Juicy Navel Oranges, Radicchio, Swiss Chard, Watercress, Spicy Arugula

"Leaves are turning brilliant colors

The entire landscape is new

Like Mother Nature is practicing

With her water colors just for you"

 

-Marilyn Lott

The veggie gardens really doing well, even with the colder nights we have had recently.  I was concerned last week that we would get hit with a frost but fortunately the temperatures never went below 34.  Yesterday I took a few more pictures of the beds to keep my journal up to date.  Also picked bunches of goodies to eat this week. 

This is the first year that I planted Radicchio Palla Rossa Ashalim and I am very happy with the results. Thank you Botanical Interests for so many wonderful organic seeds!

Also the first year I planted Watercress.  I am sure that this will only grow in our winter months, but we will see how long it lasts when the heat of the summer months arrives.  I love to add this to my salads, it has a nice peppery bite; very good in omelets, too.

The Kale I planted this year was a dwarf blue from Ferry Morse seeds. Not much of it came up which is a disappointment since I don't have a lot of space to allow for a failed crop. I will head to the nursery today and buy some more seeds, probably will plant Botanical Interests Italian Nero Toscana Kale which did very well for me last winter. 

 

All the lettuce are doing very well. I pick once a week now and have re-seeded some of the bare spots in the beds.  I used a Mesclun blend from Botanical Interests that includes Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Green Salad Bowl, Lolla Rossa, Red Oak leaf and Rouge d'Hilver.  Also from Botanical Interest a Spicy Blend that includes Grand Rapids, Red Salad Bowl, Red Sails, Mizuna, Green Endive, Royal Oak leaf, and Arugula.  I plant a lot of Arugula, it is one of my favorites; I use it in omelets and it is delicious with pasta and beans.

The beets slowed down a bit when the weather turned warm a few weeks ago.  I have pulled a few but they are really taking a lot longer than last years crop.  Lots and lots of Swiss Chard, I could pick this daily but generally only get to it once a week. The varieties I have are Fordhook Giant, Ruby Red Rhubarb and Bright Lights.  We eat a lot of Swiss Chard!

 

I still have until the end of March to grow my winter veggies before I will need to use the space for my summer vegetables.

Still picking lots of Spring Onions. I continue to plant the onion sets each week, adding 6-12 bulb to the bare spots in the beds. They can be tucked in between plants just about anywhere you see an empty spot.

We're picking Navel Oranges daily now, really sweet and juicy. 

Grapefruit are coming along, but will need a few more months.  Last year they were very small so I am hoping the heavy rains we had this year will help to give us large, juicy fruit; they look good so far. 

Winter Harvest

Last night I picked these goodies from my raised beds.

Arugula, Cilantro, Green Leaf Lettuce, Green Onions, Oak Leaf Lettuce, Red Leaf Lettuce, Sorrel, Spinach, and Watercress.  Beets are still too small to pull.  I have however been cutting a few of their leaves from the outer edges to steam for beet greens.

 I had harvested many of these same crops for Thanksgiving dinner.  I am surprised that more was ready so soon after picking them.  We did have some nice rain around Thanksgiving and then last week we had temperatures in the high 80's and even one day reached up to 91!  Gotta love Southern California.  A gardener's paradise.

Winter Veggie Bed Update

I took a few pictures of the raised beds today to keep my blog up to date on the growth.  The rain this week and last has really helped in watering.  Normally at this time of year our weather is hot and dry.  I am so grateful to mother nature for providing us with this rain. 


All of these beds were planted on September 11th and 12th.  In less than a month we are almost ready to pick some of the lettuces and green onions, too.

Onion and Shallot sets, a few Garlic sets, Sorrel, Mesclun, Arugula, and Mache

Onion Sets, Swiss Chard, Kale, Radicchio, Spinach, Watercress

Beets, Kale, Cilantro, Radish and more Swiss Chard

I still need to find a place to plant my pea pods. 

Tomato Update, Kale and a few more goodies!

I am posting some pictures to keep my blog up to date on the tomato growth.  I also picked a nice basket of Kale yesterday.  Beans and Greens for dinner last night.  A little olive oil from Olive California (see link on my blog) and some fresh garlic, it was perfect!

The tomatoes are about 3 feet tall now.  Kale is finished; the weather will be getting too warm so I pulled up the roots and will plant some more Basil this weekend.  I also planted some more Straight Eight Cucumbers, more Zucchini, Patty Pan and Crook Neck Squash.  I still have a little more room and will plant some more Onion Sets and maybe some more Beets.

Red Onion and White Onions almost ready for picking. This is the first year I am growing these to full size.  I usually grow them for spring onions.

Salad Tomato should be ready in 45 days

Last of the lettuce and the Shallots are growing nicely.  Small patch of Pea Pods still growing; just about too warm for these but maybe I will get a few more.  Still harvesting Spring Onions along the side and some Cilantro, although this is bolting so it will be finished soon.

More Cherry Tomatoes, I think this one is a Purple Grape and a Orange Cherry

Two Cherry Tomatoes, one Yellow Pear and one Red Pear

A German Johnson Tomato, Early Girl and a Tomatillo Plant

More Onions, yellow and white

Not sure what these two are, but I wanted to try these red cages.  I have heard that red makes for more tomatoes.  We will see.

Nice batch of Kale I picked yesterday

and because I know my husband will be showing this post to his co-workers, I am including a few cacti and succulents for him.  Bragging rights go to Tony.