|
Post by stevil on Dec 3, 2008 16:09:42 GMT -5
I would like to add, ice berg lettuce and onion shoots (as spring onion). Yes, onion shoots is a good call - you can of course even in a cold climate start various Allium fistulosum cultivars in the autumn to given them a head start and harvest in the spring.
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 3, 2008 16:17:58 GMT -5
I grow buckshorn plaintain / herba stella / minutina in the coldframe (and in open ground) and it does very nicely. Thanks for reminding me! Also mizuna knew there were lots I was forgetting. Yes, Herba stella/minutina - that's the one. Right now I'm trialing bunium bulbocastanum - much to the amusement of the BC seed supplier that I bought it from. So far, so good and green. pfaf says it's hardy to zone 5? It's hardy here in Norway - many years. Did I mention sorrel or scorzonera. I suppose the sorrel would come up earlier but I have never tried it. Anyone have? Also I am trialing scorzonera for coldframe greens in the early spring. No results yet. The best one is the non-flowering variety of Rumex acetosa, which I think now has a name - Profusion. My plant is about 25-years old and produces every year - can be used from early spring to late autumn as it never flowers.....
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 3, 2008 16:21:44 GMT -5
Early mitsuba blanching is just a bad translation of some Flemmish ;D ;D ;D Mitsuba is eaten for the leaves, but it is also blanched in spring, and these shoots are eaten. There are two varieties of mitsuba (I'm not mentioning the atropurpurea or red one), that are used a lot in Japan, Kansai and kanto, the first one is used mainly as green parsley substitute, the kanto is mostly blanched, and eaten raw. I tried it once, but it didn't really work well, the stems rotted a bit (it was very wet at that time), but I don't know if I have a kanto or kansai or even another one Sorry, I was thinking the wrong plant - all these Mibunas, Mizunas and Mitsubas makes one's brain hurt... Haven't seen seed of either of these, just the unnamed green Mitsuba and the red which I quite like actually. Being perennial, it just keeps on coming year after year and adds some colour to a spring salad. And Ottawa could I'm sure forage some Canadian Mitsuba in the spring...
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 3, 2008 16:28:00 GMT -5
...and, last one, promise - you could also try Alfalfa (from seed) and harvest as small plants after about a month - the Chinese use them in this way (or spring shoots of perennial alfalfa aka lucerne).
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 3, 2008 16:41:23 GMT -5
Alfalfa - course! I'm adding that to the list of things to grow in my coldframe space.
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 3, 2008 16:42:44 GMT -5
My turn for multiple posts. I thought I had brought profusion but it did flower... so I guess not. It flowered late? The leaves, however, were good right up until frost.
|
|
|
Post by orflo on Dec 3, 2008 23:46:09 GMT -5
Did we mention some stuff like : urtica dioica (yep, good stuff) stellaria silybum marianum (could work but needs space) silene varieties (scuplit,...) campanula varieties curled mallow takes some frost but grows big turnip greens myrrhis odorata oenanthe pimpinelloides diplotaxis tenuifolia plantago cor . is a good one, didn't think about that I don't think youwill starve this winter
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 4, 2008 7:35:09 GMT -5
I'll have a look for some other pea varieties, there seem to be some good overwintering types in Switzerland , I'll check Arche Noah, some could be listed over there. I contacted the Swedish Seed Savers (Sesam) yesterday about my winter pea and although it doesn't seem to be offered by them any more, it seems that the Danes grow it. I got the name slightly wrong - is should be Winterkefer. The description given by the Danish Seed Savers fits it well - they sow in November and it is commented how it survives the worst of weather as small seedlings...my experiences show that it's even hardier than that! It also seems that its origin is indeed with Arche Noah. I would be very interested to learn more....
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 4, 2008 7:36:18 GMT -5
Did we mention some stuff like : urtica dioica (yep, good stuff) stellaria silybum marianum (could work but needs space) silene varieties (scuplit,...) campanula varieties curled mallow takes some frost but grows big turnip greens myrrhis odorata oenanthe pimpinelloides diplotaxis tenuifolia plantago cor . is a good one, didn't think about that I don't think youwill starve this winter Stellaria media is of course a mega-weed, but what are weeds for other than to eat? I "cultivate" (some would say I was just lazy) chickweed on my potato beds for chickweed soup every year (the potatoes are completely swallowed up by the chickweed when I harvest it): www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1135I even got hold of seed of a large-leaved form of Stellaria media one year from SSE, but it wouldn't germinate and I've never seen it offered since. Myrrhis - do you mean that you grow it from seed to harvest young? Another one to try... As a perennial it's terribly invasive here. There are plenty of seed anyway...
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 4, 2008 10:51:12 GMT -5
Bring on the weeds! I am pretty sure that Stellaria grows itself in my coldframes but I've yet to get urtica in my yard (and I'm not encouraging it...). Campanula - this brings me to another post idea, actually. I am curious which are the varities with the best culinary qualities. Turnip greens check. Mallow - getting seed this year. Myrrhis odorata - not enough room for the large plant but putting in some babies... not a bad idea.
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 4, 2008 14:40:57 GMT -5
Myrrhis odorata - not enough room for the large plant but putting in some babies... not a bad idea. Myrrhis seeds are very short-lived, so they should really be sown as soon as ripe in the autumn.
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 4, 2008 14:46:40 GMT -5
My turn for multiple posts. I thought I had brought profusion but it did flower... so I guess not. It flowered late? The leaves, however, were good right up until frost. I'm not sure if what I've got is the same as Profusion, but it sounded like it from a description I read somewhere. Mine has never sent up a flowering top. In Richter's catalog, it seems to contradict itself, telling you to remove flowering tops and then saying it never goes to seed: www.richters.com/Web_store/web_store.cgi?product=X5683&show=&prodclass=Herb_and_Vegetable_Plants&cart_id=111.100
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 4, 2008 17:21:01 GMT -5
Yes, I have some Myrrhis (Sweet Cicley) in a partial shaded area of the yard. I can't remember how it reacted to frost though? Any how, I could easily transfer seeds.
Well then I don't know if I have profusion or not. Whatever it is, it sure is tasty.
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Dec 4, 2008 17:28:00 GMT -5
Gosh! I am now friends with people eating alfalfa. Not sprouts, but alfalfa! My world has changed...
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 5, 2008 3:24:42 GMT -5
Yes, I have some Myrrhis (Sweet Cicley) in a partial shaded area of the yard. I can't remember how it reacted to frost though? Any how, I could easily transfer seeds. Myrrhis is very hardy - mine has survived (back in the 80s) frost penetrating to 1/2m for a month or so and temperatures below -23C.
|
|