Window box Early Wonder Beets grew quite a bit since my June 6 post in which I wondered if I harvested some of the leaves will the beet roots be affected.
Early Wonder Beets
This past week I decided to harvest about 50% of the beet leaves from the plants on the right in the window box (harvested the outer leaves of each plant, photo below).
Early Wonder Beets
Hard to see from the photo above but there are baby beet roots forming already.
Early Wonder Beet Greens
The beet greens are in the fridge for now and will most likely end up in the freezer for later enjoyment.
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The carrots I transplanted early May were eaten by critters which, sadly, would have ended my experiment. Fortunately Locust Grove Heritage Vegetable Garden (where I volunteer) came to the rescue.
On Thursday, one of the task I did at LGHVG was thinning the carrots. I collected the carrots thinning, brought them home, trimmed the roots and transplanted them. Unfortunately the weather has been very HOT and dry. I did water thoroughly after transplanting, but will they survive the heat on top of the transplant shock? Maybe I should have trimmed away some of the leaves also, ah well, too late.
Some of the carrot thinnings from LGHVG
I trimmed away the very thin end of each root before transplanting into the garden. Hope nothing disturbs them.
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Garlic scapes are fat and tender.
Garlic Scape
Shared most of the garlic scapes with friends. The above photo is showing a portion of the harvest.
Garlic Scape
I cut away and discarded the pointed tip of the scape, the remainder, including the bud, is tender and edible.
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Window box Win Win Choy started to bolt so harvested all.
I do like the flavor and texture of this bok choy plus it does well in window box, definitely growing a fall crop and again in window boxes.
Win Win Choy
Win Win Choy went into the fridge to be enjoyed later. Will most likely do a simple stir-fry. A busy time in the garden so not much cooking going on.
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Am having major issues with critters digging in my garden beds and window boxes, not only are they (whatever they are) disturbing the seedlings/plants even overturned some of the window boxes. They were dining on my peas and carrots seedlings and also feasting on my strawberries.
Had lots and lots of strawberries on the plants and I was so looking forward to a good strawberry year. They were starting to color, big, red, vine ripened strawberries should be ready to harvest in a few days, I was drooling every time I walk by the strawberry bed. Then overnight (so it seems), they all disappeared, not a single one left.
Set a Havahart trap with an apple hoping to trap the woodchuck that comes to visit. I noticed the apple was partially eaten but the trap door was not triggered, how could that be? The mystery was solved yesterday when I saw a chipmunk enter and exit the trap from the back through the holes, clever critter, got to give it credit.
Havahart Trap
Still waiting for the woodchuck to enter the trap.
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Dianthus
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Too bad about the strawberries. If you are not sentimental, a mouse trap will take care of the chipmunk, although there are probably an endless supply of them. I like the Win-Win Choi as well but probably won’t plant until fall.
Hello Dave,
I have so many chipmunks dashing about I will need a case of mouse traps 🙂
Your harvest looks great Norma, too bad about the critters though. Our herbs are doing amazing. Oscar still has two lemons and they are beginning to turn yellow although the are still pretty small (~2.5-3″ long). He has several blooms too! Figgy is developing a great canopy but I don’t see any promising fig buds yet, although it may still be too early. I have a gorgeous red pepper plant with 3 peppers as well as a jalopeño with several jalopeños growing (they were a gift from the Frankie Flowers from the City Line Show).
Hello Eva,
I keep telling myself the critters were here before me and I am actually taking over their territory.
I see you are having a productive garden season. Your Meyer lemons sounds like pretty good sizes. Hope the blooms form fruits.
I’ve had good luck trapping the groundhogs here and relocating them. It usually takes a week or so before they take the bait, and I do occasionally catch an opossum or raccoon first. We also trapped them at our big MG veggie garden where they were wiping out lots of food destined for the food pantry. I’ve tried eating beet leaves, but they taste like chard to me and I just don’t care for the taste. I can eat the roots though, especially when pickled.
Hello Dave,
What do you use as bait for the woodchuck?
I have never had any luck growing carrots…and my cats just destroyed one of my zucchini plants..sighs…those beet leaves look great!
Hello Angie,
I do not have luck with direct sow carrots in the garden but am successful in containers, may be you should give container a try.
Lovely greens – like you I am freezing a good chunk of the greens coming out of the garden to use in the winter. I’m struggling through this hot dry weather too…we are supposed to get a nice big rainstorm this afternoon…I (and my garden) are very looking forward to that!
Hello Margaret,
Did you get your nice big rainstorm? No rain in sight for us yet.
NO! In the morning their was a 70% chance, but that number kept going down as the day wore on and we didn’t end up receiving a drop. I was so disappointed 😦
Hello Margaret,
That’s too bad. We are due for a thunderstorm on Thursday but I am not holding my breath. More high 80’s and 90’s temperature in the forecast, hoping for rain.
Your beet greens and bok choy look lovely, Ms. Norma!
Hello Chhaya,
Thanks.
I want to see what recipe you come up with the beet greens. Another beautiful harvest. 🙂
Hello Ray,
I lacked the time so I blanched the beet greens and put them in the freezer later I will combine them with the roots and make a borscht. With tender and freshly harvested beet greens I would cooked them like I would spinach.
Sorry, not sure why it didn’t take my comment correctly the first time.
Beautiful blog with some gorgeous picture…happy to have discovered your blog:))
Hello Cookingwithshy,
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. Glad you like my blog.
What an incredible harvest Norma, very jealous of your delicious bounty of goodness. The middle of winter fruit and vegetables dont inspire me much. What will you do with the Win Win Choy?
Hello Anna,
Before you know it spring will arrive at your neck of the wood and you will be enjoying all the bounty spring has to offer. Haven’t done anything with the Win Win Choy yet, but because it is so fresh and tender I will most likely just do a simple saute like I would spinach.
I’m so sorry to hear about your strawberries! How terrible! That chipmunk certainly is clever. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woodchuck! xx
Hello Charrlie,
Woodchuck is also known as groundhog, it may not exist where you are.
Not a good gardening week, sorry about that. Pesky woodchucks…they are a real problem in the garden. You might try putting peanut butter on the apple or using cantaloupe as bait. What might also be totally irresistible is a carrot that it seems to enjoy.
Hello Karen,
Am going to try peanut butter on the apple, thanks for the idea.
Sounds like one crafty chipmunk indeed. LoL! Although, such a shame about your strawberry crop, that would have been so disheartening.
Hello Anna,
That’s part of the fun and challenges of gardening.
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