More Window box harvest.
Johnny’s Happy Rich (F1) broccoli is a cross between broccoli and gailan (Chinese broccoli). Looks like miniature head of broccoli but has more of a gailan flavor. The entire stalk (stem, leaves and flower) is edible.
NOTE: Peel the lower part of the stem if it appears a bit woody.
Happy Rich (F1) Broccoli, 12 plants, in a 28-inch Window Box
Happy Rich (F1) Broccoli after Harvesting
Fertilized with fish emulsion fertilizer after harvesting.
Started the seeds in cell pack indoor on 3/11, transplanted into 28-inch window box on 4/19. This was the first Happy Rich harvest. Got 1+ pound.
I prefer to cut about 7 inches of each stalk leaving 2 – 3 leaves on the remaining stalk of each plant. Nice size side shoots will appear thus extending the harvest. You could choose to harvest just the florets leaving each plant with a longer stalk. The plant will send out many more side shoots but they will be skinny.
Happy Rich (F1) Broccoli Stalks, Leaves & Snap Pea Shoots
I cut the Happy Rich stems and leaves into bite-sized pieces and stir-fried with 2 thinly sliced walking onions (not in photo), couple slices of ginger in a bit of coconut oil, salt and pepper to taste and served as a side. It was tender and tasty. A keeper, planting 2 window boxes next year.
The pea shoots are side shoots after the 5/11/15 harvest. (Click on link and scroll down.) Some went into a salad, the rest are in the fridge. There is enough for a meal and I will most likely stir-fry them in the same manner as the Happy Rich and use as a side.
I prefer to treat my freshly harvested greens simple with minimal cooking. I am sure you have noticed that freshly harvested greens cook much quicker and are tastier than store bought ones but they do take a bit longer to clean.
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This is the 4th and last of the window box spinach harvest. Putting this window box to rest until fall planting.
Window Box Spinach
The window box spinach started to bolt so I pulled them all, got 8+ ounces. Look closely and you will see the flowers on the plants on the right in the above photo.
Made a spinach soup with tofu topped with a poached egg. Sorry no photo. Keep forgetting to take photos of the finished dishes before I dig in.
You see, after working in the garden and bringing in the harvest at the end of the day, I am starving, so after the meal is prepared I dive right in and thus no photo.
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Two years ago I experimented with starting my soy beans seeds in 4-inch pots and then transplant the seedlings into the garden. I was very pleased with the results, germination was good, the transplants did well and I got a head start. I also need not worry about birds and other critters feasting on my bean seeds.
Planting 3 different varieties this year – Black, Toyha and Besweet. All growing from self- saved seeds. Got the original Toyha and Besweet last year from Mary N of Mary’s Veggie Garden.
Soy Beans Seedlings
Soy Beans Seedlings
Seeds were sown in 4-inch pots, 9 seeds to a pot, on May 2, germinated on May 7. Was going away for a couple of days so took a chance and transplanted the seedlings into the garden on May 16. Sure glad they survived the 30+F nighttime temp we had Thursday night.
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Like the soy beans above, I also experimented with starting my Chinese Long Beans in 4-inch pots and also was pleased with the results.
This year I am growing 2 varieties, Green and Red Noodles. Also from self-saved seeds.
Chinese long beans are also known as yard long beans, asparagus beans and snake beans. Click here to learn more and a recipe.
Chinese Long Beans Seedlings
Red Noodles Beans Seedlings
Seeds were sown in 4-inch pots, 9 seeds to a pot, on May 2, germinated on May 7. Also took a chance (even though I knew it was not a good idea) and transplanted the seedlings into the garden on May 16. They did not like the 30+F nighttime temp we had Thursday night. The Red Noodles appear to be hardier and may recover but will suffer a set back I am sure, the Green variety is less hardy, quite wilted and may not recover. Fortunately I have extra seeds and direct sowed yesterday.
I did dig up 15 plants each of the Green and the Red Noodles seedlings Thursday afternoon and kept them in the garage, they looked OK. Replanted them yesterday will let you know how they fare.
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Failed to photograph harvests are: lettuces, garlic greens and walking onions all from the garden. Garden is finally (though slowly) producing.
