In late February, we began starting vegetables indoors. Red tomatoes are ready now for the second transplant, but not to go outdoors yet. Black Krim, Purple Cherokee, Roma and Green Zebra will be started tomorrow.
Painted Pony beans and Tendergreen Garden beans are 8" tall and ready to go out after the rains end March 23. 2 basils, broccoli and several herbs are beginning to grow nicely. Hazelnuts take a long time to germinate and still have not sprouted.
Outside, 600 row feet of All Blue potatoes, 120 feet of All Red, 140 feet of Purple Majesty are planted, with another140 to go. Yukon Gold and Mountain Rose are still sprouting and will be planted after the rains. We only grow colored meat potatoes because the purples and, to a lesser degree, the reds and blues contain pigments that are anti-oxidants. Anthocyanidin is resident in Purple Majesty and this is a very strong anti-oxidant. Yukon Gold, a perennial market favorite, has some important micronutrients, and is grown because they are Doris's favorite by taste. I like bright purple french fries, purple steamed potatoes in skin and her All Blue pan crisped chips. What would the 4th of July be without red, white and blue potato chips? The Mountain Rose is beautiful for its red starburst pattern on a white background.
We have onions, garlic and leeks overwintered and growing well. Same is true for spinach. 6 lettuce types, endive, three oriental mustards, Dae Kong Chai, carrots, radishes, beets and turnips are also planted. Rhubarb is forming the first stems and leaves, asparagus emerged yesterday and the cover crops of hairy vetch, rye, clover and alfalfa have begun rapid growth, which will enhance soil organic matter and nitrogen levels. More lettuces and many more oriental greens will be planted next week. We repeat the plantings at weekly intervals to assure a continuous and varied supply through December.
I will open new terraced beds for sweet corn, indian corn, popcorn, beans, squash and some flowers to attract pollenators as soon as soil moisture allows. The corn, beans and squash will be started indoors and transplanted. This year, the sweet corn patch that produced so well in 2011, will be planted in the classic Edamame soy beans, harvested green in pod and frozen, except for a small amount to be sold fresh. This snack is ubiquitous in Japan, some of the coastal provinces of China and many other asian cultures. Amaranth and some of the oriental spices will combine with mint, parsley, cilantro and spices to bring the Vietnamese delight Pho to Iowa. This dish was necessitated in French Indochina, as the French imported live beef, butchered it and began to accumulate large stocks of bones. The Vietnamese cooked the bones down to produce broth and added greens, sprouts and spices to make their popular soup, as a way to use the bones.
For the main season CSA, I will also grow lavender, previously saved by our deceased friend Jeryl Jones and his companion Peggy Wiles. Jeryll also saved the tomato seeds for Celebrity and other reds. The lavender will be used in fresh bouquets, soap making and for dried floral stems.
Next week's plantings will include garlic from saved seed, romaines, 5 basils, kohlrabi, more radish, more carrots (you never have enough carrots), more beets, the fractal broccoli cousin-romanesco and radichio will be direct seeded.
Grapes were started from cuttings last winter, cold stored and are now rooting. Three more runs of seedless Canadice, Himrod and Glenora are planned. We noticed the apricot tree in full bloom and the apples coming on. Hopefully, the meager harvest of 2011 will turn to abundance in 2012.
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