Kolhrabi

February 2010

Flying Saucers Spotted in Renee's Garden

Read more about Kolhrabi,including how to grow and recipes.

"And now for something completely different..." Try kohlrabi, our space ship vegetable. Kohlrabi plants form globe-shaped bulbs, actually edible swollen stems, just above the ground. People unfamiliar with them will gaze in amazement when they first see your kohlrabi bed.

Anyone with an Eastern European or Asian background knows how tasty the crunchy mild flesh of these eccentric looking bulbs is enjoyed either raw or cooked. Peeled kohlrabi bulbs are juicy with a delicate sweet flavor that I would describe as a cross between apples and very mild baby turnips.

Kohlrabi is a reliable, productive and easy growing edible ornamental that grows in cool spring weather and again in fall when summer heat tapers off. Our "Crispy Colors Duo" makes a handsome mosaic pattern in the garden each spring and fall and you will enjoy visitors' reactions to this eye-catching and unusual vegetable.

NW Flower & Garden Show Reflects Hot Gardening Trends

Edible landscaping demonstrating the ornamental use of food crops, vertical gardening, container vegetable gardening, "urban" chicken keeping, and creative use of recycled materials created the buzz at this well attended Seattle show. Renee and webmaster Sue spent a few happy days taking it all in. Renee was a featured speaker and gave several seminars on Starting from Seed and Container Gardening to an enthusiastic crowd with many first time gardeners.

In the main exhibit hall, a real crowd pleaser and our own favorite was the Crops for Clunkers garden created by the Seattle Urban Farm Co., featuring a "repurposed" pickup truck, complete with luxuriant veggie beds in the engine compartment and truck bed and laying hens comfortably housed inside the cab.

Recipe of the Month:
Carrot Bran Muffins

Rich tasting with the extra nutrition and goodness of sweet carrots.

In the Trial Garden: Portuguese Kale
- by Lindsay Del Carlo, Trial Garden Manager

This is a big planning month in for the Trial Garden. We are mapping out the garden for the many unique and interesting varieties that we will be growing out this season. One of the most interesting is Tronchuda "Beira" kale. Tronchuda is almost exclusively cultivated in Portugal and is also called Portugese Kale, sea-kale cabbage, and couve tronchuda. It is a loose headed plant with side spreading leaves and thick, white, fleshy ribs. It is used in special dishes such as 'Cozido a Portuguesa' (a rich stew) and is the main ingredient in 'Caldo verde' (Portuguese kale and potato soup). It also works in place of cabbage in your favorite recipes. We are looking forward to cooking with this sweet and flavorful vegetable.

It will soon be time to sow some Spring flowers like Calendula. Calendula plants thrive in cool spring weather, and we have 5 different new variety mixes to trial. Calendulas are edible flowers that can also be used in making herbal cosmetics too. Check out our "A Guide to Making Your Own Herbal Cosmetics" for recipes.

Featured Seed of the Month:

"Easy to Grow" Collections

Our attractively packaged new "Easy to Grow" Seed Collections contains 5 carefully chosen individual packets for colorful vegetable varieties that are reliably easy to grow and especially rewarding for anyone new to starting a garden from seed.

On Renee's Blog

Use the veggies you froze last summer or buy this winter for Renee's Chicken and Vegetable Soup - guaranteed to warm you up and make you happy.

Click Here to view

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Best Wishes,

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