Weekly root harvest
I can’t say we’re down to the dregs as far as the root crops go, but vegetables are dropping off the harvest list. I used the last of the celeriac last week, meaning I need to plant more for next winter. Daikon and Black Spanish radish are dim memories now too.
At this point in the cycle if the vegetables succumbed to freezing during the winter, they are mush or totally nonexistent.
A quick cleanup reveals roots in good shape.
If you’re planning on saving seed from your biennial vegetables, now is the time to start selecting roots for replanting in the spring garden. Choose roots that exhibit the traits that you want, and eat the ones that don’t. When I trial a vegetable, I plant the varieties I am trialing at the same time, usually in a double row side by side. By doing that, I can see how the vegetable does in my particular conditions. Last summer I planted Turga and Andover parsnip side by side. I posted about this here in a earlier post. Most of these are for Della, but we eat them too, I cannot tell any difference in the taste. But Turga put on much more root than the Andover. However, Turga is showing some signs of canker susceptibility. It could be seed borne, or just that this variety is more prone to that. By planting my rows together and subjecting them to the same conditions, I can more easily decide if I should run around like a chicken with my head cut off squawking about plant disease, or realize that since I have not seen this in any other variety I have grown, it is more likely the variety.
If I choose to keep this variety, then I will need to select the roots that do not have any canker and see if I can “breed” this trait out, by selecting the best roots that have done well in my soil conditions. I also am not selling these, they are for my family cow, so a blemish here or there is not the end of the world.
They don’t clean up too bad. Under the soil the roots still have greens too – soon though, these will begin growing as the soil starts to warm up.
Food Renegade
Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op
Thanks for the ‘root’ lesson.
Mrs. Mac, you’re welcome!
I pulled my carrots and beets earlier this month and stored them for continued use. I’ve been lucky that they store well in the ground even through some freezing and snow, but this year there hasn’t been much of that to contend with. If I trusted the weather I’d start planting, but there is the off chance we’ll get another freeze so I’ll wait until the end of March like I usually do. – Margy
Margy, our roots seem to be holding out good too – despite the warmer weather of late. I don’t trust the weather though, like you say, I am waiting. Spring is often fery wet and cold here too.
Beautiful roots! What is it you’re using to keep them off the ground? I see the heavy-gauge netting underneath them, but what is holding up the netting? Is there some kind of frame?
Chris, my “washstand” is just a left over piece of wire, (1/2″ x 2″ I believe) positioned over two sawhorses. It’s portable and I can move it easily when I need to mow, or just put it away. It is the same wire used for making rabbit cages etc., Gateway Hardware/Sidesaddle Tack should have it. They will cut a roll any size you want, or if they don’t Burns Feedstore for sure has it.
That look on the dogs face is priceless!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/
Linda, they pretend they are love me, but I know it is the food they’re after
I adore celeriac and would love to grow some, but Seeds Of Change, where I put in my order this year, didn’t have it in stock (except in the huge, acre-sized bags). I can’t find it at any local garden store either. Do you have a recommendation for where to get it?
Yesterday, we were at the grocery store, and I saw a celery root and exclaimed. My girlfriend said, “Can you just cut it up and plant it, like a potato?” I eyed it long and hard…
Joshua, Fedco may still have it, and I am pretty sure Johnny’s or Territorial still does. I’m not recommending this, but you could plant one (don’t cut it up like a potato) from the store and save seeds from it this year. But you have no way of knowing if it was a hybrid or not, so the seeds may or may not yield the best results.
I like the set up you have for rinsing your veggies. Clever! The last picture is the BEST!