Nova Scotia has had some great spring like days, today being another one. Almost all the snow shown in my earlier posts, has disappeared and although not double digits, it's been a great week getting up to 9 Celsius. Not to worry, the snow VILL BE BAKKK! Today, I lifted the plastic off the row tunnel inside the veg garden and pulled out a few baby beets that didn't mature in the fall. These hung out in the 'outdoor refrigerator' just chillin. They were made into a sort of course pesto, with black current balsamic, olive oil and salt. Fresh...that's what I'm craving...and home grown. The variety is Bulls Blood and think one cylindrical as well. Yes. Bulls Blood has a soft lovely tender leaf in spring and summer, deep burgundy, and delicious in salads plus hardy. When folks come to visit and I pick some for them to eat fresh, they are always surprised they taste like beets but not bitter and feel so soft and buttery in the mouth. If you haven't tried them, you might like to. The beetroot part doesn't grow as big as other types I have tried, I must say.
The raised beds outside the garden, of which there are two, and one has a cold frame lexan cover and the other sheet plastic over hoops..well they were pretty well picked over by late autumn. So I tidied up one of them today and broadcast some Green Ruffled Mustard and Arugula seeds. What is waiting to grow bigger..tatsoi, speedy winter veg mix and spinach below... yup....just chillin'.
It's time to think about starting sprouts for sandwiches and also pea shoots. Stand by. I am craving green and more green.
I can't even think of gardening this winter. Record cold has frozen my mind.
ReplyDeleteIt's cold here again Lisa. Spring will be here soon we hope.
DeleteI am always in awe. I can't get it together to plant a thing through winter, and there you are, with that challenging climate, and you are feeding yourselves with fresh greens and veggie all winter. I can only imagine what your garden here would have been like! Perhaps some day I'll get to find out! Are you tempted enough yet? We have had a week of 9 to 12 degrees every day. The earliest plum trees are already in bloom and there are primroses and snow drops everywhere.
ReplyDeleteYes we are so so tempted and your image of the plum trees in bloom and primroses has brought back such memories of living in Victoria. If I could grow greens year round and more easily than here, maybe then, it wouldn't be so much of a challenge ;-) ..not as much fun in other words. But the Cap says, lots of other challenges like the banana slugs...
DeleteI'm feeling the same urge to get outside and get gardening, but everywhere is absolutely sodden. here in Fleet we have not been flooded, but most parts of the UK have. My plastic mini greenhouses are being brought into use as rain-capes! BTW the Bull's Blood beetroot is often sold specifically for the production of salad leaves, presumably that is why the roots are not so big. Actually the leaves of most veg are nice to eat when they are young!
ReplyDeleteI hope your weather has improved Mark. Re the Bulls Blood..same here, mostly sold and grown for it's leaves but there's that prize in winter if you can get them out of the soil. You are spot on about the leaves of most veg being nice to eat when young. This has surprised me as I gardened over the years. Good harvest ahead heh!! Think positive.
DeleteI'm definitely craving more green. :) I adore the comfort foods of winter but there's just something about going to the back yard and returning with an arm full of fresh grown goodies that you can't beat.
ReplyDeleteStaci I feel exactly the same way. Happy and prosperous garden year ahead!
DeleteHow lovely to be able to harvest some fresh food at this time of year - I have all my beets stored in buckets of dry earth and they are still trying to push out new leaves.
ReplyDeleteElaine you are far more organized than I am storing the beets like that. My guess is, those new leaves would be lovely to eat in salad or blitzed into a pesto!! I wonder if you store your carrots over the winter the same way as the beets.
DeleteFresh beets, what a sight! Hasn't the weather been downright lovely? We are still deep in winter food although I don't mind, not quite tired of it yet. Frozen pesto, peas, tomatoes. The carrots are starting to look a little worse for wear but there's pumpkin, garlic and onions that are still keeping just fine. Give me another month and I'll probably be begging for fresh greenery though.
ReplyDeleteYour larder still sounds well stocked Marguerite. Wish I had more success with onions. Still loving the pumpkins too!
DeleteWe had a mild spell, but not as mild as the weather you have had. Tomorrow it is to drop back to -16. Brrr! Any winter crop would be nice to have right about now! I get very tired of the limited variety of affordable produce in the grocery store. I want to see if I can get hubby to make me a little mini-greenhouse, so I can try my hand at pea shoots as well.
ReplyDeleteOh Jennifer, I do hope hubby is agreeable ;-) Pea shoots are delicious. Back to cold weather here! Winter is not done with us yet!
DeleteWe always grow Bulls Blood too I am in awe of what you manage to grow during your winter! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteSarah, thank you for your kind comment. Sincerely. Bulls blood beet leaves are just the loveliest aren't they.
DeleteYou are amazing. When I think of that bitter cold spell we just had, it boggles my mind that anything is still growing. Thank you for giving the name of the beets you grew. We haven't been big fans of beet but I know how healthy they are. If there's a better tasting variety, I'm glad to know it. :-)
ReplyDeleteMostly, I grow these for their leaves to put in salads or pesto. My best success last year was with a cylindrical beet but can't find the packet. Will let you know if I find the name. That variety would be a better bet for getting good size beets that are tender. Thanks for you kind comment...it is amazing what is growing or at the very least..chillin out in the big outdoor refrigerator ;-)
DeleteDo you know I thought I'd commenting on this post once but can't have! We too will have to start salad leaves soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to enjoy those salad leaves soon. Perhaps we will see them on blog?
DeleteJealous!! I should have done that with some of mine that didn't mature in time in the fall, I cooked them with the greens for my hens instead. I love my bull's blood beets. I grew them for 3 years, decided to try a different variety and then switched right back the next year. I think I'm used to their taste to the point where I don't appreciate the other varieties. I agree with you about the buttery texture too, I think that may be what I like the most. I'm drooling here thinking about fresh spring beets!
ReplyDeleteA dog that likes sprouts! I've eaten baby beet leaves but never grown them for salads. Maybe I should.
ReplyDeleteI'm re-doing the list of Tree Bloggers for Loose and Leafy. http://looseandleafy.blogspot.co.uk/ I notice you left a note on Down by the Sea (http://downbytheseadorset.blogspot.co.uk/) saying what a great idea this is. Would you like to join in for 2014?
Great to see them growing .
ReplyDeleteWe've no signs of Spring here yet whatsoever,
with a snow storm just having past on the weekend
and more snow yesterday.
Our dogs enjoy a bit of sprouts too !