Tag Archives: swiss chard

New Kitazawa Seed Co. Seeds…

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I recently purchased five new seed packets from Kitazawa Seed Co., which is where I got my Bok Choy ‘Joi Choi’ Folia seeds that I have been planting for about 8 years now. They include:

– Bok Choy ‘Golden Yellow’ Folia a bright yellowish-green Bok Choy
– Bok Choy ‘Purple Choi’ Folia a dark purple leaf Bok Choy
– Chard ‘Umaina’ Folia a Japanese Chard that I think is similar to the Swiss Chard ‘Green’ I have been buying
– Usui Folia edible Pea shoots
– Kabocha ‘Sweet Mama’ Folia a Japanese Pumpkin/Winter Squash that has a bush-like growth habit (like Zucchini)

Today, I sowed the three leaf veggies: Bok Choi ‘Golden Yellow’  Folia , Bok Choy ‘Purple Choi’  Folia  and Chard ‘Umaina’  Folia . I hope they turn out as well like my plantings of Joi Choi Bok Choy.

Green Swiss Chard Planted + Summer Leafy Greens?

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I didn’t do much gardening, but I planted the 6-pack of Green Swiss Chard Folia into three half squares in back of the Lemon Cucumbers. I think I will plant either some Bush Beans or another summer greens in the other halves of the three squares.

I also moved some of the Coleus pots I planted a few days ago into the front patio.

Which reminds me… I need to do some research and find out if there are green leafy vegetables that will grow in the summer time… since I believe most greens like Kale, Bok Choy, Mustard, etc. like the cool weather. Any suggestions?

[Update]
I found a couple sites that have some good ideas:
– Veggie Gardening Tips: Top Ten Leafy Greens for Summer Gardens
– Mother Earth News: Spinach Alternatives: Warm Weather Salad Greens

March 14 Gardening…

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I’ve been away from home for a few days and got back this afternoon and started planting.

First thing my Mom told me when I stepped out into the backyard was that our Zygopetalum Orchid opened it’s first bloom. This made me really happy. We purchased this as a bare root Orchid at the Pacific Orchid Expo three years ago.

First Zygopetalum Blooms

I purchased a Asiatic Lily called Tango Blend from OSH in El Cerrito. There was an spot in the front yard filled with weeds, so I removed what I can, added new soil and planted all six bulbs. I also planted some Agrostemma in clusters here and in two other locations in our front yard.

I planted two of the three Pepino Dulce into 5 gallon pots which will be placed in the front yard. Here, they will get full sun and hopefully produce a lot of fruits. I’ll plant the third one into the SFG soon.

In a continuing effort to incorporate veggies into our front yard, I planted all the Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ seedlings into the two big clay pots, which now has the Sweet Peas and Agrostemmas. I think this will make a nice and colorful filler for the pot and also provide some veggies!

More Winter Veggies Sown…

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I sowed a few seeds:

Sown Winter Seeds

– Kale ‘Dinosaur’ Folia
– Kale ‘White Russian’ Folia
– Kale ‘Dwarf Blue Curled’ Folia
– Bok Choi ‘Joi Choi’ Folia
– Mustard ‘Miike Purple Giant’ Folia
– Swiss Chard ‘Bright LIghts’ Folia
– Swiss Chard ‘Fordhook Giant’ Folia
– Cilantro Folia
– Fennel Folia

More Winter Veggie Seeds Sown…

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I planted more seeds into Jiffy Peat Pellets (4 each):

– Swiss Chard ‘Green Lucullus’ Folia
– Kale ‘Red Russian’ (G2/2010) Folia – Seeds collected from this year’s plants
– Cilantro/Coriander (G2/2010) Folia – Seeds collected from this year’s plants
– Kailaan ‘Blue Star’ Folia (Chinese Kale/Chinese Broccoli)
– Spinach ‘Bloomsdale Savoy’ Folia
– Spinach ‘Correnta Hybrid’ Folia

I read that Spinach and Cilantro can be grown in the fall/winter/spring in free-free zones, so I’m going to try to grow them this fall/winter and see how well they do. I always though these two were summer plants.

Also posted on Folia Folia

Planting, Harvesting and Cooking…

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12:48pm I’m cutting down the Kohlrabi that has bolted and I saw the first Aphids this year… Dangit!

12:58pm The Bumble Bees are going crazy of our Borage flowers!

7:35pm Planted 8 squares in veggie bed #3: White Russian Kale, Redbor (G2) Kale, Swiss Chard and Green Arrow Snap Peas

8 Squares Planted

7:39pm Harvested some Red Russian Kale, Dwarf Blue Curled Kale and Snap Peas…

Harvested Kale

Harvested Snap Pea

I made Kale Soup with the Kale that I harvested today.

I used this recipe as a base: http://champaign-taste.blogspot.com/2007/11/portuguese-kale-soup.html

Kale Soup

11:22pm The Hybrid Thai Lemon Basil is sprouting…

Sprouts + Harvest…

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6:44pm White Russian Kale, Marvel of Four Seasons Lettuce and Broccoli Raab are sprouting… #

First Snap Peas Harvest

Harvested Kale & Swiss Chard

7:19pm Harvested a basket of Red Russian Kale, Dinosaur Kale and Swiss Chard… plus a handful of Snap Peas… #

I cooked it up with Sardines, Garlic, Onion, Lemon and Soy Sauce…

Kale & Swiss Chard with Sardines

New Orchids + Wild Flowers + Swiss Chard Harvest…

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11:52pm I purchased 5 Masdevallias: Masd. Red Panda, Masd. Huayna Picchu, Masd. Ruby Slippers ‘Baby’, Masd. Flying Colors & Masd. Tovarensis… #

New Orchids from POE 2010

11:53pm I also bought Maxillaria tenuifolia (Coconut Orchid), Bletilla striata var alba (White Chinese Ground Orchid) and Epidendrum Green Hornet… #

12:10am Short orange flowers are in bloom along the freeway near El Cerrito. I think they are Wild Calendula or something similar. #

12:18am The hills along the freeways are really green with splotches of yellow from the Wild Mustard flowers. My Mom says the hills looks like maps. #

11:29pm Harvested some Swiss Chard (about 8 bigs leaves) from the garden and will try to dehydrate them like the Kale Chips… #