Veggie garden is now fully planted and most of the plants, except the okra, are looking good. Had a couple nights of temp in the 40’s during the week. The leaves on the okra plants drooped, turned yellow and fell off. I am hoping the plants will bounce back.
Transplanted the chayote into the ground. The original vine was yellowing, so I lopped it off, not sure if I did the right thing. The new vine (photo below) looks healthy. Pinched off the tip to encourage branching. I hope it set some fruits, will keep you posted.
Chayote
Also transplanted the heirloom goji berry plants. All 7 are doing well.
Heirloom Goji berry plants
Broccoli seedlings transplanted and toothpicked to prevent cut worms from harming the seedlings. (Hard to see, but if you look closely at the photo on the right, you will see 2 toothpicks, one on each side of the seedlings.)
Did the same with the kohlrabi, kale Brussels sprouts and collard seedlings.
Did not toothpick the chicory and celeriac as cut worms do not seem to bother them.
Direct sow parsnips, more carrots and more beets. Blue potatoes have sprouted and looking good.
Garlic scapes are ready for harvest.
Garlic scape
Brought in a bunch.
Cut scapes into about 2-inch lengths. Stir-fried with sliced cabbage (from the store) in a bit of oil, salt and pepper. Finished with 1 teaspoon of Asian sesame oil. Served as a side.
Sorry there is no recipe.
Was hoping to resume my Friday’s recipe postings but had a few unexpected issues so am once again playing catch up.
I was having a really good and productive week and getting all caught up until the unexpected surprises cropped up. One of which is a leak in the underground water hose leading to the veggie garden. Locating the leak is going to be a challenge. Got to give this matter some serious thinking before digging. I think (hope) I know where the leak is but there is a bee/wasp (?) nest in that location.
Other harvest of the week were: more red rib dandelions, Chinese chives and kale.
Red rib dandelions, Chinese (garlic) chives and kale
Also harvested a basket of red leaf amaranth. They were all volunteers. (Forgot to take photo before they went into the pot).
Photo at right is what the amaranth plant looks like. This volunteer is growing in the carrot bed. I should remove it, but it adds interest to the area and is happy. I can afford to lose a few carrots so am leaving it there.
Chinese parsley (cilantro) flowers
Yarrow
Anyone knows what the bug on the lower left hand corner is?
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Garden to Wok 
Your garden is getting off to a great start. Your scapes and cabbage dish looks lovely.
Hello Maureen,
Thanks. Hope we do not have any more low night time temp.
What a great start to the harvest, even though the really unfortunate weather we are having, at least yesterday was amazing. We hosted a beautiful brunch outside under the umbrella, it was a perfect temperature and very sunny.
Hello Eva,
Thanks. Some things are doing exceptionally well, others not. Wonder what the growing season is going to be like. Besides the yo-yoing temp., also having a bit too much rain all at once or not at all. Weather sure is crazy.
Great that you were able to enjoy the outdoors.
Congrats on the transplants! I am sure they will do wonderfully! I am excited about your garlic scrapes! Our garlic isn’t showing any signs of scraping yet, but I’ve put in all new varieties this year and am not sure if they will. Plus, the chickens up-rooted several of them over the winter, so they’re not as healthy as they could be. Ah…the joys of chickens and gardening 😉 Have a great week, Norma!
Hello Melissa,
Thanks, I hope they do wonderfully. Did you plant hard neck or soft neck garlic? I read somewhere that soft neck will not send out scape, not sure if that is correct. You are getting fresh eggs daily, that’s something I can only dream of.
I hope you find that submerged leak quickly. It always seems like something is breaking or needing attention – doesn’t it!? I harvested all our scapes this week too. It’s a lovely once a year harvest bonus provided courtesy of the garlic patch.
Hello Laura,
I hope so too, yes, always something needing attention, the joy of gardening and home ownership.
I love those garlic scapes!
Hello Angie,
They are a special treat, unfortunately for only for a short period.
I can’r wait to see your brocoli.
Hello Marta,
I can’t wait also. Homegrown broccoli taste sooooo much better than the store bought ones.
