2012 crop review

Beets. I grew a lot of different varieties this year. Bulls Blood, Detroit Red and White, Chiogga, Lutz, Cylindra, Early Wonder, Red Ace, Round Red Merlin, Blankoma. I like them all! But it was not a great year for my beets. I just never had enough of them. I planted a great crop for my parents. In March, I direct seeded a good thick row of Detroit Red in their garden. They came up well and produced all season and my parents were really happy with them. They gave me several bunches. Next year - MORE beets in my garden!

Broccoli. Super crop, again. I have have several really good years of broccoli. I grew "Diplomat" this year. Very nice. I plant it early under lights and it gives a nice big head and them side shoots til October. My fall crop was not worth the effort, especially since the spring one was still producing and I love the small side shoots. I had a 4 x 4 foot patch with 12 plants.

Bok Choi. I am almost jumping up and down about finding two SUPER varieties of bok choy this year! I love bok choy stir fried with garlic and ginger and in a nice sauce, in fried rice, or grilled outside with a peanut marinade. Win-Win Choi is a big plant with lovely white stems and deep green leaves. Mei Qing Choi is a "baby choi" that doesn't bolt even if its gets big - super for grilling. Yummy, yummy, yummy .....

Cabbage. Another super crop. I grew Savoy (Alcosa), Napa, and Red (Super Red 80). These worked well both as spring and fall crops. I love these three varieties for cole slaw and salads. Also braised along side a roast. I don't eat that much cabbage, but a few heads are really nice to have as they are one of the prettiest plants in the garden.

savoy cabbage

I harvested this beautiful cabbage head a few days ago. I'm looking for a good recipe as I have a special guest visiting this weekend. Any suggestions?

I'm thinking of maybe an apple and cabbage coleslaw served in the cabbage leaves. ... Some tangy green apples, with a few carrots, raisins and onions added. Maybe this recipe: Yummly Apple Raisin Cole Slaw Recipe.

bok choy varieties

Bok choy, Win-Win Choi

Bok choy, Mei Qing Choi

I have finally found a really great bok choi variety. Win-Win Choi is sooooo good! It looks beautiful in my garden and is fantastic stir-fried with garlic, ginger. One of my favorite vegetables!

I haven't tried my Mei Qing Choi yet. It seems maybe its taking longer to mature and doesn't have the nice white stems. I am looking forward to trying it.

Other varieties I have tried have bolted fast, or have been too cabbagy. I may fill my garden with yummy Win-Win!

radicchio

I am very pleased with the radicchio I have this year. Even though only one in five plants headed, one head goes a long way. And its a beautiful red in our salads.

Most of my radicchio bolted - probably because the season warmed up so fast. My Chinese cabbage (Wong Bok), which is supposed to be a big head, didn't head at all. Just big furry leaves and then bolted into a big flower stalk. It made for lots of fresh greens for the compost pile. My savoy and red cabbage didn't have any trouble with the weather though. The savoy heads are ready for harvest, the reds will need a few more weeks.

This radicchio variety is Palla Rossa Ashalim (Botanical Interests) planted from seed on March 23. From the drawing on the seed package, it seems it should be a round head. Maybe my elongated heads are from the warm weather.

mexican cole claw

I got the idea for this Mexican cole slaw recipe from a TV show on fish tacos. Its great with any kind of tacos - and maybe even any meal. Perfect with fresh homegrown cabbage. The unexpected combination of cabbage, lime juice and cilantro is just fantastic.

RECIPE
1 cup cabbage, sliced
1 scallion, chopped
1 tsp lime juice
2 tsp sour cream
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 slices pickled jalapenos

Mix all ingredients. Use more or less of everything to your taste, but don't use too much sour cream (or jalapenos!). Makes 2 servings.

harvesting my first cabbage

More photos I took with my foggy lens. I mostly grew cabbage because they are such beautiful plants. This is Super Red 80 from seed from Johnny's.

I'm also growing Alcosa, a blue green savoy type, also from Johnny's seed.