Garden Diaries, 2020

[Farrier1987]

Well most stuff done. Busy manufacturing a couple more raised beds. Moved my strawberries into a raissed bed, thinking they will be easier to weed and protect from birds etc there. I usually have the garden worked up by now and winter wheat planted, but not this year. Last years manure pile being spread generally and layered onto the raised beds for the winter.

Peas I planted in late August are blooming a little, hope I get a few. Second crop of radishes started then are really nice and mild.

Beets, carrots and parsnip still in the ground. Later I leave them the less they have chance to go soft in storage. Parsnips I will leave til after serious frost, makes them sweeter they say. I did get a crop this year thanks to the advice from TomK. I am going to try leaving a few carrots and parsnips and maybe beets to see if they will maybe make some seed, I have never done that. Has anyone else here done that? Any tricks or advice?

[labradors]

A lot of crops are biennial so they would naturally go to seed the second year - if they survive our brutal winter. However, I've learned that planting early in spring, before a frost, can cause things like chard, beets and parsley to go to seed the first year. This is good and bad because if they put all their effort into going to seed, you don't get much of a harvest - but you do get lots of seeds :).

Linda

[WLLady]

well i am still waiting on seeds from my in flowering brocolli so dont ask me....lol

[Killerbunny]

Lots of brussels this year! Turkeys help out when I'm harvesting cleaning up the stalks, they love the greens that are left.

[KimChick]

Our beets were done a week ago or so ago when the temperature went down. We have dug up all the carrots - they keep very well unwashed, in plastic bags, in the fridge. Plus we have sold quite a bit.
All the squash has be picked, as well as the onions. Garlic has been planted.
DH has tilled half the garden.
Not sure if I'll be digging up anymore horseradish; we'll see.

[Ontario Chick]

Seriously considering freezing some Swiss chard, anybody tried pickling the stalks ?
Don't actually want the job, but pretty sure sometime in January I will wish I have tried it

[labradors]

OC, I freeze Swiss Chard to add to doggy dinners throughout the winter. I just toss it (flattened) in grocery store bags and tie them shut. No blanching or anything. I tell you it looks good enough to eat, yet I go and buy frozen spinach for us. One of these days I'm going to try it. I'm sure it would be fantastic in quiche! One advantage is that when it is frozen it can be shattered into tiny pieces :).

Linda

[KimChick]

OC - If I freeze it, first I cut and rinse, blanch it for 2 min., then make them into patties by squeezing out the water; lay them on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. When frozen, I put them into bags.
I have also canned it with a pressure canner.
A friend will be giving me an Italian recipe that uses Swiss Chard; I'm sure I have seen it used on Lydia's Italy, too.

[Killerbunny]

I prefer to throw it directly into the compost LOL! I hate that stuff.

[labradors]

Too funny KB, but I love it and IT'S GOOD FOR YOU {LOL}.

I find the green varieties taste better than the pretty red ones. The orange ones are quite disgusting!

Linda