tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post3176430902535328121..comments2024-03-24T11:10:13.186-04:00Comments on The Gardening Me: Harvest Monday - June 1, 2015Margarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-20951287901090891362015-10-11T10:35:26.608-04:002015-10-11T10:35:26.608-04:00Hi - Unfortunately, I purchased my seeds from Pine...Hi - Unfortunately, I purchased my seeds from Pinetree so the packet I received was quite small - about 30 seeds - and I only have about half of those left which is just enough for next year including a few extras in case I have issues with germination. I would suggest you look at purchasing some from Pinetree - I believe they were less than $2 for a packet. One of the reasons I love them is that I usually prefer to grow several different varieties of a veg (instead of a ton of a single variety) and Pinetree offers small quantities at equally small prices.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-88334766740733284772015-10-10T06:19:36.837-04:002015-10-10T06:19:36.837-04:00Hi. Do you have any of the white russian kale seed...Hi. Do you have any of the white russian kale seeds you are willing to trade? I have lots of different types of seeds. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17311311022739472097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-687155565052720192015-06-02T23:07:48.867-04:002015-06-02T23:07:48.867-04:00Don't I know it about gardening keeping you bu...Don't I know it about gardening keeping you busy...I think I bit off a bit more than I should have this year.<br /><br />My "NCK" (which was supposed to be curly kale but isn't) is probably some sort of Siberian kale - it's really good, so I'm still growing it. I do want to give the Dinosaur kale a try at some point. It's the classic gardener's dilemma - too many varieties to try & not enough bed space to fit them all in!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-17867589356085889952015-06-02T21:30:41.516-04:002015-06-02T21:30:41.516-04:00Hi Margaret, I haven't been posting or keepin...Hi Margaret, I haven't been posting or keeping up to my blogs lately very well. Gardening sure keeps one busy. Glad you found the secret to growing radishes. I just planted some more today by my potatoes so now am wondering if it will be too shady for them! Interesting to read the kind of kale you planted. I planted Kale Premier, Dinosaur/Lacinato, Italian Nero Toscana Kale and Siberian Kale, Just a little of each. Nancy Cozy Thyme Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933769393226611441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-76954791710369681732015-06-02T11:09:09.472-04:002015-06-02T11:09:09.472-04:00It's called John Innes and instead of having p...It's called John Innes and instead of having peat or green waste it is made from loam, peat, sand or grit, and fertiliser, We have mixed it with top soil. Composts based on green waster here are very unreliable.Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-88517802601563017852015-06-02T10:55:31.599-04:002015-06-02T10:55:31.599-04:00Oh, that's too funny! I'm not a beet fan ...Oh, that's too funny! I'm not a beet fan either - one of the few veg I really dislike where I wouldn't eat it if it was on the plate. I do eat the stems from the green chard and never noticed a beety flavour, although they are usually mixed in with the leaves (in soups, curries, etc) so I'm not sure I've ever had them by themselves. So now you have me wondering how I will find the Peppermint chard - it's so pretty, I hope I like it.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-33448563031002118712015-06-02T10:41:04.258-04:002015-06-02T10:41:04.258-04:00That's a great point! I had the radishes in a...That's a great point! I had the radishes in a bed with drip lines last year. As you said, the surface soil does dry out, even when the soil is fairly moist an inch or so down. I never really thought about that impacting shallow rooted veg. This year the radishes are planted in a bed that doesn't have drip installed yet, so I've had to use the sprinkler to water it - that may have very well contributed to the success.<br /><br />I really love the Russian kales - can't wait to try them cooked, I bet they will be equally delicious.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-24115259575379349102015-06-02T10:34:52.281-04:002015-06-02T10:34:52.281-04:00I can't wait to see your radish harvest - thos...I can't wait to see your radish harvest - those Woodblocx beds are just made to produce fabulous root crops. btw - what is soil based compost vs. regular compost - around here, there is just plain "compost".Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-59722961011300893892015-06-02T10:31:58.850-04:002015-06-02T10:31:58.850-04:00This weather is driving me nuts too from swelterin...This weather is driving me nuts too from sweltering heat one day to almost freezing the next. After having hardened off my peppers & eggplants, I had to bring them back in the house for a couple of days because of the cold temps.<br /><br />I know all about bad radishes - so many of mine were simply "roots" last year. Considering the freakishly hot weather a couple of weeks ago, I'm actually surprised they did as well as they did this year. I hope you have better luck with your radishes in the fall. And have a wonderful week too!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-88404630577945601642015-06-02T10:01:45.281-04:002015-06-02T10:01:45.281-04:00I've also found that radishes need their own s...I've also found that radishes need their own space to do well. Lately I've been giving them a bit of light shade and an extra sprinkle of water on warm days. The surface soil in my big planter boxes dries out, especially when I rely solely on the drip lines, so I give the shallow rooted and newly planted veggies a sprinkle now and then. The radishes do seem to appreciate it. <br /><br />Both Russian kales are beautiful. I have seeds for the red one but haven't grown it yet, perhaps I should finally get around to it.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07812702328134261533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-82047038422464548112015-06-02T06:44:50.094-04:002015-06-02T06:44:50.094-04:00I grow a white chard because it tastes better to m...I grow a white chard because it tastes better to me. I keep wanting to put in the pretty colored ones but they taste too beety to me. I hate beets. I even cut the stems from the chard and toss them as they taste too much like beets for me. But you mentioned lettuce. You found a green where I like the red varieties about as much as the green. Though to be honest my favorite, Deer Tongue, is green. But I've been growing Red Sails for longer than any other lettuce variety. Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-37997811448472130812015-06-02T06:18:25.879-04:002015-06-02T06:18:25.879-04:00I'm trying radishes in the Woodblocx raised be...I'm trying radishes in the Woodblocx raised bed this year and in soil based compost - they didn't like the rubbishy compost that I used last year.Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-28877355356674432242015-06-02T05:06:32.810-04:002015-06-02T05:06:32.810-04:00Interesting comparisons. I may never find out. My ...Interesting comparisons. I may never find out. My white Russian Kale I tried this year has been eaten down completely now by "it". I give up. I have far too much going on right now --still trying to plant. Had frost yet again. Sigh.<br />Your radishes look amazing. I've not had good luck with them. They tend towards being quit "rooty"---lots of threadlike roots coming out of the sides. I'll try again in the fall, of course, but this springs crop was an embarrasment!<br />Have a good weekSuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10122524042294993949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-9543498297222777142015-06-01T21:28:25.211-04:002015-06-01T21:28:25.211-04:00I'm quite liking having them in their own litt...I'm quite liking having them in their own little spot; I'll be trying to succession sow some more in the same spot (to get the most from my bed!) as soon as these are pulled although I don't know how well they will do in the heat of summer.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-6051485851656257452015-06-01T19:33:01.039-04:002015-06-01T19:33:01.039-04:00Nice comparison on the radishes, I usually put the...Nice comparison on the radishes, I usually put them with the beans but haven't grown them in couple years.Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08837486464329151966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-50433136193876081142015-06-01T19:09:52.630-04:002015-06-01T19:09:52.630-04:00It has been so hot, I was actually thinking that t...It has been so hot, I was actually thinking that the radishes would be much more strongly flavoured than they were for that reason.<br /><br />I can't wait to see how you do with the curly kale. I was going to try it last fall as an overwintering crop, but, as I'm sure you know, the seeds I purchased didn't produce a curly kale at all. Other than for overwintering, I haven't been anxious to give it a try as the thought of cleaning all those nooks and crannies has put me off...but maybe it's not as bad as I think.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-74652335209648722832015-06-01T19:05:28.385-04:002015-06-01T19:05:28.385-04:00It's really nice, Norma...a definite must try....It's really nice, Norma...a definite must try.