It’s time once again for Harvest Monday, where we celebrate all things harvest related. It’s hard to believe it’s almost June. Where has springtime gone? Nothing says spring to me quite like asparagus, but we’ve stopped cutting ours for the season. But just as the asparagus is done, I got the first zucchini of the year! The first squash is always exciting to me, but a month from now we will likely have a glut and be freezing it.
first zucchini of 2022
I also cut the first of the spring broccoli, though it wasn’t a big harvest. I set out eight plants last month, and all should begin bearing soon. Happy Rich was the first, and though the main shoots are small the side shoots are usually numerous.
Happy Rich broccoli
I pulled the last of the overwintered White Russian kale last week to make room for other things. This batch weighed almost two pounds, which is enough for a couple of meals at least. I was pleasantly surprised when a few plants made it through the winter and gave us a ‘bonus’ crop this spring.
White Russian kale
And I also pulled the rest of the spring radishes. They were getting big, and a few had split. We’ve been enjoying these on salads, and I’ve also roasted some and added a few to a stir-fry. Cooking them definitely tames the spicy flavor, but we’ve enjoyed them raw as well.
last of spring radishes
The greenhouse lettuce is hanging on, and I cut a big head of Simpson Elite for use in salads. Sea of Red is holding up very well, and certainly has the deepest red color of any I’ve grown. It adds color to our other selections, which are mostly green or lighter shades of red.
Simpson Elite lettuce
green oakleaf and Sea of Red lettuce
Our sweet potatoes in storage are beginning to sprout, but still quite edible. I roasted one of the Purple ones to use in a bean and sweet potato salad. Topped with pine nuts and fried sage leaves, it made for a tasty lunch one day.
Rio Zape Bean and Sweet Potato salad
In the future harvests department, I set out three napa cabbage plants last month, and they are all starting to head up now. They have minimal insect damage (so far), and hope I can use some of it to make a batch of kimchi.
napa cabbage plant
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 please take a minute and check out what everyone is harvesting!
We had our first substantial harvest of courgettes too Dave, although I had to grow mine in the polytunnel!
I remembered to sow some radishes in modules but they have stull to germinate. It’s still so dry here. It’s as though someone has a giant umbrella just over our locality
If I ever needed a reminder how different our climates are, it’s that you’re already picking zucchini, and my plants just went in the ground! Congrats. All looks great, and the napa cabbage looks like it will be a winner.
You are rolling into big harvest times. I too celebrate the first zucchini. Seems to say summer is here.