grow!
What a lovely garden! I will have to try that celery trick!
Thanks Erin! I am looking forward to seeing how the celery grows!
Your lambsquarter looks very much like the NZ native spinach that has recently 'appeared' in our veg garden. I will take a photo so you can see.
I love it.
I had no idea you could do that with celery - I will try and remember to do that next season x
Yummm, NZ native spinach - how lucky!
Great pics and tips all in one, celery...who knew? And the lamb quarters in my garden will now get much more respect--thanks!
I have been watching the celery grow each day...can hardly wait for the first picking!
Your garden looks so nice, Ina, I love gardening myself but only have a balcony and since a week we have a communal picking garden where the neigbourhood I live in will try to grow fruits, herbs and veggies!
That is wonderful! We too have a lovely farmers market with fresh organic fruit and veggies....whatever I do not grow I can buy from them - so, so good!