In My San Diego Garden and Kitchen

The winter vegetable garden is more promise that fulfillment in late November. Most of the seeding and transplants were accomplished in October, so most harvests will be in the months ahead.

Romaine lettuce interplanted with 17 cauliflower plants is nearing the end but I still harvest outer leaves on a few plants for a quick salad. I pulled the first radish last week, promptly washed and ate it.

Radishes made the list of Veggies That Grow in Under 30 Days that I posted last week. My first radish showed up on day 38 but my husband says the solar panel data suggests about one third of that period was overcast. October is typically warm and sunny here at the coast. No matter. I’m happy to have radishes for salads. Which reminds me I need to do another succession planting.

My seed-grown ‘Sea of Red’ and ‘Pomegranate Crunch’ were ready to make the move to the garden last week.

At this stage, the lettuce is vulnerable to birds and moles. Covering the beds with screening excludes the birds. To minimize mole damage I insert, at an angle, three 6-inch pieces of wooden skewers or thin bamboo for each plant.

Last month I gathered all the miscellaneous brassica seeds, various greens and mustard seeds—some of questionable viability and seeded the 4 x 12 inch container liberally. In the next day or two I’ll harvest some of the micro-greens. I’m thinking mix-ins for salads, topping for a soup or stir-fry.

With the last of the green and red peppers I made a Pork and Pepper Stew stepped up with chili powder, a cinnamon stick, orange juice and zest.

The harvest of the week continues to be strawberries here in November. Topping a waffle along with confectioner’s sugar on Sunday morning, the week is off to a good start.

Equally enchanting is the succession of ‘Ambridge’ roses that persist into November. I attribute their beauty and fragrance to David Austin genetics.

You may enjoy seeing what other garden bloggers harvested last week at Harvest Monday hosted by Dave at Our Happy Acres. Check back in two days when I plan to have a photo update: In My Garden—Early November.

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