I know it's late in the season, even for us, but we just harvested today for the first time cuz Mrs. Stone was sick and there was lots else goin' on.

We put a load of Mizuna (a Japanese mustard green) in the food dryer for use in soups with other mixed dried greens...it's about done, but we have a ton of it in the garden.

We also harvested our common mustard greens and cooked them up nice and tender. These are so fresh some of the leaves were still on their cell phones when we put them in the water w/ some diced ham. I have never had mustard greens before, and these were absolutely outstanding! Seems like it would go good with squirrel.

We'll be putting another load of Mizuna greens in the dryer first thing in the morning, and I expect we'll get two batches done tomorrow. And for dinner we'll either have mustard greens or spinach.

Yum.

Sparks

That sounds mighty good, Sparks. Mustards are one of my favorites. I didn't appreciate them growing up, but I sure do now. I like mine with some pepper sauce, the vinegar based kind. I didn't realize you could get them in the ground early enough down your way to start picking by first of June.

Sparks,

We're a bit further south than you hence our season is a bit ahead. We've been eating spinach and lettuce for some time now, although our kale and carrots seem a bit behind. Should have tomatoes in a week or so, summer squash, and jalapenos too. Our asparagus patch is plugging along and is two feet tall. Won't get much out of it this year because it was newly planted this spring, but it'll be rocking next year, as will the blackberries and sour cherries. We never got around to putting in the beans and peas this year, but we are going to put in a late planting of sweet corn timed around some traveling this summer. We'll also have pumpkins and winter squash aplenty to put up this fall plus a few bottle gourds to play with if all works out.

Sean

Since writing the original message I have picked/eaten or dried the spinach and mizuna mustard. Eaten some lettuce...which is released now that it isn't over-topped by the mizuna. Turnips are doing well. Lots of blossoms on the zucchini and crookneck squash. I haven't seen any pea blossoms yet...maybe all they are going to do is fix nitrogen in the soil this year (as all legumes do). Broccoli was mostly eaten by something, as was the chard. Just thinned the carrots and they have really responded to that. Asparagus--new-this-year plants are doing ok, but aren't two feet by any means. Haven't seen any shoots from the deep-planted roots yet.

We've got pumpkins and some other stuff that hasn't been planted cuz there was no room! Now that the greens are clearing out we will be able to get some of those in the ground.

Tomatoes are not doing well at all! Neither are the peppers, although I am reasonably sure some will actually survive.

Daikon radishes are doing well, as are turnips. And there is still some regular mustard growing.
Regular radishes have been eaten or dried. We plan to use the dried stuff in soups this winter. First time I've dried greens, but I have dried squash, tomatoes and several fruits in my day.

Sparks

I just put up green beans and have been eating squash and banana peppers for a couple weeks. There is nothing like a home grown tomato, should be able to eat them in a day or two. Anyone eat tomato sandwiches? A little mayo, salt and pepper, yum!

Diana, I love them too. Only make mine with a little salt, but lots of mayo and pepper! I'm a ways off yet, my plants are only about 18" high.

with a slice of colby cheese on toast.

and some good quality, thick cut smokey bacon !

And, o'course, a leaf er two of iceberg lettuce.
Or, fer th' fancy-schmansy, romaine lettuce.
BLT!

and two, count 'em, two big patties o' burger, medium-rare. buffler, elk, deer, moose, er even, dang it, beefcritter! mind yer topknots! windy

Sparks!! Went back and read your postings as it applies to things your eating!!!!!!!!!!Not one word of meat anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!You arn't going under are you or becoming one of those Vegie types are you?Those same vegies go nice with meat be it feather or fur covered.Figure out what ate the broccoli and the chard,smother it in the turnip green,spring potatoes and just a little vingar,nice way to get even.You fed it,it fed you,fair is fair.Woodchucks getting fed around here,Iam thinking slow cooker,Dutch oven,carrots,onions,turnips and potatoes.

Walking Crow,
I don't think I'd want to eat what has been eating my veggies... I'm no vegetarian, but cabbage worms and ants aren't very high on my list of delectable critters. Mind you, I'm sure some people eat them...like Dennis Miles (ants, anyway). Of course, them critters have neither fur nor feathers!

The veggie eatin-critters are currently under seige of bt (virus) and some spray organic stuff for the ants.

Sparks

Plants are really springing up now folks. I have two tomatoes about the size of marbles! Any day now...

When the wx was cooler, the crooknecks were growing faster than the zucchinis, but now that it's heated up, the zuchs are winning. I have zuchs about five inches long and one inch diameter...crooknecks are about four inches. I expect to eat one or the other by Sunday or so.

I have good healthy blossoms on my tomatoes and edible chrysanthemums. I can't tell you how they taste...haven't eaten any yet.

Cabbage, daikon radishes and carrots are also doing well. Our asparagus is giving us signs that next year's crops will be a darn good start. Mrs. Stone will be planting more mustard and beans in the next day or so.

Ants or earwigs got the peas and most of the lettuce.

Sparks

Sparks, that sounds mighty good my friend, what time is dinner!

Tomorrow it's corned beef and cabbage, with the cabbage being from the garden. We purchased the corned beef, because it was too much trouble to keep the beeves that we planted from eating the corn

Dinner at 5, come on over.

Or if you want to make it potluck, I'll bring the cabbage if you bring the corned beef
I'd reimburse you for the gas, but by the time you finish dinner you may decide you have enough gas.

Sparks

That sure sounds great, I wish that I could. Gas is less of a problem these days than the time, which I thought I'd have more of at this stage in my life.

Bummer! Well, when you do get down this way on one of your family visits, let me know ahead and I'll give you some contact info...maybe we can meet up somewhere. Since we have computer phone service, the number is not in the phone book.

Sparks

You can count on it. Hopefully you won’t be out on a fire and will have some time for a visit. Chaser

Sounds good. If that doesn't work, we'll have to meet up sometime in the fall or spring.
Sparks