Kitchen Gardens, Southern Style

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Comment by Samantha Wetzel on January 10, 2010 at 7:57pm

I've had such a problem with cabbage worms on my broccoli in the fall, that I think I will also try planting in March. It's worth a try! I've never had any luck with Cauliflower though, sorry I can't help!

Comment by Tamra on January 7, 2010 at 6:13pm

Everett, you just described all the problems I have with broccoli. And my last frost is about the same as your, so I am going to give it a try this spring. Thanks and good luck with your cauliflower.

Comment by Everett McDonald on January 7, 2010 at 5:42pm

Hi Tamra, I started growing brocolli from seed in the garden after reading
"Gardening When it Counts" a couple years ago. His idea is that if you
can, you should start all seeds in the ground so their roots grow
naturally from the start, thus making them more resistant to drought,
disease etc. (at least that's how I understood it). In two years since
my brocolli has grown especially nice, fluctuating spring temps
have not caused the buttoning I used to get most years. Also
damage from cabbage loopers seems less. A few more years
should convince me. I understand cauliflower is even more
sensitive than broccoli but given my recent success I'm going
to give it a try. Here we're usually past the threat of frost by
April 15th. That's when I plant beans etc. My cool weather
veggies are planted about March 15th, carrots, lettuce, chard,
beets, broccoli, Kholrabi and potatoes. This year I'll include
'Early Snowball Cauliflower." It's an older variety that grows
pretty fast. Again if anyone has done this before and has any
tips, I'm listening. Thanks Everett

Comment by Tamra on January 5, 2010 at 5:34pm

Everett, I can't help you with your cauliflower question, but I am interested in your broccoli success. Broccoli has never done well for me. Since I have always raised starts for transplant, I thought I might try direct seeding this year. I am just trying to decide when to seed. What gardening zone are you in? When is you last spring frost date?

Comment by Everett McDonald on January 5, 2010 at 3:41pm

A few years ago I started growing my brocolli from seed straight into
the garden march 15th. It's grown well each year since. This year
I want to do the same thing with cauliflower. Have any of you
grown cauliflower here in the south? If so when, and how did
you plant it? How did it grow? Thanks Everett

Comment by Letti on November 16, 2009 at 6:53pm

I love the young kale leaves in salads along with beet leaves. During the winter months I love freezing the kale leaves then adding them to my soups 15 minutes before serving.
Everett these are healthy looking beet leaves. I grew the bull's blood variety and enjoyed them.

Comment by Tamra on November 15, 2009 at 9:24am

I have seen the really young kale leaves in salad mixes, but I prefer it cooked. Unlike collards and mustards, that need several hard freezes to sweeten up, kale does not. But at the same time it is the most cold hardy of all the greens. Last year I grew kale and collards all year in my zone 6 garden, with no protection. The kale was still growing come spring. The siberian or red Russian kale are the hardiest. I have seen pics of it growing through snow.

I like kale cooked similar to other southern greens served with sweet pickle relish. It is also good blanched and sauteed with olive and garlic.

Every winter garden should include kale.

Comment by Joel LeGrand on November 15, 2009 at 1:38am

HI everyone,
Thanks Everett, I will have to try your Bulls Blood.
Hi Tamra, I never eaten kale , can I use it raw in salad or should I always cook it?
Beets & Kale are two veggies I have not grown as of yet.

Comment by Tamra on November 13, 2009 at 9:06pm

I have noticed that my purple kale is only purple when the weather is cold, just like your red beets.

Comment by Everett McDonald on November 13, 2009 at 6:38pm

Hey Joel, My wife cooks them just as she would spinach. they're more
of a sweet green than a bitter green, like spinach or chard.

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