My daffodils send greetings to all my blogging friends.
Garlic greens, left, and Chinese chives, right
Harvested a total of about 1½ pounds of garlic green this past week to share with friends. That was 60 plants. If allowed to mature, can you imagine a pile of 60 heads of garlic?????
Chinese chives are ready for harvest, very tender and sweet. Cut ½ pound for a friend.
Bumped up the bittermelon (karela) seedlings, a total of 18 plants. Will have extra to share with family and friends.
Potatoes left to right: Adirondack red, all blue, purple Peruvian, red thumb and Adirondack blue
The above potatoes were the ones I purchased at the Rhinebeck Winter Farmers’ Market in February. They were sprouting, so I cut each one into 2, making sure each half has 2-3 “eyes”. After 4 days at room temperature, they are now cured and ready for planting this week.
They will be planted, cut side down, spaced 9 inches apart in a 12-inch deep trench which I dug and prepped (added organic fertilizer and compost) a few days ago. Click here for Cornell U. Potatoes Growing Guide.
This is the first time I am growing the above potatoes. Since they are locally grown in the Hudson Valley, they should (I hope they will) do well in my garden.
The celeriac I started indoor on March 13 finally germinated, after 3+ weeks. Germination rate was very poor, less than 50%. Decided to start another batch, hope the germination rate will be better.
Copyright © by Norma Chang
Visit Daphne’s Dandelions http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/ for more Harvest Mondays
Garden to Wok 
Yes I can imagine 60 heads of beautiful garlic. lol I guess one person’s idea of too much is another’s idea of just right. I had too little garlic harvested last year, I’m hoping for a lot more this year.
Hello Daphne,
I must harvest every other garlic green. I planted closer than recommeded so that I can have garlic green to harvest this time of year.
Hi Norma,
Those coloured potatoes are truly beautiful!! I grow-or try to-Salad Blues as I love their slightly sweeter taste and they keep their blue colour during cooking-do get some strange looks from friends though when I serve up blue mashed potato…
Happy Easter!
Hello GD,
Your blue mashed potato brings back fond memory. Years ago when blue potato chips first came on the market, I had a party and served them. Since no one present had seen them before, the question was: “How did I color my chips blue?”
Wow. I have never heard of bittermelon! I am glad you posted a link to your other page about it. It looks like it must be a vegetable you love. That is a really pretty harvest you have this week. I love the picture of the potatoes with all of them cut in half. It’s beautiful.
Hello Cristy,
Bittermelon is an acquired taste vegetable. It is bitteer, you either love it or hate it. It is used in many part of the world for medicinal purposes, Google to learn more.
Lovely onion and potatoes! So beautiful! 🙂
Hello Zestybeandog,
Thanks.
Norma, you have convinced me that the one tool missing in my kitchen is a wok. Any suggestions on how to choose one? I have 2 good kitchen stores available.
Toni from Rhinebeck
Hello Toni,
What kind of stove do you have? If you have gas or electric coil any shape will do. If you have glass top you need a good heavy flat bottom one. I personally do not like the non-stick. I also prefer a 14-inch to a 12-inch. Since you have several good cookware stores available, go to each and ask questions, through the process of elimination a decision will be easier to make.
You are growing some fun potatoes. Can’t wait to see how they turn out.
Hello SM,
Me too, I am anxious to see if they will produce well in my garden.
That is a colorful bunch of seed potatoes! I often use green garlic but have enough still in storage from last year’s garlic harvest that I am not needing to dig into my 2012 crop just yet. I try not to use too much of it though as I want the bulk of it to be in bulbs/cloves. I do look forward to the scape season though and all the yummy garlicky goodness that brings.
Hello Kitsapfg,
How do you store your garlic green? I did not know I could store them. I am so looking forward to harvesting garlic scape too.
I would love 60 heads of garlic! Seems I go through that stuff like crazy. Well, maybe no 60 heads. Those potatoes look great!