Container grown potatoes as well as the ones in the garden are growing very well. Completed a 3rd and final hilling. Looking forward to harvesting new potatoes.
This weather is driving me nuts, the high tomorrow is going to be 90F. Hoping for rain.
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Happy Memorial Day, Norma!
What variety of spinach did you grow in your boxes? At Locust Grove, we pulled the Bloomsdale Long Standing as flowers were starting to form, but the Viroflay still looks good. We’ll see how those look after another bout of hot weather this week!
Hello Susan,
The spinach is Bloomsdale Long Standing.
Your spinach soup with tofu and a poached egg sounds amazing. Eggs really are the business. 🙂 I sure do wish I had access to all the deliciousness in your garden, it looks so healthy and vibrant mad yummy!
Hello Anna,
Some day when you have free time to have a garden I am sure you will do just as well if not better than I.
Having wonderful teachers like you at the click of my mouse certainly helps. 🙂
One of these years I’ll settle down and have a veggie patch just like yours.
🙂
Your garden produces so much food because you plan it so well and keep such accurate records. I’ve learned so much from you!
Hello Maureen,
Thanks, you made my day. I am really not a planner nor do I keep accurate records regularly, but I am trying.
We learn from each other.
That Happy Rich sure looks good! I grew it last year and it did well here, though not as pretty as yours. I may try it again this fall. I’ve never started beans indoors but I know others presprout them so it makes sense to sow them in pots.
Hello Dave,
When I grew Happy Rich in the garden they did not look so pretty, not sure why they are so gorgeous in the window box.
Everything looks so good! I’ve never thought about sowing beans in pots and then transplanting, but that sounds like a great idea. And I agree about simple cooking for vegetables, it nice to have just enough seasoning to bring out the flavor of the veggies but not overtake their flavor with something else.
Hello Jennifer,
Thanks, I do have better germination when starting my beans and peas in pots.
I SO hear you on the weather – the temperature swings lately are crazy! I’m loving the Happy Rich broccoli too – that spacing is really tight & I’m thinking that it would make a great, closely spaced crop in a raised bed. The typical broccoli spacing is so large that I can only fit a handful of plants into the spot I’ve allocated for them in the bed.
I’ve avoided starting beans indoors as I thought it would take up so much space, but planting 9 plants in a 4″ pot is definitely manageable – I guess they don’t mind having their roots disturbed when you have to split them apart when you transplant them?
Hello Margaret,
The beans and peas seedlings separate easily and no, I don’t think they mind having their roots disturbed.
Happy Memorial Day! I hope you’re having a great weekend! Your spinach looks fantastic! I’m amazed it grows so well in a window box. We’re hoping to get some flowers and tomatoes today. 🙂
Hello Kristy,
Happy Memorial Day to you too. What kind of tomatoes is Miss A planting this year?
She did a container tomato and cherry tomatoes. She’s also trying container strawberries. Good thing she has a green thumb! 🙂
Hello Kristy,
Good for Miss A. She will have lots of tomatoes to share this year.
I didn’t realize that you can grow broccoli in box. Always thought it would require lots of space. Those long bean seedlings are looking pretty healthy!
Hello Angie,
The plants of Happy Rich broccoli is not as large as the regular broccoli, they are more like the size of Chinese broccoli and therefore suitable for window box or other kind of containers.
I love it that you are growing things in containers. It shows people some of the possibilities. I helped my grandchildren set up container gardens in San Diego, and their harvests are topping mine. They are getting strawberries, Lebanese squash, cucumbers, deer-tonguelettuce, radishes, and carrots with other crops coming along. My little granddaughter Megan even grew corn in a container when she was in kindergarten, hand pollinating her four stalks in case the stand wasn’t dense enough to get fertilization. She got corn! This year she is in first grade and is experimenting with growing watermelon. Three-year-old Mike planted, tended, and harvested radishes. He was thrilled.
Hello Lou,
How lovely that you are teaching your grandchildren the joy of gardening. Maybe you could do a post as I am sure many bloggers with grandchildren would love to do what you are doing with your grandchildren.
lovely garden you have there.
