Not a bad harvest week. The Ruby Streak Mustard was showing signs of bolting so cut all the plants (2 leaves above the ground to see if the plant will send out side shoots).
Ruby Streak Mustard
We have been experiencing above average temperature (until yesterday), because of the high temperature the Ruby Streak Mustard is more green than purple. Will sow a fall crop hoping to get real purple leaves as shown in the catalog.
Uncooked, the Ruby Streak has a strong mustard flavor, cooked, it is mild. I cut them into bite-sized pieces stir-fried together with thinly sliced garlic green flavored with a few slices of fresh ginger, salt and pepper to taste. Liked the taste a lot, a keeper.
To learn about garlic green, click here. For a recipe using garlic green, click here.
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I always allow some of my mustard plants, both Red Giant and Green to go to seed. They self sow in the spring. For the past few weeks, there were mustard seedlings scattered all over the garden, the garden looked untidy but that does not bother me. When I am ready to plant in a certain area I pull them leaving the others to grow until I need the space.
The pulled seedlings, all freebies, are used in salad, soup or stir-fry.
Red Giant Mustard
The Red Giant Mustard in the above photo are all volunteers, most started to bolt due to the high temperature.
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Sweet potatoes are not planted into the ground until end of May. To maximize my garden space, in early spring, I transplanted my lettuce seedlings into the bed where I will be growing sweet potatoes, marking the spots where the sweet potatoes will be planted and plant around them. As you can see from the photo below it is getting crowded now.
Okinawan Sweet Potato (left), Purple Sweet Potato (right), Lettuces & a Volunteer Red Giant Mustard
The lettuce at the top left is Deer Tongue, the other 3 are red sail (I think), middle one is Forellenschluss. bottom 2 are Cimmaron and another deer tongue at bottom right.
Portion of the Lettuces Harvest
I pulled the whole head of lettuces closest to the sweet potatoes and harvest just the outer leaves of the others, they too will be pulled in a few days as the sweet potato vines grow and need more space. Pulled the volunteer red giant mustard also. Shared the harvest with my neighbours.
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Garlic Greens, Ruby Streak Mustard, Red Rib Dandelion, Chive Flowers, Thyme Flowers & Snap Peas Shoots
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Made a simple salad dressed with balsamic vinegar, EVOO and S&P to taste.
Lettuce Salad with Chick Peas Sprouts, Snap Peas Shoots, Red Rib Dandelion & Pomegranate Seeds
Remembered to take photo before digging in. The chick peas sprouts and pomegranate seeds are from the freezer. Click here to learn about chick peas sprouts.
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Tomato plants love the heat and are thriving. Few years ago a garden blogger wrote about putting 2 tablespoons each of bone meal and epsom salt at the bottom of each tomato hole, I have been doing that for the past 2 years and my tomatoes did very well so am doing the same again this year.
Sorry I forgot who the blogger was and unable to give credit. If you are one of my reader please identify yourself so I can give you credit or if one of my readers remember who the blogger is please let me know.
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Hilled and mulched potatoes and doing very well.
Potatoes
Growing 4 varieties this year – Blue, Adirondack Blue, Adirondack Red & Fingerlings.
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Transplanted soy beans and Chinese long beans seedlings update.
Soybeans
Soy Beans seedlings did not suffer any damage from the cold snap we had on May 21
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Chinese Long Beans
Chinese long bean seedlings did suffer damages. The good news is most of them bounced back (but most likely are set back at least a week). The seeds that I replanted sprouted and that’s also good news.
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One of my favorite flowers
Mountain Laurel
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Garden to Wok 
You are the BEST gardener! Those ruby streak mustard leaves look so cool.
Hello Angie,
Don’t know about that. The ruby streak mustard, according to the picture in the catalog, should be more purple, will see if the cool fall weather will accomplish that when I plant my fall crop.
Some of my mizuna is starting to bolt too. Though it isn’t a red variety so it is a little more heat resistant. I’ve got to pull that bed in a week, so it is not big deal. I like how you use the space around the sweet potatoes. Last year mine took until the end of June to really take off and use the space in the bed.
Hello Daphne,
My sweet potatoes are slow to take off also but once established they take off really fast.
Oh I have such envy when I read your garden posts. Knowing you have a decent kitchen to cook all this stuff in makes me feel good.
Hello Maureen,
I am sure if you had the time you would have a beautiful and bountiful garden too.
Oh wow, what a beautiful flower mountain laurel is! I have been working on planting a few veg this winter so thank you always for your wonderfully motivating Monday posts.
Have a super week ahead Norma.
🙂 Mandy xo
Hello Mandy,
Mountain laurel is one of the most beautiful flowers, unfortunately deer love the plant and so I must fence it in which distract from its beauty. Looking forward to reading about the veggies in your garden.
All your plants are look so healthy! I love the idea of planting the lettuce with the sweet potatoes and I think I will try it this year too. I need to plant my sweet potatoes this week, and I have quite a few lettuce seedlings too.
Hello Dave,
I have very limited garden space so must think of ways to utilize it more efficiently.
What beautiful greens, and the mountain laurel is STUNNING.
Hello Jennifer,
Thanks.