Hello Kristy,
I still have quite a bit of garlic plants in the grounds and will be harvesting more garlic greens. Wish I bought more of those potatoes.
Great harvest and great picture of what will be future harvests. I’ve never had bittermellon what is it like?
Hello Rick,
Thanks. Bittermelon is BITTER. It is an acquired taste, either love it or hate it. Used for medicinal purposes in many part of the world, Google to learn more.
They all look fantastic, how lucky and wise you are!
Hello Eri,
Thanks. Lucky, yes. Wise, (?). Not the brightest lightbulb and do many dumb things.
I have never seen Chinese Chives before Norma. They are much thicker than the chives that I grow. I’m wondering, how different is the flavour of your chives? I hope that your potatoes do well — they sure look pretty! I must tell you that your daffodils have brightened by day.
Hello P and P,
Chinese chives is the same as garlic chives (I should have clarify that in my post). The blades are flat. They tend to be fatter this time of year and will get skinnier as the season progresses.
Glad the daffodils brightened your day.
Ohhh those daffodils are so cute 🙂 I remember growing daffodils in primary school hehe had so much fun!
WOW never knew potatoes come in SO many colours hehe 😀
Hello Daisy,
There are many more varieties of potatoes than what I have shown.
You have an exciting variety of potatoes there. I have had good luck growing organic potatoes from ones I got at the local farmers market–German Butterballs are my favorite, followed by blue and fingerling potatoes.
Hello Lou,
I am hoping they will do well for me. I have fingerlings saved from last hear’s harvest that I will be planting also.
Those potatoes are beautiful! ♥
Hello Veggiewitch,
Thanks. Not sure if the color will remain after cooking, first time planting.
I made mashed potatoes with some purple taters once. They were a gorgeous lavender. ♥
Hello Veggiewitch,
I hope the varieties I have chosen will grow well for me.
Your garden sure is moving along. Love the potatoes you’ve selected for growing. I envision some beautiful potato dishes gracing your table later this year, Norma. )
Hello John,
Fist I have to have a harvest before any potato can grace my table. I hope they grow well in my garden.
I’m still learning the trick to garlic; I think a lot of it is just that my soil isn’t good enough yet. But I use garlic almost everyday so I could use 60 heads in a year! Love the potatoes! Hope they do well for you.
Hello Mary,
Garlic requires a low pH. I hope so, keeping my fingers crossed.
Here a link to Cornell U. garlic growing site: http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene568b.html
I’ve planted over 100 garlic cloves, I use a lot of garlic and want enough to last all year if possible. The potatoes are pretty aren’t they, I hope they taste as good as they look.
Hello Liz,
Don’t know how many cloves I planted. I plant the cloves along the edge of my garden beds. I too hope the potatoes taste as good as they look. This is a fun garden experiment.
That is such a good idea – why haven’t I tried that before? Oh well – next year…..
Hello Liz,
That’s because you are an organized and methodical gardener. I am a lazy gardener and don’t like to work harder than I need to.
Nice green garlic, I like to stir fry it with Chinese lop yuke/sausage, how do you cook yours?
I’m cutting back on garlic production this year, I had way to many last year.
Hello Mac,
I stir fry the garlic greens with pressed tofu (may add a bit of chicken or pork), dried Chinese mushrooms and carrots. I will also toss some in my vegggies or whatever I am cooking.
I love the potatoes! I don’t thin I’ve tried all of those, but the all blue and Adirondack blue and they tasted so delicious! I can’t wait when I have a normal garden so I can grow my own potatoes! Forgot to tell you, I posted new photos of my garden before the storm.
Hello Marina,
Thanks, I cannot wait to see what the results are, but wait I must. I will hop over to check your photos.
The results will be purple and perfect!
Hello Marina,
I am so looking forward to my harvest.
I love those garlic greens. And your dafodils are absolurely beautiful and so darn bright. I really enjoyed this
Hello Kay,
Thanks. Flowers always cheer me up, I love visiting with them.