You sure grow an interesting and challenging variety of plants. I can believe your okra was unhappy with temps in the 40s. It came from Africa or SE Asia and loves hot temperatures. My wife is from Mississippi and we have visited in July when the gardens were burned to a crisp. Only the okra and watermelon were alive and loving the weather.
Hello Dave,
I sure hope my okra recovers, but we are having so much rain all at once, I worry that they are going to drown.
Your scapes look delicious my friend, great job! Hope the okra plant gets better soon!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Hello Uru,
Thanks, yes, I hope my okra plants get better real soon.
I hope you’ll get fruits from the chayote, Norma, keeping my fingers crossed. I’m growing amaranth, too, but they’re still tiny and most are ravaged by flea beetles or striped beetles. I don’t think they’ll survive. Beetles, curculio, rabbits/groundhogs, what else is coming my way? I’m thinking of making a hoop house. Did you grow the red dandelions or were they volunteers? Look very interesting!
Hello NG,
I hope so too. First time growing it. I also have all kinds of wild life feasting in my garden, can be very discouraging but I still keep at it.
I grew the red dandelions from seeds. Going to allow a plant to go to seed this year with hopes of getting volunteers next year.
Looking really good! The Amaranth looks lovely amidst the carrots! Sometimes a volunteer is nice! I cut my scapes last week as well. We used it in a new recipe that wasn’t as good as I had hoped it would be. Oh well. It wasn’t bad, just not YUMMY!
Hello Shawn Ann,
How did you cook your scape? I did not cut my scapes all at once, I stagger the cutting over a period of time to extend the treat.
Your garden looks to be coping with the changing weather very well, Norma. I hope the weather settles a bit for you, especially since everything’s been planted. I also hope that you can easily find and fix the leaking hose. Lastly, that cabbage and garlic scapes stir-fry looked delicious!
Hello John,
I hope the weather settles down soon too. Currently having too much rain hope none of my plants get drowned.
If the leak is where I think it is, then it is an easy fix, if not, there is going to be a lot of digging and exploring, no fun.
Garlic scape and cabbage make a really delicious combo.
I’ve never seen plants protected with toothpicks like that before, Norma, how does that work? Also, what are Volunteer plants.. you can see I’m not a seasoned gardener:) xx
Hello Barbara,
Cut worms love to wrap around tender seedlings and cut the plant at soil level. The toothpicks prevent the worm from cutting through.
I am basically a lazy gardener. Some of my plants flowers, but I never get around to pulling them before they go to seeds and fall to the ground. The seeds reemerge as plants the following year, they become my volunteers.
Good luck with the leak and that wasp nest – doesn’t sound like a good combo! I haven’t heard of tooth picking plants before and I hope it works well for your crops. I’ll look forward to seeing how your crops grow, especially your goji berries. I’ve never seen goji berries growing before xx
Hello Charlie,
No, it is not a good combo, but I will figure something out.
Cut worms love to wrap around tender seedlings and cut the plant at soil level. The toothpicks prevent the worm from cutting through.
I’ve never seen goji berries before! The insect in the final picture is commonly called a “crane fly.” That should help you find more info- I find them hanging on my garden plants also!
Hello Sam,
This my first experience at growing goji berries, I will be posting updates. Thanks for identifying the insect. Will look for more info. I thought it was a humongous mosquito.
Every transplanted plant looks happy! Can’t wait to see how your goji berries grow.
Hello Sandra,
I will be posting update about my goji berries growing experience, of course I have no idea what I am doing so it is learning by doing.
I have no idea what kind of bug it is on your last photo but obviously he is not a welcome guest. I love garlic chives, our family eats this so much. I love seeing your heirloom gogi berries. I think that once they start to get the fruits on there you will be fighting with the birds for the harvest. You may need to put up some netting or something to keep them out. I know that everyone will love the gogi berries.
Norma, on a side note, I have been having problems with growing Thai basil, on my balcony or apartment in HK. Every time they just start to thrive, they get these little flying nat like bugs and die. None of my other plants do this. It does not matter if I plant from seeds or seedling it always ends in the same fate. Any suggestions? Ideas? I have tried the usual spray for plants but that is not working.
Hello Bam,
The bug is a crane fly.
