Surprised Harvest!
While cleaning up my garden beds and turning over the soil, came upon a bed of carrots. They were planted too late last year and was not worth the effort to harvest. I never got around to putting that area of the garden to bed for the season and the carrots must have grown over the winter. As you can see from the photo below they are pretty good sizes.
Parsnip, Carrots & Chioggia Beet
Dug up 1 parsnip that I missed last week, 5½ pounds of carrots (mostly orange, one white, one yellow & few purple) and 1 chioggia beet.
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The Walking Onions were gifts from Diary of a Tomato and Mary N, Mary’s Veggie Garden I planted them in different areas of my garden so see where they would be the happiest. They grew in shade and partial shade but prefer full sun.
Walking Onion
Walking Onion
Don’t know a lot about using walking onion so will be learning and experimenting. Will write a post about them at a later date. The ones above will be used as scallions substitute.
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Finally got my snap peas seedlings into the ground, need to get the trellis in place before the plants get too tall. Ideally I should put the trellis in before planting but time was not on my side.
Portion of my Snap Peas
The upside down clay pot in the upper right hand corner in the photo above is covering my emerging Chinese chives also known as garlic chives. This will blanch the chives resulting in tender and mild chives much prized in Chinese cooking.
For the past few years Mac of High Dessert Garden would post photos of her blanched Chinese chives which meant I was too late to blanch mine. Last year I wrote myself a reminder note and in a week or two, hopefully, I will have blanched Chinese chives.
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The bok choy and shanghai bok choy were transplanted into window boxes on 4/3/15 and are doing well.
Top: Shanghai Bok Choy. Bottom: Baby Bok Choy
There are way too many plants in the window boxes for both the Shanghai Bok Choy and Baby Bok Choy, I will harvest every other plant when it becomes overcrowded.
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Weeded the garlic beds sprinkled on some Espoma garden tone fertilizer then mulched the beds with crushed leaves.
German White Garlic
The photo above is of the German White Garlic. They are looking good and happy.
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My friend Nancy gave me a bunch of Ramps last spring. A few had roots so I planted those to see if they would grow in my garden. They did and are looking very happy, I am happy too.
Ramps
I must wait until next year to harvest any ramp. From what I read I should really wait until the year after.
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Came upon lemongrass, a bunch of 3 selling for $1.00. They looked kinda half dead but figured for $1.00 why not try to see if they will root. Removed and discard the dried outer leaves placed the cleaned stalks in water and lo and behold they rooted. Wish I had bought more so I could share with friends, next time.
Rooting Lemongrass in Water
Potted up the rooted Lemongrass. Will be growing them as ornamental among my flowers.
Lemongrass
All 3 stalks have sent out babies. If there are multiple babies to a stalk I may try to separate them to see if I can get multiple plants from one stalk.
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It was awfully cold (winter like) and blustery both Thursday and Friday. Some of my potatoes in foam ice chests on the driveway were damaged.
Damaged Blue Potatoes in Foam Ice Chest
The damaged potato has suffered a bit of set back but will bounce back, new leaves will emerge and there will be potatoes to harvest.
Would be interesting to see if there is any significant difference in yield between the undamaged plant on the left and the damaged plant on the right.
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Purple sweet potatoes grow very well at Locust Grove Heritage Vegetable Garden. Mary N and I grow them successful in our gardens as well.
Both Mary and I are Dutchess County Master Gardener Volunteers and are currently involved with the plant sale to be held in May (info below).
During Monday’s work session, we thought since we both have extra purple sweet potato slips why not pot up some for the plant sale.
Purple Sweet Potato
We got the OK and are potting up one (1) flat, 14 plants. If they sell well, next year we will plan on potting up more.
Below is the CCE Dutchess County Plant Sale information:
Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County
Master Gardener Volunteers Plant Sale
May 15 – 16, 2015
Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Farm & Home Center
2715 Route 44, Millbrook, NY
845-677-8223 ext 115
To view the Plant List, go to: http://ccedutchess.org/gardening/event-detail.php?event=2015-05-15-2015-master-gardener-plant-sale
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Daffodils
Daffodil
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 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 
Are those walking onions taste like spring onions? Those root veggies would make a great roasted veggie dinner with some quinoa.
Hello Angie,
They taste more like scallion a little stronger flavor but very nice I like it a lot. Never thought of adding quinoa to my roasted root veggies, will try that.
There is nothing quite like a springtime surprise!
Hello Slvrhawk,
thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
Always so many inspirational things happening in your garden Norma.
Have a beautiful and happy week ahead.
🙂 Mandy xo
Hello Mandy,
Yes, lots are happening in the garden this time of year it’s a busy time but happy busy. Happy week to you too.
The lemongrass I bought this year was pretty dried out too but it all rooted. I think it was selling for $1.99/lb, and I got enough to make 2 clumps, one for a container and another I’ll plant in the ground. It’s a bargain compared to what the plants cost in a garden center.
