December 11 HarvestWell, it ain't exactly like going over Niagra Falls in a barrel, but I always get a thrill when I grow something that I've never attempted before and I harvest something that looks even remotely like it should. Today that was, don't laugh, carrots!
I've never bothered with carrots before because, a) they're so common, b) rocky soil in previous gardens, c) gophers. So, I was talked into some carrot seeds this fall and since my vegetable garden soil is not rocky anymore and the gophers have not yet found my new garden site, in they went. Imagine my surprise when they actually sprouted! And then the thinnings actually looked like little itsy bitsy baby carrots! They even tasted like carrots. Then, today when I decided that they needed even more thinning (I was so doubtful at planting time that I planted waaay more than required), I was thrilled to pull up something that actually looked like carrots. A little stubby and hairy and with other defects, but definitely carroty looking. They should be tasty in that Turkey Vegetable soup that's going to be dinner tonight (more on that later).
So, the question is, which was the bigger thrill today - my first carrot crop or the basket of fresh tomtoes that I picked today? Don't know.
Woot! They're beautiful Hope mine look as good.
ReplyDeleteYay! I find edible gardening to be so rewarding. Like you, I'm always amazed that I can stick a seed in the ground and a few months later, harvest something that actually looks good enough to eat.
ReplyDeleteCarrots and tomatoes - jealous. If you liked those carrots, you might love 'dragon' - my favourite purple skinned carrot with a fantastic taste and vigorous growth.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed by your carrot-y success. I think it took my 4 years to get carrots to grow the way I wanted or maybe I'm just a bit slow ;-)
Thanks Susan! I bet you grow beautiful carrots.
ReplyDeleteFern, you would think that after years in the garden that the thrill would fade, it doesn't though. I guess that's one of the things that keeps us growing in spite of bugs, blights, and blustery weather!
Ottawa, the purple carrot sounds like my kind of veggie. And I bet your carrots are beautiful too!
I agree purple carrots are the bomb!
ReplyDeleteI cannot put into words just how jealous I am. I truly have tomato envy...ughhh darn Washington weather. Think there's room in sunny California for another farmer and her camel? Kim
There's always room here for another farmer and her camel! But, it's not always sunny around here. We have "June Gloom", which often extends into July, which is how we identify the tourists - they're the one's shivering in shorts!
ReplyDeleteWonderful tomatoes ... in December! And I understand your carrot thrill - like all food gardening, it's much better than going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. You get something good to eat at the end of it! And it always seems to me like a kind of miracle.
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