Winter Greens

Winter isn't usually time of year that we think of popping outside and picking from our gardens, but popping and picking just happens to be exactly what I did the other day--in the middle of January.  With snow still piled on the ground, ice glazing the pond, and temperatures hovering just above freezing, I went out to my garden and gathered some "winter greens". 

You'd think that under these conditions everything out in the garden would be frozen, but nope.  The only frozen thing in the garden was my right hand, but that was only because I had to take my glove off to snap the photos.  And I'd have posted this immediately, but I had to wait 'til my hand unthawed before I could type. 

Sorry for the delay.  But since my extremities are all back in working order now, I see no reason why I should keep this from you any longer...

Ooh, let's start here!  This is one of my Wakefield cabbages that I planted as a seedling back in August.  Since cabbage is a cool-weather lover, I stuck it under a cluster of marigolds so it could have some shade while it waited out the heat of the summer.  When fall rolled around and the marigolds died back, this fella came to life.  It never produced a full head, but that's probably my fault.  I kept picking a leaf here and there for a smoothie or to toss into some slaw, so it couldn't ever really concentrate on its task. 

I pestered it too much...what else is new. 

But it worked out great because now I get to keep picking leaves whenever I want instead of trying to use up a whole head of cabbage all at once.

You'd think I planned it that way...

Well here's something I did plan--Red Russian Kale.  Kale is one of the most winter hardy greens there is, and since it's easy to grow and packed with nutrients, you can't go wrong planting these guys.  I make sure to sow my seeds toward the end of summer so they have time to sprout and mature before winter arrives.  Like most of the other winter greens, kale doesn't freeze even when the cold really settles in.  In fact, the leaves only get sweeter and crisper.  Let me tell you, it's really a treat to be able to dig around in the snow-covered garden and find something tasty to eat!

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Not far from the kale sits my big ole Curly-leaf Parsley plant, grown from seed last spring.  It grew nicely all season long, and then decided not to quit when the season ended.  The snow slowed it down but really didn't bother it much, aside from browning a few leaves on the fringes.  The texture didn't change, and it still tastes great.  And that means I can still munch on a sprig or two after my meals for safety's sake--in the Middle Ages parsley was considered an antidote to poison, and it is said that kings would included it as an after-dinner snack just in case the cook was feeling disgruntled! 

If it worked for them, it works for me--you can't be too careful these days, even if I am my own cook!

And speaking of cooking, I love cooking with leeks and garlic.  There's just something about the entire onion (or Allium) family that I adore, so I make sure I have them in the garden all year long.  Sweet onions in the spring, garlic and shallots in the summer, green onions in the fall, and leeks in the winter.  Onions have been a homestead staple for generations, and for good reason--there seems to be an onion for every season! 

For a little spice in my salads, I sowed a blend of Asian greens in late July.  Well actually, my ten year-old cousin sowed them for me and did a great job. By early September we had red mustard, mizuna, arugula and more growing like crazy, until the turkey broke through the temporary garden fence and gobbled them down. I thought they were finished--the greens and the turkey--but a few days later I spied the greens sprouting back up from the roots.

And then I did something nice: I decided to pardon the turkey...for now.

Here's one of the prettiest "greens" I have, even though it's purple.  This is actually a Giant Red Mustard plant, except it's more of a "Mini" Red Mustard plant now.  That's because I've picked off too many leaves and tossed them to the chickens.  They can't seem to get enough of this zippy, zesty jewel, and I can't blame them, and I also can't seem to quit picking from this poor plant.

After a few freezes, the outer leaves that were left on this plant have curled back a little, but the inner ones are still bright and crisp.  It kind of makes me wonder if it isn't still growing despite the freezing weather.  I hope it is and so do the chickens. 

Not that they've actually said that.  I'm just assuming.

I really don't know how long these "Winter Greens" will linger, but no matter.  I'll just enjoy them for as long as they're here.   And since I let many of them "self-sow" (produce seeds that fell to the ground around the parent plant), I'm sure I'll have plenty of new plants popping up everywhere in the spring. 

I let a lot "winter greens" self-sow this past year, so hopefully I won't have to do a thing in the spring but pop out to the garden and pick what I want!  Just like I do now, except the weather should be much more pleasant then. 

My right hand will be happy to hear that.