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-42955228956407968392015-06-01T19:05:17.564-04:002015-06-01T19:05:17.564-04:00Great improvement on your radishes! The french br...Great improvement on your radishes! The french breakfast look wonderful. I grew red kale last year alongside tuscan kale - loved them both. This year, I've added curly kale for the first time and white russian kale (no more seeds for the red variety). I seem to like all varieties so far. My arugula has bolted this spring - honestly, first time I've ever had that happen - it's just been such a hot spring for us here.Susiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354350096358468967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-56632836008166300712015-06-01T19:03:39.316-04:002015-06-01T19:03:39.316-04:00Thanks for that bit of history - I'll be readi...Thanks for that bit of history - I'll be reading up on Frank Morton (and I'm sure adding to my ever expanding "to try" list in the process!).<br /><br />I had a feeling that the White may be bigger as a variety simply because of how it's laid out in the bed. If one of the Russians was going to grow faster/bigger, I would have thought it would be the Red as it's at the edge of the bed, so it gets a bit more light. The White is in between the Red and the NCK.<br /><br />I haven't yet tried the Russian kale cooked, and I have a feeling I'm missing out - I sometimes forget that it's not only one way or the other.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-46088999681086361112015-06-01T18:50:08.908-04:002015-06-01T18:50:08.908-04:00Well, so far my experience with spinach has been e...Well, so far my experience with spinach has been either marginal or bad...so I'm getting rid of the bad and hoping to improve on the marginal! I'm trying 6 varieties this year and none are doing amazing, but we did have a very hot spell in the last few weeks. Sometimes it's hard to tell if the reason for a bad harvest is the variety, the weather, the soil or something else entirely.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-39056979614359733412015-06-01T18:22:14.504-04:002015-06-01T18:22:14.504-04:00I plant red Russian but not white Russian, will tr...I plant red Russian but not white Russian, will try that next season.norma changhttp://gardentowok.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-54731841802203213062015-06-01T16:54:06.927-04:002015-06-01T16:54:06.927-04:00I love your side by side photo and comparison of t...I love your side by side photo and comparison of the Russian kales. I've grown Red Russian before in fall, and it doesn't overwinter for me here either. It's my first time growing White Russian, and I usually eat kale cooked. My first (and second) impression of the White Russian was "wow, that has a great taste". The size is definitely larger for me than the red one.<br /><br />Let me add that White Russian is a Frank Morton (Wild Garden Seeds) introduction, and I am a big fan of his creations. He has worked to introduce new o/p varieties, and improve existing strains. I love his Wild Garden Mix kale, and Purple Peacock broccoli, Red Ursa kale and Mizspoona are all his creations too. I've grown a lot of his seeds over the last few years, and for the most part they are great performers in my garden.Dave @ HappyAcreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03441364543023807886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-69848474182929894052015-06-01T16:39:43.489-04:002015-06-01T16:39:43.489-04:00Spinach is weird, some varieties grow well for me ...Spinach is weird, some varieties grow well for me and others I try just never make it, so I tend to stay with the ones that will grow. When I plant radishes they usually go into the squash bed at the corners. By the time the squash are big enough to shade them they are out. gardenvariety-hoosierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02823437033502199023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-48361240864451368142015-06-01T15:30:52.130-04:002015-06-01T15:30:52.130-04:00The radishes are in a brassica bed which gets cove...The radishes are in a brassica bed which gets covered to protect it from the cabbage white butterflies. I'm trying to keep plant families together in the same bed for crop rotation but one of the side benefits is that it simplifies things when it comes to covering the beds. Although based on how things seem to be progressing each year, pretty soon most of my beds will be covered for one reason or another!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-59225682555339750702015-06-01T15:26:19.247-04:002015-06-01T15:26:19.247-04:00All of the radishes were crunchy, with a bit of bi...All of the radishes were crunchy, with a bit of bite at the end. They all tasted really good - I couldn't tell much difference between them.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.com