Your potting up the extra sweet potatoes reminded me of when I was involved with our MG group. I would save my extra plants too for our plant sale. I dug up blackberries one year. They all sold. It’s a good way to get great plants, often varieties you can’t easily find elsewhere since MG’s tend to grow interesting things I think. I’ll bet folks will enjoy those purple sweet potatoes – I know I sure do!
Hello Dave,
Oh yes, we MG’s love to grow interesting things. We are hoping the purple SP will sell well.
I hadn’t thought about rooting lemon grass from the store. That is a really good idea.
Hello Daphne,
They root very easily and as Dave said a bargain compared to what the plants cost in a garden center.
I grew walking onions many years ago but can’t really remember anything about them – I’ll be following your posts on that one to see how you find them. So how did the carrots taste after being in the ground all winter – were they woody? I think it would be pretty wonderful if you could leave a bunch of carrots in the ground and have some fresh ones in the spring.
Hello Margaret,
No the carrots were not at all woody, I thought they would be sweeter but perhaps it is because they were sprouting or perhaps it is the variety.
Yummy, love seeing what you’re picking! We just planted our onion seedlings a few weeks ago, this year we’re growing many more than usual! Yesterday we planted the radish and carrot seeds and got the containers ready for the tomatoes and tomatillos that will be going in soon! This year we’ll be trying garlic for the first time, excited for that!
Hello Pamela,
I was just thinking today that I ought to plant my onions and leeks seedlings. Garlic are very easy to grow and very rewarding, I will be eating green garlic soon then on to garlic scape finally the garlic heads.
What a good harvest and it seems there’s so much going on in your garden at the moment. I love the photo of the root vegetables – so many colours, shapes and sizes xx
Hello Charlie,
Thanks, and totally unexpected. The carrots were not at all woody. Think I will do the same again this fall.
Your garden is going off, Norma. What a treat. Spring really is the best season! I am keen to plant some garlic chives, although I have no clue if I have missed the perfect opportunity to grow them?
Hello Anna,
You can plant garlic chives anytime. You can start from seeds but the best way is to get a clump from a garden friend. If you do get a clump and it sends out garlic flowers, harvest the stalks at the bud stage and enjoy the buds and stems.
I’ll be anxious to see how your lemon grass does! You got quite a deal!
Hello Sandra,
Will post update. Too bad I did not buy the whole bucket, we could sell them at the plant sale.
Very recently, my friend brought with her my request of lemon grass from oriental store in UK when she came over to visit us here. I hope to grow them but saw it was rootless, and half dead as you described! Now, I’m hopeful that it will take off:) Thanks, Norma, for sharing your timely experience. A dozen of them are sitting in a cup of water!! My goodness…what shall I do with them all next?!!
Been anxious about my new introduction to walking onions planted in the garden recently too… but more hopeful now that they’re in the right area, after reading your post.
Your ramp looks good! Looking forward on how you’re going to use them too 🙂
Hello Annie,
Lemon grass are lovely interplanted in the flower beds. Will be another year or 2 before I can harvest any of the ramp.
Your harvest seems to be going wonderfully my friend, the veggies look so fresh! And the daffodils are adorable 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Hello Uru,
The daffodils are exception this year guess they like the extended cold weather.
Wow Norma, you are doing awesome with your garden! Thanks so much for showing us the lemongrass trick. I am so doing that next time I get a bunch! I use a lot of lemongrass as we mostly cook Asian dishes at home and my boys love Thai cuisine.
Hello Bam,
The lemongrass roots really easily and grows very fast, you will have fun growing them. How are your container herbs doing?
My container herbs are doing well. Except for my basil, I think I have made too much pesto in the last couple of weeks and have not allowed enough time for regrowth in between… Can’t wait to try the lemongrass idea!
Hello Bam,
Hope your basil recover. In the future you will need to plant multiple pots of basil for your needs.
You know, I don’t much about walking onions either. I’ve heard of them but always wondered what to do with them. I can’t wait to see how you grow them, and how you incorporate them in a meal as well Ms. Norma :). I hope to see you at my new blog next week.
Hello Kay,
I use them as scallion substitute, a bit stronger in flavor than scallion but it is a pleasant taste. Looking forward to seeing your new blog.
good gardening Norma,btw my micro herbs is turned out well to …
Hello Dedy,
Glad to learn that your micro herbs are doing well.
yup, it’s much more fresh n cheaper than the store brough micro herbs
I love springtime at your place. I don’t know how you have time to scratch your nose with all that work going on. I’ve never heard of walking onions and now I have to go look them up.
Hello Maureen,
I never knew about walking onions until couple years ago and mentioned in one of my blog post that I need to locate some to learn more about it and that’s how I got the gifts last year. Gardeners love to share and are the most generous people.
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