All the Dirt on Gardening

Flowers of Dynosaur Kale  I've never met a Brassica I didn't like and that includes kale, chard, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, broccolini, kohlrabi, turnip, rutabaga, etc. If you look up Brassica food plots you may be surprised to know that people plant plots of it to attract deer they can shoot. Being mostly vegetarians, we are appalled. In fact, I think that Brassica is pretty enough to put into flower beds among perennial shrubs and other wonderful additions to the garden. One of our favorites, Dino Kale has been grown in Italy since the 1700s and was a favorite in Thomas Jefferson's garden. Since it is a heirloom plant, you never have to worry about GMOs, hybridization and seeds not coming true when you harvest your own seeds. Our winter was so mild that several kale plants remained productive. With this warm spell, I expect them to do some rapid spring growth and then I'll harvest the seeds and replant our tiny veg...

Time to plant fall greenery. We have just the right weather for putting in a few vegetables to boost the healthy components of winter's dinner table. Chard, kale, lettuce, broccoli raab, mustard, Pak Choi and spinach can be planted in a sunny spot now and still have time to produce baby greens for salads or stir fry. Chard, raab and kale can be used to make fresh rolls filled with cooked, seasoned rice. Raab, rapini or broccoli di rapa, is easy to grow. The new leaves flavor salads and sandwiches, the larger leaves and pseudo broccoli heads can be steamed. Kale has a dozen varieties. 'Lacinato' is cold tolerant and light frost sweetens its leaves. Pak Choi is added Asian soup, steamed with garlic and olive oil or chopped into salad. Spinach lovers don't have to be told about its many uses from vegetarian lasagna to wraps. Prepare and amend a sunny bed. Use leftover veggie seeds from your spring garden or buy a few packs of the ones you know your family will eat. I just...