Yes, I heard birds love goji berries too. I gave up growing blueberries because of the birds.
Regarding your Thai basil problem, did you try insecticidal soap? You need to spray the underside of the leaves also. You could also try hosing down the plant to get rid of the gnats. Not knowing exactly what is bugging your basil I am unable to offer constructive suggestions or ideas.
Hello Norma, Thanks for your response. How do I ask for insecticidal soap in Cantonese? I have tried the insecticidal sprays but not the soap. Pesky little bugs do not bother any of my other house plants only my basil. Thanks again and take care, BAM
Hello Bam,
I ask my Cantonese friend and this is what she says: “fat chung swee (or yok)” (not sure of the spelling, but I think you can get the idea). Is there a garden center nearby where you could ask for info?
Lovely harvest, Norma! How nice to see the scapes – we didn’t get any this year (usually our grower friends give us some, but they lost their crop). And thanks for the toothpick tip – I didn’t know that one! 🙂
Hello Celia,
You are welcome. Bamboo skewers will work also. Sorry your friends lost their crop and you did not get any scapes this year. Hopefully they will have a bountiful crop next year.
Dear Norma,
The garlic scapes look lovely and my favourite recipe and it seems that of many Chinese restaurants too is cutting them into batons and stir-fry with prawn cutlets.
Hello CandM,
I frequently stir-fry them with shredded meat or poultry also.
You have some really pretty harvests. Scapes are always a nice treat. I hope you find your leak.
Hello Daphne,
Thanks. I hope the leak is where I think it is, if not there is going to be a lot of digging.
I never had garlic scapes…looks delicious with cabagge…you sure have a nice harvest Norma.
Enjoy your week 😀
Hello Juliana,
Garlic scape and cabbage made a wonderfully delicious combo. A great week to you too.
The yellow yarrow looks pretty!
Hello YC,
Yes, it is a very pretty and bright yellow.
Lovely harvest, hope you get some fruits from your chayote plant, it sets fruits when daylight is around 10 hrs or less, I got few fruits before frost killed the plant, but we ate the shoots as summer greens.
Hello Mac,
I will be sooooo happy even if I get only one fruit. My goji berry plants are doing really good, thanks, hope I get some berries and before the birds get to them.
My mom had a chayote plant too in the backyard, we love to stir fry it with dried shrimp, garlic and chopped chillies….
Hello Dedy,
Chayote is not supposed to grow and bear fruit where I live, this is an experiment.
I’m going to remember your toothpick trick when I plant broccoli this year and with kale in the fall, too. Your scapes and that beautiful kale look so delicious. And I cannot wait to see what happens with the goji berries…so exciting! Seems like your garden is off to a wonderful start in spite of the temperature drop impacting your okra. Good eats ahead! 🙂
Hello Betsy,
I am anxious to see if I get any berries, understand the birds love goji berries, there is going to be battles ahead.
For sure. I’ve given up on ever getting any blueberries until I can move the bushes. The birds beat me every time!
Hello Betsy,
I got rid of my blueberries, did not want to fatten the birds any more.
Love the idea of adding garlic scapes into cabbage Norma. Looks delicious!
You have some really beautiful flowers growing! Love the yarrow!
Hello Anne,
Cabbage and garlic scape, the combination was very good.
Mama LOVES garlic scapes. It’s probably one of her favorite side dishes. I love that you eat out of your garden. You’re an inspiration, Norma. When I grow up, I wanna do this just like you!!
Hello SM,
Does your Mama grow garlic? Can you buy garlic scape where you live?
Hi, Norma-
I have started growing herbs in deck rail pots this spring. Early this week I noticed a few adorable mini-grasshoppers in my parsely. Now there are dozens of them in my thyme, purple basil and sage. I’m sure they’re not doing my plants any good, so I am picking them off by hand. (they don’t seem to like dill.) Any suggestions??????
-Jack
Hello Jack,
Sorry I do not have any suggestions to offer, however I found this link and thought the flour method is a good one to try (scroll down for the recipe). Let me know if it works.
http://pestcontroloptions.com/insect-control/get-rid-of-grasshoppers-the-eco-friendly-way