So much has been going on over the last two months that I thought I would catch up on all the various things we have been working on before we move forward into spring. In mid January we planted Black Kale, also known as Lancinata, palm tree, Tuscan and dinosaur Kale or by the Italian, Nero di Tuscana. It was
recorded in The Vegetable Garden by Vilmorin-Andrieux in 1885 but I believe that it can be traced back to, at least the 16th century. John Gerard’s “Swolen Colewoorte” illustrated in the original 1597 edition of The Herball, or, Generall Historie of Plants looks remarkably like the black kale we know today.
This year we are growing a variety known as Black Magic. They were planted in mid January in one of my two cabbage beds from transplants I seeded in late October. While my garden is surrounded with an effective deer fence, I have not yet secured it against rabbits which are as fond of this luscious kale as I am. To ward them off we first put
down a layer of Plantyskid, a blood meal preparation that we have found to be quite effective in preventing rabbit damage. Next we lay on a straw mulch to prevent heaving if we get frosty weather and finally we spray Liquid Fence over the top as added protection. At the same time that we are planting kale in the garden we are starting the spring transplants in the house. This year we are starting Little Gem lettuce (a dwarf Roamine), Aspabroc, so called because the florets eat like broccoli and are born on long stems that eat like asparagus. We are growing two types of cabbage, Stonehead hybrid and an upright purple variety called Kalibos. We are also growing a broccoli variety known as Green Magic.
We have the grow light set for an 18 hour day (comes on at 4:00 am, goes off at 10:00 pm). It is important that the grow lights are no more than 3” above the plants. Within 6 weeks the plants had filled out enough to be planted in the garden. I first moved them into the greenhouse for a week to harden off and then we planted them out on a glorious late February
day with temperatures in the 70’s. We planted the Aspabroc amongst the kale with the hope that they will be able to send their florets above the kale leaves giving us two crops in a small space. After harvesting the rest of the Brussels sprouts and collards the rest of the cabbage and broccoli was planted in the second cabbage bed,
We roll the frame over to give access to the bed, allowing us to easily till and install the transplants.The collards produced the largest harvest of the season with an abundance of tender, sweet leaves. The brussel sprouts produced a small harvest of small, somewhat loose but incredibly sweet sprouts which Denise served with pork chops and roasted potatoes.
I have always endeavored to plant the peas by Valentine's Day. and this year was no exception. I am growing four varieties of peas this year, Mammoth Melting snow pea, Tall Telephone shelling pea, Sugar Snap, Sugar Sprint (a dwarf snap pea) as well as a dwarf variety of shelling peas that I have never grown called Early Frosty.
I also planted two varieties of broad beans (generally known as fava beans in this country), broad windsor and Ianto’s, a new variety for me that is said to grow to 6' tall! Peas and beans are best planted with a dibble which I use to make one to two inch holes about two inches apart for the peas and about one foot apart for the beans. At the same time I planted a turnip variety called boule d'Or. For people who claim not to like turnips, this mild, sweet turnip may just change your mind about this ancient staple.
I have a friend in Williamsburg who has recorded the date of the first bloom on an early variety of daffodil called February Gold every year for over 20 years. This year my first February Gold bloom opened on January 23, a new record for me!
Finally, I have been experimenting with different ways to grow artichokes (a personal favorite of mine). I put two in the ground last spring and planted two in pots which I over wintered in the greenhouse, thinking that I would be able to transplant them this spring for an spring harvest. The larger of the two plants is now forming three small artichokes and I am wondering if, next year, I transplant them into the ground within the greenhouse in the fall if I will get larger artichokes the following spring? We will find out!
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