Nov. 1 The last of the sweet peas got picked on Halloween, but still thriving and enjoying the cooler weather are turnips, parsnips, arugula, beets, collards, cabbage, carrots, kale, lettuce, spinach and radishes.
The radish is an edible root vegetable of the Mustard family that was domesticated in Asia prior to Roman times. Radishes are grown and consumed throughout the world, being mostly eaten raw as a crunchy salad vegetable.
Roxanne Hy - 27 days - uniform bright red color and a beautiful creamy white interior. A great tasting radish with no pithiness or bleeding even at a larger size. This radish stays firm and solid even when oversized, and holds well in the garden. Roxanne is an All-America Selection award winner developed by Netherlands seed company Beto Zaden.
German Giant is a solid red colored, round shaped, heirloom radish with crisp, white, and pungent flesh. It is ready for harvest in just 29 days and resists getting woody or spongy and can be harvested from golf ball size on up to about the size of a cue ball.
Beets, belonging to the Goosefoot family, were domesticated in the ancient Middle East, primarily for their greens, and were grown by the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. By the Roman era it is thought that they were cultivated for their roots as well.
Detroit Dark Red 58 days - once it was introduced, it was quickly adopted by market growers for fresh market and the canning industry as well as by gardeners. The roots are globe shaped, excellent color, sweet, smooth and tender. Very tasty fresh out of the garden, but they also maintain their taste and texture after being canned or pickled. Originally developed by a Mr. Reeves of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada by making selections for specific traits from the old European variety, 'Early Blood Turnip'. Further selections and improvements were made by the D. M. Ferry Seed Company which introduced it in the United States in their 1892 catalog as 'Detroit Dark Red’.
Red Ace - 51 days - This beet developed by Sakata provides the ideal combination of early maturity and standing in the field for a long period without bolting or toughening up. Harvests from a planting can last for 2 months with the last beets nearly as good as the first. Tops are fairly short. Roots are very smooth with an excellent flavor. It is perhaps the most reliable beet to grow.
Nov. 8 some of the lettuce was beginning to bolt, so I harvested as much as I could use and composted the rest.
Nov. 9 made a fall salad of arugula, beet tops, and lettuce.
Arugula, also known as rocket, rucola, or roquette is a member of the Mustard family. Biblical reference in II Kings 4:39, suggests that arugula has been in cultivation at least as early as the 6th century B.C. Arugula has long been a part of Italian cooking, but, like Asian greens, kale, free-range chickens, tofu, brie, and heirloom tomatoes, arugula has only recently found its way into American cuisine.
Arugula’s peppery flavor adds zest to pizzas topping, soup and salad. It’s great for making pesto. Sautéed alone or with other ingredients, it makes a good side dish.
Astro - 32 days - The leaves are tender and resist bolting as temperatures warm. Developed by Sakata to provide fast growth for clipping smooth leaf baby greens in 3 weeks, then maturing into a larger leaf with deep lobes. Astro has a delicate flavor, and it withstands cold temperatures better than most arugula.
Nov. 15 The Juncos have arrived - must have been some severe winter weather up north.
Nov. 27 I harvested most of the lettuce still in the garden and pulled some mulch over the remaining beets, parsnips, and carrots. Winter - the real thing - is arriving Thanksgiving Day and staying for at least a full week.
