Winter Greens
This year I decided to grow some winter greens. When my float garden was finished with its summer crops, I replenished the soil with all-purpose fertilizer and added Swiss chard and kale seeds. By late September, I had some nice sized sprouts that gave us fresh and healthy additions to our salads and vegetable dishes. With our mild start to fall, there was plenty of good growing weather.
I now see I underestimated the size of kale. Since I had plenty of room in the bed, I should have given each crop more growing room.
But maybe staying close on those cold winter nights will keep them more warm and cozy. I'm hopeful that both will last through spring. This is the first time that I have grown kale. In fact, I'd never tasted it before. I must say I like it even more than the chard.
Do you grow any winter crops? What has been successful for you? - Margy
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Gardening
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Kale is a favourite of ours and you certainly have a good crop there. I love it with chick peas, garlic and mint mmmmmmm....... xx
ReplyDeleteI have the kale, garlic and mint from the garden. All I would need ti buy are the chick peas. Will give it a try. - Margy
ReplyDeleteKale is one of the healthiest green veggies ever. My Dutch sister-in-law cooks it with peeled potatoes, then mashes the whole works with butter. Yum. I think you can add chunks of meat at that stage and mix it all up (but no further mashing, LOL).
ReplyDeleteIf I have the spelling correct, it is called Boerenkool.
http://www.food.com/recipe/boerenkool-stamppot-kale-hash-33269
Have you tried kale chips? They're yummy!
ReplyDeleteI'm in Victoria now; I could actually plant a winter garden this year!
ReplyDeleteI find kale to be a little sweeter and more tender, as with most veggies, after a light frost. And I use a smoked ham hock or similar smoked meat of some kind, simmer it until only a little 'pot liquor' is left, add kale and onions and cook until tender...much like southern greens. Reeeallly good! xx
I would so buy your extra! You do a fabulous job on the water. My gardening days are over, methinks. Just don't have the nack!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to extend your fresh food by growing some winter crops. Not something I could do in my part of Ontario, perhaps with a greenhouse and lots of hydro to run the heater.
ReplyDeleteWinter greens are goooood eating!
ReplyDeleteWe grow winter Spinach and always lettuce. But last night the temps got to 23F and we woke up to a white scene. Only frost. Been busy all day and didn't check the veggies. Bad me. MB
ReplyDeleteNo winter green here Margy. Some of my herbs will survive winter, Thymian, Salbei, Rosmarin.....
ReplyDeleteI saw the video from your float cabin. I´m speachless. Your livestyle is great!