That is a very nice display, Arlene!

Rita, your plants look great!

We had our first broccoli today and it was wonderful! The heads are so small though -I wonder what I need to do differently to get big ones like we get at the grocery? This head was just a bit bigger than my hand and was already starting to bloom.


We're also enjoying lots of chard, 2 kinds of kale, beet tops and radishes right now. Golden beets are starting to form nice roots -I can't wait!

chelle, that brocoli should havce been picked when the heads were much tighter than you have there. And I am surprised because I never have any problems with them not forming nice heads. There are forms that really don't head but any of the common varieties sold at seed stores should head nicely for you.

No kale here. I planted it last year and I did not like it. Not back this year. But beets and beet greens sound great.

Do you grow turnips? A fabulous root veggie in my opinion and you can eat those greens too just like the beet greens.

No, no turnips, but I have seeds for parsnips and rutabaga that I'll be planting in the near future.


If I picked that broccoli any sooner it would have fit in a teaspoon! Maybe they need watered every day?? I dunno. At least this attempt has been better than others, and the flavor is excellent.

My brocolli is small yet this year and before that I haven't had brocoli for some years. But I used to grow it each year. Really an easy plant and made heads without my paying any attention to it.

I started some turnips afew days ago but will be starting more shortly as I have seed for 4 diffent kinds of turnips.

And Arlene mentioned Parsnips when I was yakking about my turnips awhile back. So when I was at the nursery yesterday I bought parsnip seed.

I need to get those TB iris moved up in the backyard bed because that is where I intend to plant this stuff. But I am starting it in those little veggie six or four pack things that I just fill with potting mix and use. Trying to make my own seedlings for transplanting.

Thanks. Yes, it is a lot of work and I am always exhausted Sat. Afternoon, but it is so enjoyable.

Sometimes we do have leftover veggies so we bring them home to eat or if there is a lot we give to neighbors. Two weeks ago we were inundated with lettuce, butterheads, Romains and loose so we have been eating tons of salads but finally today said, enough! But we compost so nothing is really ever wasted.

Leftover bouquets usually are given out to other vendors to enjoy. I had a great selection of flowers this week and so many I didn't even get them all made up so took them anyway and several people made up their own bouquets. I have been having people every week ask about doing weddings. Yikes! I don't want that responsibility!!!! They can buy what I make up but I don't think I could take orders for specific things.

Parsnips are best planted in fall and harvested AFTER first frost, much like brussels sprouts.

Chelle, your broccoli was picked late, but our heads are small this year as well. Last spring we had huge heads. I don't know why? Mine is planted in a new garden area so the soil probably isn't all that good. Broccoli are heavy feeders, need lots of nitrogen and water. Try again in the fall and check out different varieties. Some do better in fall. By the way, when our broccoli is like that, it ends up on our dinner plate too and it's still delicious.

Rita, parsnips are notoriously poor germinators so to help, soak your seeds before planting!

Rita, we'll remind you in February how much fun it is to start your own seedlings so you will get excited and try to start some tomatoes

Ah! Thanks for the broccoli info! I bet mine haven't received quite enough nitrogen. Sometimes I forget that veggies need more than flowers do. I typically grow on a low-nitrogen basis. I'll try to beef up the next batch.

Yes! Tomatoes are so easy from seed!

Arlene thanks. I think I will wait on the Parsnips and do them in my fall garden. I need to get that space I intend to use cleared and am waiting until after the TB iris bloom. But I want to put beets, parsnips, turnips and all sorts of fall greens there.

But your selling at the Saturday market is a great idea! I bet your customers look for you there each week. And you are smart not to get involved in doing weddings. Too much work and a disaster if anything goes wrong.

We have to just remember to cheer Rita on at the right time. We can tell her to look at all her beautiful photos from this spring.

abhege said:Rita, we'll remind you in February how much fun it is to start your own seedlings so you will get excited and try to start some tomatoes

I certainly have enough tomato seeds! And varieties that one just can't buy plants for.

abhege said: We have to just remember to cheer Rita on at the right time. We can tell her to look at all her beautiful photos from this spring.

But here is the thing. I can put all my veggies out now because the weather is good. Can't put tomato seedlings out for a long time after starting them in February.

That's a great plan, getting the TB iris area ready for the fall veggies! But you'll probably have it done and be able to plant the beets, turnips and rutabagas soon. Have you ever tried kohlrabi? I've eaten it ( tastes a little bit like a mild radish) but I have never grown it.

We do have a lot of repeat customers, especially when we have tomatoes and peppers because we offer so many varieties AND we give samples. People love to taste the different tomatoes before they buy.

Rita, you have enough veggies to go to market too! But i'll bet you could put a table at the end of your driveway and sell from there!

Well, you put your tomatoes out this year even before I did!!! Okay, so you can start late Feb.or early March

I don't have any rutabagas. I don't even know what they are.

And no, I have never eatten kolrabi. What you do with it? Add to your salad? I love radishes.

I just couldn't handle the amount of work necessary to get ready for market plus set up and so on. I don't really want to sell my veggies anyway. It is only a hobby garden. I do love to give fresh veggies away, people are always happy to get them. Makes me happy to have enough to share.

We will see how soon I get to the iris moving project.

abhege said:Well, you put your tomatoes out this year even before I did!!! Okay, so you can start late Feb.or early March

I did put them out early but it turned out to be the right decision. They look fabulous!

LOL! It's Chelle that has rutabagas!!! Another root veggie. Kind of bland. A lot of people cook and mash with potatoes.

I have only ever sliced and salted kohlrabi and eaten raw. Not sure if there are other ways to prepare. But you haven't said you are growing radishes. They're easy. Did you do some and I missed? Well, sometimes they miss and go to seed before forming.they don't like the heat either but they are ready in about 30 days.

I know, they do!!!

On the subject of veggies being heavy feeders. I have my facvorite veggie fertilizers and they are liquid. One is Neptune Brand Liquid Fish and Seaweed fertilzer. Great Stuff!!!

The other is AlgoFlash. Fabulous. I used that on my tomatoes all last season but will be using it on most veggies this year. In fact already have used it on the eggplant and zucchini.

Oh yes. I have radishes and boston lettuce in ground. Love radishes.

Yep, we use Neptune's as well. We also put in each hole when planting tomatoes, peppers, etc., mycorrhiza. We use a lot of compost so not a whole lot of other fertilizing needed.