Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian readers!!!!!
The week started out HOT and dry, luckily we had rain mid week. Did not cool things down much, but the plants were happy, especially the heat loving ones. Tomato plants shot up, I will get tomatoes after all. The Chinese long beans started to climb. Before the heat wave, they were at a stand still. All the other veggies have taken off too. I am a happy gardener.
Lettuce did not like the heat and appeared ready to bolt, so harvested them except the 3 planted under the Asian pear tree. Will leave these 3 to see how they hold up through the summer heat in partial shade. They are leaf lettuce from a mix, so I have no idea what variety they are, too bad.
Mixed lettuce – red leaf, green leaf and romaine
Harvested a bunch of beets.
Cleaned the greens, cut into about 2-inch length. Stir-fried in oil with fresh ginger, garlic scapes, salt and pepper to taste. Served as a side.
Steamed the roots, peeled and sliced thinly. Combined with rice vinegar, shredded ginger, Chinese parsley (cilantro), orange zest, sesame oil, salt and pepper to taste. Served cold.
Beets, Detroit dark red
The beet root, 2nd from left, measured 2¼ inches in length an 1½ inches in diameter
These beets are unexpected surprise. I had sown two 48-inch rows of parsnips. Parsnips take a long time to germinate. To mark the area, I planted a row of Detroit dark red beet seedlings between the 2 rows, figuring when the parsnips germinate and need the space I will pull the baby beet plants for greens. Imagine my surprise when I pulled the plants, not only did I get a big bunch of greens (should have weighed it) but look at the size of the beet roots!!!!! Definitely doing this interplanting again next spring.
Remember the red leaf amaranth I left to grow among my carrots? It grew and grew, was huge (too bad I did not take a photo) . There were also other volunteers growing in other areas of the garden, together there was enough for a meal, so I harvested them all.
Red leaf amaranth
The leaves are redder than what is shown in the photo
Harvested my first head of broccoli, a beauty.
Broccoli
Could have cut just below the main head and allow the side shoots to continue to grow, but the plant was quite tall and I worried it would topple over. Side shoots will grow from the remaining stalk.
Another first: purple and green kohlrabi. Not only are the kohlrabis not doing well, they are also splitting, especially the purple ones.
Kohlrabi
See the split on the purple one at left? Lost its beauty but not its flavor
Harvested the last of my garlic scapes.
Garlic scape
Will have to wait until next spring to enjoy this treat again.
Oak leaf hydrangea
Zagreb coreopsis
Happy Gardening!
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Copyright © by Norma Chang. All Rights Reserved. Do not use/repost any photos and/or articles without permission.
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Garden to Wok 
I like that tip about the parsnips – I am always afraid if pulling seedlings by mistake, and who doesn’t like a few beets? Your amaranth looks yummy. I grew some last year and have spotted a few volunteers, but they’re still small.
Hello GC,
Most gardeners mark their parsnips rows by planting radishes, but since I do not use that much radishes, I decided to experiment with planting beet seedlings and it worked out well for me. I just need to remember to start beet seedlings in cell pack early.
Happy Gardening. There is also Oak leaf hydrangea in our garden. 😀
Hello Cocomino,
Hope you will post photos of your oak leaf hydrangea, they are so gorgeous.
It sounds like your garden is doing very well…that is great. My tomatoes are growing so slow. They are just not getting enough hours of sun. Cloudy days with thunderstorms every afternoon does not make for happy plants. 😦
Hello Karen,
The garden is coming along, but we are now having too much rain, and agree, this does not make happy plans.
Very lovely harvest and very lovely flowers too! I love coreopsis!
Hello Shawn Ann,
Thanks. The yellow coreospsis is so cheerful and sunshiney.
Very nice harvest and lovely flowers. Love the beets!
Hello Jenny,
Thanks, the beets were delicious.
You always have such healthy looking plants Norma. Fabulous.
🙂 Mandy xo
Hello Mandy,
Thanks, I am enjoying my gardens.
Great harvest Norma! Interestingly I tried interplanting parsnips this year too, but it was due to lack of space. I interplanted them between the early cauliflower and cabbages and they seem to be doing great there, even the ones covered with large cabbage leaves, which hopefully will soon be gone. Of course, I don’t know yet how the parsnip roots will do in the end!
Hello Patsy,
Interplanting parsnips with cabbage and early cauliflower is a great idea, do write about the results later.
Beautiful harvests. I was supposed to grow parsnips this year, but never got around to planting them. Maybe next year. I so love the look of beets. I only wish I would like the taste. So chard is as close as I get to a beet, but I won’t even eat the stems of the chard.
Hello Daphne,
Thanks. We gardeners are an optimistic and happy bunch, there is always next year.
I was taught to use radishes to mark the planting area until the main crop grows and fills out – but I am not a huge fan of radishes, so I like your brilliant idea of using beets instead!
Hello Laura,
Most gardeners use radishes to mark the parsnips planting area but I do not need that many radishes so decided to experiment with beets, may try Swiss chard next year.
Another productive week, Norma. I love those beet greens!
Hello Angie,
Yep it was a productive week, beet greens were very tender and tasty.
