I remember thinking last year at the end of June, beginning of July that there this is this space of time in the gardening cycle where we just seem to be waiting after the spring crops are coming to an end. Perhaps I should add some other greens and go back to snap peas as the shell peas are wonderfully fun for the children but would require a lot of space to amount to enough for us all to eat. Any suggestions for something to fill in that gap to plan for next year?
Maybe bok choy? Or carrots? You could probably plant carrots pretty early, and then have them ready to start thinning right around now. We like swiss chard and beet greens too, or baby beets.
ReplyDeleteI am usually full of zucchini right now but for some reason am having a really hard time with it this year. I've had to replant a few times and now I have lots of pretty flowers but very few zucchini. I am having to actually get it form other people to make zucchini bread to sell at the market.
ReplyDeleteI love zucchini patties and roasted zuc and stuffed zuc and grilled zuc.... There is SO much to do with it. Get creative and enjoy!
so lucky, I planted mine a bit late this year and I am still a few weeks away from zucchini:(
ReplyDeleteHi Tonya,
ReplyDeleteOh, I get what you're saying!
Right now, along with lettuce and kale, we are eating swiss chard, beets, and beet greens, and young potatoes. :)
I am excitedly waiting for our other crops to be ready too! I do love kale, so am happy to keep eating it, but some variety is nice too.
ReplyDeleteI think sugar snap peas would be a good idea, we usually plant them, but didn't this year. And next year I think we do some radishes, we picked some up at the market this weekend and roasted them for dinner last night..yum!
Enjoy all your garden goodness.
Tonya...I'm curious as to what your replies will be, also. One idea, and it may sound daunting or expensive, and it doesn't have to be either, but is to make a greenhouse or hoophouse. We are eating cucumbers daily right now, and basil, from our rickety greenhouse. We love our "greenhouse salads".
ReplyDeletexo Jules
I know you aren't looking for zucchini suggestions yet, but here is one: http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/07/herbed-summer-squash-and-potato-torte/
ReplyDeleteI am getting Swiss chard, snap peas, shelling peas, spinach, different lettuces, and a small amount of zucchini from our CSA. And bok choy.
ReplyDeleteLove the goat photos too!
CathyT
I just learned that snap pea have fully edible plants. The greens and flowers actually sell for more per pound then the peas themselves.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Swiss Chard? We are getting lots of that right now and it gives all season. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteIs that lamb's quarters that I see growing in the midst of your zucchini? If so, it is edible and highly nutritious.
ReplyDeleteSnap peas have been great for us--the ones in my garden are just done, but the farms are still getting them in. One of our friends has been harvesting green beans for a few weeks from an early planting. We're far south of you in RI, so you might not be able to pull that off, but if you have a sheltered spot, it might be worth planting a short row early as an experiment. All the other suggestions sound good.
ReplyDeleteI was looking forward to the responses as well. When I got tired of salad and kale nightly, the snow peas were just coming in (and strawberries too, even if you add them to salad, it changes up the salad to something new). We ate our first cucumber yesterday and our first 3 zucchini, so I think next year I will start a few early and a few later to see if I can spread the timing out a bit to overlap with the peas. I would also recommend berries. They are out just in that lull between spring veg to liven up a bit. Currants and raspberries filled in that space for me.
ReplyDeleteI'll be another to add Swiss chard to my list of current favourites from the market garden. I have more than I am selling so it goes into omelets- which are simply divine with added garlic scapes.I am also enjoying roasted beets.
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