The harvest needs washing right away. It took about an hour to process this batch. We soak lettuces and other greens, rinse off roots, and trim stems from brassicas and roots. The chickens get some of it, we get the rest.
The beauty of a fall or winter garden is that it grows almost without care. Cooler temperatures and rain lend themselves to a stress-free garden. There are virtually no bugs, you don’t have to water as often, and some veggies (brassicas and root crops in particular) become sweeter with a frost. True, they do need protection from cold snaps in cooler climates. But now we reap the benefits of a winter garden–it’s harvest time!
If it’s too cold for a winter garden where you live, here is some inspiration as spring draws near. For those in warm-winter climates, here are some tips for harvesting your winter garden.
The Happy Garden…
Purple Kohlrabi is ready to pick. It’s one of the earliest brassicas ready for harvest in winter. Peal and steam it for 8 minutes, then saute until golden. Tastes like potatoes with a hint of broccoli. The leaves are edible too.Golden Beets push above ground when they are ready. Harvest large beets to make room for smaller roots nearby.
…is Not without Problems…
This little bugger is one of two we found in our beet/chard patch. We think it’s an Estigmene acrea – a Salt Marsh moth caterpillar.A rat or squirrel ate the heads off all our broccoli. Ever. Single. One. We’ll use bird netting next time.Time to cut down and turn in the cover crop. Peas, hairy vetch, oats, and bell beans fix nitrogen in their roots, then release them when we turn the crop into the soil.Volunteer lettuces populate the pathway. We’re harvesting some and will transplant others to a bed soon.How do you know when to harvest carrots? Dig down with your finger to expose the diameter of the root. Pick when they are about 1″ in diameter.Peas grow best in fall in our coastal climate. Pick every other day to ensure continued production.Bok choy is ready! You can harvest individual leaves or the whole plant. This one was beginning to flower so we picked the whole thing.The harvest needs washing right away. It took about an hour to process this batch. We soak lettuces and other greens, rinse off roots, and trim stems from brassicas and roots. The chickens get some of it, we get the rest.
It’s time to start planning your spring garden, and start seeds for early crops. Spring is right around the corner!