In the spring I am forever trying to interplant and make the most of my space. Now that it’s summer it’s hard to fill my space. I’ll be back to looking for space in a few months. LOL.
Hello Barbie,
Interplanting allows us to get more out of our garden spaces, but I overdo it sometimes though.
I love the picture of the garlic scapes in the basket. The green is just so vibrant. 🙂 Here’s to another good growth week! Happy 4th to you this week Norma!
Hello Kristy,
Thanks. Happy 4th to you and your family too.
That is a clever idea with the beets, I’ll have to remember that. And seeing your amaranth reminds me that I wanted to try it again this year, I have to go dig out my seeds.
Hello Michelle,
Thanks, the beets worked out better than I had expected.
Beautiful, beautiful produce, and I love your oak leaf hydrangea, too!
Hello Betsy,
Thanks. Location sure makes a huge difference, the one in the photo receives full sun and has been blooming for a while another plant receiving only morning sun is still at bud stage.
Nice harvests! What a smart idea to plant beets between your parsnip rows. I’m growing amaranth for the first time this year.. just a little bit. Do you eat the amaranth leaves raw or cook them?
Hello B and B,
I cook my amaranth. If very tender, I do a quick sauté, if the leaves are more mature, then I add a bit of liquid to cook till tender. I peel the stem and cook that also.
Brilliant photos Norma. The steamed beet roots sound absolutely beautiful. Love the addition of orange zest. The broccoli is indeed a thing of beauty – as is the hydrangea!
Hello Saskia,
Thanks. Love this time of year when I can get my produce from the garden to the wok within hours of harvest.
Every time I see a picture of your garden I think about moving to a place that has dirt I can play with.
Hello Maureen,
Have you considered container gardening? It can be just as productive.
The steamed beets with ginger, orange, vinegar, and sesame oil sounds amazing!
Hello KFG,
It was delicious. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment.
Everything looks great!
Hello YC,
Thanks, I am enjoying my harvest.
Your garden continues to impress me, Norma. What a happy surprise to find beets where you thought there’d only be greens. You’ve got a green thumb and your garden reflects that. Just look at that amaranth. Beautiful! Another thing of beauty is that oak leaf hydrangea. I’ve a couple but none so fancy as that one you photographed. 🙂
Hello John,
Location, location, location. The hydrangea in the photo receives full sun and is gorgeous, the other that receives only morning sun is not doing as well and is only at bud stage, but that’s a good thing because now I have an extended blooming period.
And my favourite from today’s send is that ‘hand of cards’ of all the different lettuces; lovely photography 🙂 !
Hello Eha,
Thanks. The lettuces were still nice, tender and sweet, got them before they got bitter from the heat.
Love the kohlrabi… I should try to grow them again…
Hello Lrong,
Looking forward to photos of your kohlrabi, is this the right time to grow them in Japan?
wow that is indeed a long broccoli stalk! I do love the steamed stalk more than the florets. Great post!
Hello Lisa,
I have come across a number of people who prefer the broccoli stalk over the florets, a couple of people even refuses to eat the florets.
Happy Canada day and gardening my friend 😀
As always your garden looks full of life!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Hello Uru,
Thanks, I am enjoying watching things grow in my garden and enjoying the produces.
Happy Canada Day to you too, Norma and I hope you have a lovely Independence Day too!
What a great harvest, every time I read your blog I wish I had buttoned down and planted a few things — instead my planters on the garage roof are growing rampant with weeds. The foliage is certainly loving this weather, my ivy is growing like crazy, invading everything in its path.
Hello Eva,
It is not too late. Now, you could start some kale, Swiss chard, collard or leaf lettuce and a bit later some spinach.
Happy Canada day to you too. The weather from last few days is so nice and my tiny garden is growing well. Loved the quick cold recipe of eating beets.
Hello Balvinder,
Glad to hear your garden is growing well, do write about it and post photos.
Your beets are absolutely perfect! I am hoping against hope to have a successful beet harvest this year!
Hello Melissa,
Wishing you a successful beet harvest this year.
Great treasures in your garden, Norma! We’re over kohlrabi so I’m not going to plant them this year, but I definitely wish I’d planted more beets, as the first one we ate has been delicious. Ironic that we’re harvesting similar things in our winter to your summer – we’ve been eating broccoli and beets and lettuce leaves as well! 🙂
Hello Celia,
I believe you have a mild winter so you could probably plant beets, broccoli and lettuce during the winter months.
Love your blog and your garden! So happy I found your blog, stop by and say hi 🙂
Hello Christina,
Welcome and thanks for stopping by.
You have so much happening in your garden. Great variety. And I love the flowers too. xx
Hello Charlie,
Thanks, I typically plant a few of this and a few of that giving me a greater variety but not a large quantity of any one produce.
I love visiting your post on Monday…always curious to see your harvest…awesome Norma 🙂
Have a lovely week ahead!
Hello Juliana,
Glad you enjoy my Monday’s posts. I have fun harvesting and writing about the harvests. Have a great weekend.
Everything looks fabulous! Crazy weather continues…all the best!
Hello Jennifer,
Thanks, the weather has been hot, humid and dry, I sure hope we get some rain, a good slow steady rain would make the plants very happy.