It’s time once again for Harvest Monday, where we celebrate all things harvest related. Lettuce from the greenhouse was my only harvest last week. This time it was Panisse, an oakleaf type with smooth and tender leaves. We used some of this for bean tostadas last week.
Panisse lettuce
We are eating plenty of things from stores however. Turkey Craw beans from the freezer were on the menu one night as a side dish. I also cooked some of the turnip greens I froze last fall. I blanched those briefly before freezing, and they cooked up quickly. They were tender and mild tasting, and I made a note to freeze more of them this year since we enjoy eating them so much. I did freeze a lot of beans though, and they should keep us supplied until the new crop of fresh ones comes on.
Turkey Craw beans
Out in the perennial beds, the Hellebores have started blooming. They are the first to bloom in our shady border area.
hellebore blooming
Another sign of spring are the early Daffodils which opened up last week. Their day in the sun was followed by a March snow that brought cold temperatures and chilling winds. I hope that was winter’s last hurrah, since I am more than ready for spring!
daffodils
daffodils after the snow
Harvest Monday is a day to show off your harvests, how you are saving your harvest, or how you are using your harvest. If you have a harvest you want to share, add your name and blog link to Mr Linky below. And be sure and check out what everyone is harvesting!
We’ve started a little Hellebore patch Dave, just outside the front door, such a delight : All the best – Steve
Do you think your hellebores are later to flower this year. I think ours are.
Ours seem to be blooming about the same time as last year Sue. They didn’t get snowed on last year though!
Nice to see the first signs of spring!
I had a question about the Turkey Craw bean. I was considering it for dried beans, but am concerned about maturity in my zone 5b. The SSE listing says 80-100 days. I had a bad experience with a bean that did not germinate until the soil was quite warm, plus the beans got going late only to be killed by frost before they matured. I have had no problems with Cherokee Trail of Tears or Good Mother Stallard. Does Turkey Craw mature early for you? I may have to accept that some bean varieties are not intended for northern gardeners 😀
Turkey Craw does mature early enough that I can get dried beans from it here. But I don’t know how it would perform in your zone. I grew Gizzard last year that looked (and tasted) identical to Turkey Craw, but was earlier to bear. That might be one for you to consider. I got seed from Sustainable Mountain Agriculture:
https://www.heirlooms.org/store/p126/Gizzard_Bean.html
Thanks for the alternative suggestion!
Here we have broken into our dried beans too, but have nothing similar to yours! Hellebores here have been getting earlier and earlier, but this year they were back about a week on last year. Such gorgeous flowers aren’t they?
They are lovely flowers, and provide a much needed bit of color this time of year!
We’ve all seen those daffodils in snow. Remember a few years like that in Massachusetts. Hellebores show up just when we need them. You might check a comment about spinach from Steve Richards on my blog.
Thanks, I will check it out.
Never heard of Turkey Craw Beans. They look delicious and remind me of the old half runner beans my mother always grew…and now I grow. I am new to your blog and have enjoyed reading, especially about your greenhouse.
Glad you enjoy reading the blog!