My chinese Long beans were attacked by black ants. trying to rescue them now daily. Can’t spray neem oil coz it kills the plant 😦
Hello Kucing,
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. Sorry to hear about your Chinese long bean plants, hope you are able to rescue them. I did not know black ants attack Chinese long beans.
So lovely, Norma. There is nothing better than fresh produce! 🙂
Hello Linda,
Thanks. Totally agree, fresh produce is the best.
The spinach looks so good and you certainly had a great harvest. I love the sound of the spinach soup with a poached egg. I’m looking forward to seeing the potato harvest xx
Hello Charlie,
Yes, I did get a great harvest of spinach from the window box. Will definitely be writing my potatoes in the future posts.
The weather is totally crazy! Toronto’s temperatures stayed above freezing on Friday night but up at the cottage it actually went down to -7C (19.4F)! You’re getting some good harvests Norma, it’s still quite early in the season. Do walking onions taste differently than regular onions?
Hello Eva,
That’s winter weather, -7C, do you keep a set of winter clothing at the cottage?
Walking onions is like scallion/bunching onions, taste a bit stronger that scallion but very pleasant, I like it a lot. Use, green and white parts, in place of scallion even onion.
Yes, we have heavy sweatshirts we keep up there! Plus we saw the forecast so we brought warm jackets and shoes!
Hello Eva,
Hope it will be warmer this coming weekend.
I’m way too lazy to start beans indoors. But the good thing is if they die from being planted too early it is really easy to redo them. Right now we are getting such hot weather. I only planted my beans two days ago. I’m sure they will be really happy with out too hot weather. I’m not. I hate having to hide indoors.
Hello Daphne,
Not only is it waaaaay too hot for this time of year it is also very dry, sure hope we get some rain a good soaking would be nice.
Broccoli and spinach are my favorite veggies, so when I saw you growing them I got so excited. I think I will take your advice and think about growing inside my apartment. I love this Ms. Norma.
Hello Kay,
The broccoli in the post is not the regular broccoli but a cross between broccoli and gailan (Chinese broccoli).
Lovely seeing some broccoli being picked by you! Our heads have started but now it’s a race until they bolt. It’s been a hot last week so hopefully it cools down so the broccoli has a few more weeks to grow!
Hello Pamela,
Weather has been really crazy, we are either way below normal or way above normal, cool weather crops are not at all happy.
OMG Norma, I love your window box harvest, as you inspired me to have some at my balcony and I hope to share with you soon…
Have a great day 🙂
Hello Juliana,
Looking forward to reading about your window boxes and harvest. A great day to you too.
I haven’t been able to visit my favorite bloggers, you being one of those! I love that you’re still pottering away growing such beautiful rich veggies! The flavors must be fantastic when you stir-fry them that way!
Hello Barbara,
Time seems to be flying by faster and faster, hard to believe June 1 is only 2 days away, impossible to do all we wish to do daily. Thanks for considering me one of your favorite bloggers. Yes, I am still pottering away and focusing more on container gardening.
To have fresh broccoli must be wonderful and not to mention that it’s such a healthy veggie! As usually, your harvest is beautiful!
Hello Sandra,
Oh yes, the Happy Rich broccoli were delicious, I am planting 2 window boxes of them this fall.
hmm, isn’t it too early to harvest the broccoli norma ?
Hello Dedy,
Happy Rich broccoli is more like Chinese broccoli (gailan), the head does not get any bigger.
Your gailan looks so tender, bright green and delicious. Actually, all your veggies look so nice. I can’t wait to see how your red long beans are doing. I just bought some at the market to make a dry bean and pork stirfry, so nice. They seem to be a little more tender the green long bean variety. Happy harvesting and cooking!
Hello Bam,
There are quite a few varieties of the green Chinese long beans, some more tender that other, some crispier and some are chewy. Try different vendor to see who carries the ones you like best.
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Hi Norma,
Are the leaves of kohlrabi edible? Thank you.
Hello HN,
The tender leaves of kohlrabi are edible.
Thank you Norma for your reply 🙂
Hello HN,
You are welcomed.