What a bountiful and beautiful and amazing harvest. I love the shallots and garlic chives and of course, those potato varieties are just stunning. What will you harvest next? xx
Hello Hotlyspiced,
The garlic greens and garlic chives are tender and sweet, enjoying this spring treat. I may be harvesting red giant mustard next, noticed a patch of volunteers in a sheltered corner of the garden and they are looking healthy and happy.
Reblogged this on onmyowndiy.
Hello Diydandy,
Thank you.
Love your posts
Hello Diydandy,
Thanks.
What beautiful photos and those gorgeous colored potatoes! Won’t they be fun if they do well. I can just see lovely potato salads and roasted potatoes in your future.
Hello B and B,
Thank you. I sure hope the potatoes do well. I am looking forward to making a patriotic potato salad with red, white and blue potatoes (also planted some white fingerlings), that sure would be fun, I am all excited!
Beautiful Norma! I wish I was geographically closer to share in your harvest!!
Hello Alyssa,
Thanks. I would be so happy to share my harvest with you.
Hi Norma, everything look so pretty…love your harvest…I yet have to try to grow garlic greens…love the picture of your daffodils 🙂
By the way, I posted the lentil sprouts that I learned from you…thank you again.
Have a great week 🙂
Hello Juliana,
Thanks. Garlic is really easy to grow, you should give it a try. Hopping over to you blog to check out your lentil sprouts post. A good week to you too.
I love visiting your blog Norma, I learn so much about gardening and there are always some amazing pictures to put a smile on my face
Hello Sawsan,
I am glad my pictures put a smile on your face. Looking forward to your visits and comments.
Hi Norma, great colored potatoes hope they grow well for you. I do love my garlic but have never harvested it green, is it milder tasting? Daffodils are such happy flowers they always bring Joy!!
Hello Andrea,
I hope so too. Garlic green has a sweet mild garlic flavor, this time of year I use it as a scallion substitute, adds a subtle garlic taste without overwhelming.
Your potatoes look fantastic!
Hello Yummychunklet,
Thanks, I hope they grow well in my garden.
Wow, lucky you! Such beautiful shots (and delicious too!)
Hello Z and G,
Thanks.
Those potatoes are so beautiful! It is nice to be harvesting garlic chives, one of the first edible green things from the garden. YUM!
Hello Kelly,
Yes, the potatoes are beautiful. Garlic chives are sweet and tender this time of the year, yes, YUM.
Aw, look at all those lovely greens and the beautiful daffodils too… they always remind me of my mothers garden – she always has a good “crop” of them each year… I should pay them a visit in spring time sometime! Best of all is those potatoes though… I’ve never seen such things… wow! Is the taste any different?
Hello Charles,
My friends really enjoyed the greens (they do not garden). Unfortunately I cannot give a comparison of the taste of the potatoes as I did not buy enough for eating. Will try to remember to post when I harvest later in the year.
Wow! I’ve never seen so many different types of potatoes before! This post is so educational! lol..
Hello Sam,
There are many more varieties. Besides those in the photo, I also planted fingerlings.
I am in awe of your talent for growing vegetables, Norma. I’ve never had the green thumb except for my mini tomatoes on the garage roof. I don’t eat much potato, do purple potatoes taste differently than the regular variety?
Hello Eva,
The purple potatoes I grew last year had a sweet overtone. The texture was similar to red skin potatoes. Kept their color after roasting and stood out among the other veggies. I have not tried the ones I am growing this year and am really looking forward to harvest time.
Those potatoes are absolutely gorgeous! I hope they provide a bountiful harvest for you!
Hello Melissa,
I hope so too. We are experiencing an extremely dry April, watering is not helping much.
Nice harvest for early spring! If it’s any consolation, a third of our celeriac didn’t germinate…
Hello Leduesorlle,
Thanks. I understand celeriac is notorious for low germination.
I want your garden, for real 😀
Hello Kiran,
I will be more than happy to share.
Pingback: Harvest Monday, April 20, 2015 – Growing Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes in Containers + Garden Overwintered Root Crops | Garden to Wok