Browse Category: Carrot / Beet / Radish

January 2015 garden tour

Bok choy and gai lan harvest. Incidentally, too much bok choy is potentially harmful.
Bok choy and gai lan harvest. Incidentally, too much bok choy is potentially harmful.
Robertson navel orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck ) blossom.
Robertson navel orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck ) blossom.
Peas have really pretty flowers. Heirloom snow pea (Pisum sativum) called, "Mammoth Melting Sugar Pea"
Peas have really pretty flowers.
Heirloom snow pea (Pisum sativum) called, “Mammoth Melting Sugar Pea”
'Sharp blue' blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum sp) blossom. A young plant I didnt expect to start setting fruit.
‘Sharp blue’ blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum sp) blossom. A young plant I didnt expect to start setting fruit.
Heirloom snow pea (Pisum sativum) called, "Mammoth Melting Sugar Pea"
Heirloom snow pea (Pisum sativum) called, “Mammoth Melting Sugar Pea”
Bok choy (Brassica rapa Chinensis group) Ready for harvesting and thinning out.
Bok choy (Brassica rapa Chinensis group)
Ready for harvesting and thinning out.
Water droplets from the evening's dew on the gai lan (Brassica oleracea).
Water droplets from the evening’s dew on the
gai lan (Brassica oleracea).
Water droplets from the evening's dew on the gai lan (Brassica oleracea).
Water droplets from the evening’s dew on the
gai lan (Brassica oleracea).
Fragrant hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis). The first of the spring flower bulbs to bloom.
Fragrant hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis). The first of the spring flower bulbs to bloom.
Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale). I've been trying since 2010 to get a flower. The tiny seeds have high germination rates but once sprouted, they are super delicate. They are easily damage and uprooted by the terminal velocity of a droplet of water. Last year, I was able to nurse them to a good size-- about an inch tall. Then one day to my horror, I found all ten or so of them chomped down to soil level by a single catepillar. Furious and devasted, I swiftly dealt with the problem and held out little hope that the plant would grow back. Grow back it did. I have two plants that have leaves about 6 inches long. Now that we're in the clear, it is a waiting game.
Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale). I’ve been trying since 2010 to get a flower. The tiny seeds have high germination rates but once sprouted, they are super delicate. They are easily damage and uprooted by the terminal velocity of a droplet of water.
Last year, I was able to nurse them to a good size– about an inch tall. Then one day to my horror, I found all ten or so of them chomped down to soil level by a single catepillar.
Furious and devasted, I swiftly dealt with the problem and held out little hope that the plant would grow back. Grow back it did.
I have two plants that have leaves about 6 inches long. Now that we’re in the clear, it is a waiting game.
Freesia (Freesia) bud
Freesia (Freesia) bud
Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale)
Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale)
Gai lan
Gai lan
Some softneck garlic variety that was available at the supermarket. The fine green strands are garlic chive spouts. I had a gazllion seeds to scatter with haste after the rain got to the container holding them.
Some softneck garlic variety that was available at the supermarket. The fine green strands are garlic chive spouts. I had a gazllion seeds to scatter with haste after the rain got to the container holding them.
Strawberry
Strawberry
Shallots. These were first grown in the garden last year from shallots that sprouted before they could be cooked.
Shallots. These were first grown in the garden last year from shallots that sprouted before they could be cooked.
African daisy (Osteospermum)
African daisy (Osteospermum)
This goji berry has been overwhelmed by the fugi that was triggered by the rain. The course now: strip the leaves.
This goji berry has been overwhelmed by the fugi that was triggered by the rain. The course now: strip the leaves.
My first time growing celery. I use it in gumbo and chicken noodle soup; and that's pretty much it.
My first time growing celery. I use it in gumbo and chicken noodle soup; and that’s pretty much it.
Bok choy grows quickly and will be my staple vegetable crop.
Bok choy grows quickly and will be my staple vegetable crop.
Recieved fresh garlic in a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) box last year and decided to dry it out and grow it. I dont know what variety it is other than that it is a softneck.
Recieved fresh garlic in a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) box last year and decided to dry it out and grow it.
I dont know what variety it is other than that it is a softneck.
The kaffir lime air layered last year by John. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/landscape/air-layering/ This year, I hope to see more leaves on it. With the leaves, I use it for green curry.
The kaffir lime air layered last year by John.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/landscape/air-layering/