Your garden is so far ahead of mine – I’m especially envious of the tomatoes. My plants are so tiny, but I got them into the ground a couple of days ago (just in time for this cool weather…ugh) and I’m hoping that they do better once the weather warms up now that they are outside.
Hello Margaret,
This weather is driving me nuts. House was so cold, had to turn the heat back on. Not sure how the plants are reacting to this yo-yoing weather. Hope tomatoes, SP and beans do not suffer set back.
I know what you mean same here. Already I think I lost one tomato plant and another is struggling to hold up. This 3 day rain saves me time and energy from watering the garden myself 🙂
Hello REA,
Glad to have the rain but sure wish the night time temp did not drop so low.
Very interesting mustard greens. I see your garden is in full swing. Salad looks good.
Hello REA,
Yes, my garden is coming along pretty nicely, finally got rain so expecting good growth.
Your garden is looking great despite the hot weather. I’m going to remember your trick about starting soybeans in pots. Last time I tried them we got a couple days of cold rain like now and emergence completely stopped. The ones that emerged grew on but not another seed sprouted. Starting them in pots would avoid that risk.
Hello David,
I am pleased with the results of starting soy beans, beans and peas in pots. Have made my gardening life easier and I get a head start.
Your frilly red mustard looks like a red Mizuna. Since Mizuna is a mustard, are they the same? I got some freebie mustards this year that self-sowed from a meclun mix last year. They have bolted now. I am wondering if I should let them self sow again, or give them to the chickens and put something else there. Guess which way the chickens are voting!
Hello Lou,
I believe some seed catalog refers to it as red Mizuna. Why not allow a few to self sow and give the remainder to the chicken.
Chick pea sprouts look amazing, I will try those some time (didn’t realize you could freeze them and have them come out so well).
Hello Susie,
Thanks, yes you can freeze the chickpeas sprouts and thaw and use as needed, very easy and convenient.
The salad looks delicious, love the idea of self sow veg, I have some New Zealand Spinach seedlings all over the east garden, I didn’t have to start seeds at all.
Hello Mac,
I did not like the texture of New Zealand spinach so got rid of them.
What a gorgeous salad, Norma! The pomegranate seeds and chive blossoms really bring out the red streaks in the Forellenschluss lettuce. So pretty, and I bet it was delicious!
Hello Susan,
Thanks. Yep it was delicious.
I really like your idea of planting lettuce and premarking a space for sweet potato as it will keep the soil covered from water evaporation…the only setback for us is: sweet potato needs high temperature before we can plant them out, but by then, our lettuces have already all bolted!! and sweet potato do take a while to spreads out:( I wonder if you ever used other plants in place of lettuces?
Hello Annie,
I have used other plants as well depending on what short season crop seedlings I have on hand at the time. Radishes would work also. I have also planted garlic, when I remember to plan ahead in the fall, and use the young garlic plants as green garlic.
It’s been colder here than normal and I’m not enjoying it. We aren’t prepared for cold weather and have nothing to wear! Your salad looks very good and well done on remembering to photograph it. I do love pomegranate seeds and didn’t know you could freeze them xx
Hello Charlie,
How cold does it get where you are? Do you ever get snow? I love pomegranate seeds but can only eat so much, not wanting to waste I experimented with freezing and find it acceptable and so convenient.
I’m so jealous!!! We’re way behind here, because of so much rain! Waiting patiently!
Hello Mimi,
Hope it has stopped raining in your area and you are now able to start planting.
I love the mountain laurel! Just beautiful! Your salad looked delicious. So simple and healthy and all from your own garden. Fabulous!
Hello Kristy,
Yes, everything except the pomegranate (store bought) was from my garden. The chickpeas sprouts were from my winter kitchen garden.
I absolutely love a simple salad Ms. Norma. And yours looks amazing. And when I say, I always learn something here, I really meant it. I never heard if Ruby Streak Mustard before. I definitely want to know more. Your garden looks amazing. You do an absolutely amazing job with it.
Hello Kay,
Thanks for your compliments. This is the first year I am growing Ruby Streak Mustard so I am learning also.
I really like your tomato cages, I have the cones, but they dont really handle the plants very well when the plants are in full production. Had a few collapse last season. The salad looks crazy amazing, lovely vibrant colours. Soak up some warmth for me please, my days have been starting well in the minus’ this week, its awful.
Hello Anna,
I got the tomato cages from http://www.gardeners.com/ very sturdy and folds easily for storage.
Know what you mean bout the cold weather, hope your winter does not last as long as ours.
Wow! Ruby Streak Mustard is so pretty. I love the color and the shape of the leaves. Lovely harvests this week and your garden starts look so healthy and happy.
Hello Rachel,
Thanks. Hoping the fall planting of Ruby Streak mustard will be more purple.
Another awesome harvest Norma…and your salad looks so pretty, colorful…
Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Hello Juliana,
Thanks and a super weekend to you too.
awesome, nothing fresher than the freshly picked salad from your own garden….
Hello Dedy,
Thanks. How is your micro greens doing?
Lovely harvest as usual Norma, loved the colorful salad.
Hello Amira,
Thanks.
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I was given this The Ruby Streak Mustard by a neighbor in the garden & loved the real flavor in it too! 🙂 MMMMMM!
A lovely produce! 🙂
Hello Sophie,
You could still do a planting if there is space in your garden.