Roots and Shoots: October 2010

Sunday, October 03, 2010

Harvesting the root vegetables

Things are really changing in the vegetable patch these days. The broccoli is all done, and I pulled up the one plant I let go to seed and am hanging it upside down right now to dry the seed pods. I pulled out the rest and put them in the compost.

I harvested some of the beets too. I don't really know when they need to come out, but the greens have been turning brown in patches, and I love eating them so thought I should pull some out while they're still good. I don't have anything to do with the rest of the beets yet, so thought I might as well leave them in for now? Do I need to pull them out before it frosts?

I've been gradually pulling up carrots here and there, and thought I'd pull a few more earlier this week. Eek! I pulled up a few that look like this, and figured I should get them all out of the ground asap. (Why do they split like this?)

Three pounds in total, and there were only three in the whole lot that actually are actually nicely formed carrots (note I carefully positioned the best one of the top of this pile.

And today I planted garlic! Can't wait to see how it turns out, but I do have to wait a long time. That will be a fun surprise in the spring when it starts to poke up out of the ground.

The Project

To grow my first vegetable garden in our yard in Nanaimo's old city for learning, healthy eating, and fun. For interest's sake I'll keep track of the economics; can this garden, made up of two 8x10 plots and some pots on the patio, produce at least $200 worth of food, which was the approximate cost of the soil, seeds and materials. (I know, I know, costs will be less over the years because I don't need to buy grow lights and pots every year, but just for the sake of this little experiment, lets set the bar high and shoot for $200).