Sunday, March 1, 2020

My February Garden 2020

I have a lot of photos to share with you.

So let me tell you first, that this was an amazing Fall/Winter garden for me.

I have not had a garden that produced like this in a long while.

I know it is due to gardening in raised beds.

At the top, is just one of many harvesting of greens along with carrots and herbs.

The carrots are from a seed packet, "Tonda di Parigi", Botanical Interests.

This amazing green plant is called " Nero Toscana" kale. First time growing kale and I can say it is delicious. Blanch first for a few minuets and sauté. Smaller leaves do not need to be blanched. A wonderful taste and I am sorry that I did not sow more. Being in zone 10, I can start to sow my fall and winter garden in late August.

Amazing, right?

Most of the lettuce came from two types of seeds packets by Botanical Interests called "Sassy Salad" mix and "Gourmet Baby Greens" mix.

Here is a beautiful spinach leave called "lavewa" also from seed (Botanical Interests).

I sowed two other types called Bloomsdale and Monstrueux de Viroflay. They did not perform well in my garden. The lavewa can take a little more heat, while the other two bolted or just did not grow at all. My garden is in full sun. I could shade the beds, but the 80 degree heat for a few days in a row just made them bolt.

I used the spinach in my omelettes, as a side and in salads. I wanted to use them in more dishes, but the season for them was cut short. I may try "New Zealand" spinach. I have seen some gardeners grow them during the summer here in Southern California.

Here is a beautiful swiss chard leaf, "Ruby Red/Rhubarb". I have a few plants growing in different places in my garden that seem to be growing nicely. I'm not sure if they are a spring to summer here in my zone. I tried them last year and had no luck. So far I have harvested some beautiful leaves and sautéed them and added them into a whole wheat tortilla with a dollop of hummus. I will sow more seeds because I have some recipes using swiss chard.

The parsley was also a big winner along with the cilantro in my garden.

Parsley being used to make a very tasty Chimichurri paste. Its great on eggs, stakes, fish and quesadillas too. I used most of my herbs to make a paste or pesto when I could not use it fresh fast enough. You can store it in the freezer.

Next comes these happy little Viola flowers. I sowed them in late August. I used two types of seeds, "Sorbet XP select blend", I do not see them in the 2020 Botanical Interests catalog this time, and the "King Henry" , the last photo shows me holding the King Henry. They are a very pretty lavender color.