This year, I hope to see more leaves on it. With the leaves, I use it for green curry.
Carrots, celery, gai lan
Carrots, celery, gai lan
wood sorrel (Oxalis bowiei)
wood sorrel (Oxalis bowiei)
'Green Globe Improved' artichoke
‘Green Globe Improved’ artichoke
Elephant garlic with 'Chesnok' garlice (foreground)
Elephant garlic with ‘Chesnok’ garlice (foreground)
Elephant garlic
Elephant garlic
'Turkish Giant' garlic. Appears to be slow growing.
‘Turkish Giant’ garlic. Appears to be slow growing.
'Turkish Giant' garlic
‘Turkish Giant’ garlic
'Chesnok' garlic
‘Chesnok’ garlic
Dill
Dill
Recieved fresh garlic in a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) box last year and decided to dry it out and grow it. I dont know what variety it is other than that it is a softneck.
Recieved fresh garlic in a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) box last year and decided to dry it out and grow it.
I dont know what variety it is other than that it is a softneck.
Blueberry blossom. Blooming early this year. 'Sunshine' blueberry
Blueberry blossom. Blooming early this year.
‘Sunshine’ blueberry
Blueberry fruiting early this year. 'Sunshine' blueberry
Blueberry fruiting early this year.
‘Sunshine’ blueberry
Garlic chive wintering
Garlic chive wintering
Heirloom snow pea (Pisum sativum) called, "Mammoth Melting Sugar Pea"
Heirloom snow pea (Pisum sativum) called, “Mammoth Melting Sugar Pea”
Daikon
Daikon
Blueberry (Vaccinium x 'Sunshine Blue') The leaves have green from a rust color.
Blueberry (Vaccinium x ‘Sunshine Blue’)
The leaves have green from a rust color.
Mystery plant. Very likely planted by a bird. I like the purple fringe. I am going to see if it'll flower. A flower will certainly yield another clue.
Mystery plant. Very likely planted by a bird. I like the purple fringe. I am going to see if it’ll flower. A flower will certainly yield another clue.
Roquette Arugula (Eruca sativa) Ready for making a Bollini’s Pizzeria Napolitana, Monterey Park arugula salad: roasted chicken, bacon, goat cheese, corn, & arugula.
Roquette Arugula (Eruca sativa)
Ready for making a Bollini’s Pizzeria Napolitana, Monterey Park arugula salad: roasted chicken, bacon, goat cheese, corn, & arugula.
Tea (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) seeds from Shenzhen, China. There is nothing particular about Shenzhen other than that this ebay seller had the lowest price. If I can get any of these tea seeds to germinate, I will have to wait three years before I can start making my own tea.
Tea (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) seeds from Shenzhen, China. There is nothing particular about Shenzhen other than that this ebay seller had the lowest price.
If I can get any of these tea seeds to germinate, I will have to wait three years before I can start making my own tea.
Upon closer inspection they were indeed leaf buds (and not bugs). The is the Goji berry that had its leaves striped off because they were infested with fungi.
Upon closer inspection they were indeed leaf buds (and not bugs). The is the Goji berry that had its leaves striped off because they were infested with fungi.
Goji berry leaf buds
Goji berry leaf buds
Walking by this pot I spot what appears to be leaf buds.
Walking by this pot I spot what appears to be leaf buds.
Walking by this pot I spot what appears to be leaf buds.
Walking by this pot I spot what appears to be leaf buds.
Ranunculus tuber
Best I can do is to hope that these will still grow.
I might be a bit late on getting these Ranunculus tubers back into the ground. There's mold caused by the winter rain.
I might be a bit late on getting these Ranunculus tubers back into the ground. There’s mold caused by the winter rain.
There are a bunch of seeds attached to this Ranunculus floret. When loose, they resemble crushed red peppers. The germination rate is said to be very low. I have thousands. Surely one will grow.
There are a bunch of seeds attached to this Ranunculus floret. When loose, they resemble crushed red peppers. The germination rate is said to be very low. I have thousands. Surely one will grow.
Ranunculus seed florets
Ranunculus seed florets
Gai lan
Gai lan

Planting carrots out front

Front of the house planter
Front of the house planter

This planter in the front of the house was untapped dirt. Where the wood sorrel grows, it will be replaced with root vegetables. First some prep needs to be done.

Wood sorrel turned into the soil.
Wood sorrel turned into the soil.

January 25th, 2015. The wood sorrel is turned into the soil to add nutrients.

Turned in wood sorrel closed up
Turned in wood sorrel closed up
Front planter with compost added
Front planter with compost added

February 8th, 2015. It would have been nice to have turned the wood sorrel in earlier so that it may be broken down more. To speed things along, compost is added on top. Afterward, ‘Scarlet’ carrot seeds are indiscriminately sowed.

'Scarlet' carrot seed pack.
‘Scarlet’ carrot seed pack. My first pack of carrot seed.

These seeds were purchased last year for $1.99. With lots of seeds in the pack and many carrots grown, they have turned out to be a really great value.