GREEN SHOOTS of SPRING RAMPS!
Green shoots are a happy sign of spring. We’re especially glad to see our little ramp leaves sprouting up from the oak leaf mulch. Ramps (Allium tricoccum), take a measure of patience to grow, but they're worth it.
Like the asparagus, (and also dandelion), ramps are relatively slow growing and need to establish themselves for two years before being harvested. So if all goes as we’re planning, we’ll have some delicious homegrown ramps on our dinner (or breakfast) plate come April of 2023.
Talk about delayed gratification. But hope springs eternal and these perennials will provide springtime delicacies for many years.
Speaking of perennials...
CHIVES!
We know lots of you are growing chives. We are too. We're growing them outside but also eager to grow more indoor herbs for next winter alongside our microgreens for next winter. How about you? Are you growing chives and if so are you growing them indoors and out? Both kinds?
Beyond being delicious and nutritious, There are SO MANY uses for chives. One community member told us today that her mother made kimchi with them. Hadn't thought of using chives in fermented foods, but it's something to try.
We have lots more on growing chives in this article if you care to drop in for a visit. Let us know if you have tips to add or questions to ask, whether on this or any other gardening related topic.
Gardeners are best served by planting for the present and the future.
Coleman shares on growing asparagus in the video at the end of this perennial vegetables article.
FROM THE KITCHEN 👩🏽🍳
Here's what we're making this week with garden goodies and as featured on our family's recipe website: 😋
Tuscan Kale and White Bean Soup (using Lacinato kale we're growing)
Scrambled Egg Quesadillas with Spring Onions or Chives
Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake (using fresh frozen blueberries we grow).
FROM THE CREATIVE CORNER OF iCreateDaily.com® 👩🏼🎨🎨✍🏼
If you enjoy poetry and/or puzzles, you might enjoy reading these spring haiku poems. AND...you may enjoy trying your hand at them! Here's how to haiku (if you need a refresher. It's really simple and... warning... it can be addicting! 😉
We've had several contributions by GardensAll and Planting for Retirement community members, including from folks who've never thought they could — or would — write poetry. But haiku makes it easy for anyone to give it a go.
If you try a haiku and send it, we'll publish it too! ✍🏼👩🏼🎨😇
SPRING HAIKU
Hydrangea sprouts.
Winter was bitter and long.
Purple flowers shout.
~Haiku by Susanna Holman, artist, gardener
