Pondering over a Potato
Oh, the garden. The GARDEN. Have I mentioned how fruit I am for the little veggie plot I tend? I’m separated from it for a week at a time, and occasionally two weeks. The 9-year-old and I literally jump out of the car to see what has happened. The potato plants have flowered, then flopped over. The tomato plant has grown to 20 times the size of the original start. The beets greens have leafed, the second planting of carrots is sprouting, and the kale plant is about 2 1/2 feet tall and growing as I continue harvesting the leaves.
fistfuls of beet, kale and chard.
The green bean plants sometimes grow so quickly you’d swear you can hear them stretching, sending out tendrils and hooks that find their way up a trellis like a determined child compelled to take her first steps. I simply will never get over how stubbornly, aggressively willful these plants are to fulfill their destiny. Even in the face of, or because of, my neglect. Lest you think I am bragging or have a talent, I really want to assure you that this is about dna, and soil, and water and light. The plants grow because they are supposed to and they do. (Disclaimer: except you, cilantro. I have no idea what your problem is, but that’s another story).
The author of You Grow Girl was inspired by her grandmother growing potatoes in buckets on a balcony. Our dear friends grew potatoes accidentally because they sprouted in the compost heap. It still slays me that I push a small piece of one potato into the earth and get a basket full of them later.
Hard to beat the thrill of the potato treasure hunt!
And one little green pea will produce all that foliage and pounds of beans.
A Burgundy Bush Bean sprout. It all begins so humbly. It's a miracle that breaks my heart open with joy. Except for you, Star of David Okra, you were a soil nutrient hogging dud, which is why you weren't invited back this year.
(Ok, I won’t deny it. I was a little bummed about the okra. That was last year. But I’m almost over it.)
crooked neck squash or yellow zucchini - not sure which. I never liked squash until I ate baby squash which are very yummy sauteed with a sweet onion such as Walla Walla and a tomato and served with cous-cous or something like that.
Scott loves beets and their greens, so I love growing and cooking them for him! The beet starts came from our friends Cris & Susan Stubberfield and their Carlton greenhouse. Their veggie starts come wired for success. Last year we planted one of their small cucumber starts and had a medium sized cuke 7 days later! I wouldn't believe it either except that I wrote it down!
It’s not too late to get your hands a little dirty. Kale and chard are easy and rewarding. Or maybe some basil and a cherry tomato. I’d love to know what your favorite foolproof crops are, or the perennial losers. In the meantime, wishing you happy garden eats!
