| Author |
Garden Gate:  I have a green thumb but.......  |
|
|
CascadeFootHillsFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
133 Posts
Stephanie
Granite Falls
Wa.
USA
133 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 14 2010 : 4:34:11 PM
|
What is a cover crop? This would be for on raised beds. What do you do with it in the spring?
I live in Washington State, zone 7.
What is the best way to cut salad greens?
Some greens are flowering.....still usable? I have been giving those tall parts to the chicks and bunnies.
A few onions are making flowers on the top, they still look like white puffs. I know the garlic makes bubils and that you can plant them, is that the same for onions?
Thank you so much,
Stephanie
"A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle." Irish Quote |
|
|
Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 07:06:07 AM
|
cover crop is what you plant after your veggies, like buckwheat or a pea. It helps the soil usually by adding nitrogen. You plow it under in the spring.
I use a knife or scissors to cut my lettuce. Flowering lettuce, I don't usually eat, but someone else might have other thought.s
Yes on the onions. I've planted the bulbs from the tops.
Best Growing |
 |
|
|
CascadeFootHillsFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
133 Posts
Stephanie
Granite Falls
Wa.
USA
133 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 09:34:51 AM
|
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for writing.
When I look that the salad bed I see all this healthy tall lettuce/greens. What do you do with romaine? Do you cut the whole thing off, like all 30 pieces? How low? Or do you just use 10 or so from each plant starting low and then working your way up?
Does it grow new or do you use each plant once?
For the other greens, some of them are not as thick, do you chop heavily or just start around the bottom and work your way up?
I will look into cover crops. Are they mainly to add to the soil or are they for preventing weeds in the spring?
I also have Lupine growing in the middle of the salad bed. We had them planted there last year but they didn't grow.
The good news is the baby bunnies ate the Lupine leaves but have left the salad greens. Is it safe to mix decorative plants and edible plants? Any concerns there? When is the best time to get the seeds off the Lupine to use somewhere else?
Thank you for your time~
Stephanie
"A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle." Irish Quote |
|
|
|
Hallie
Video Sister
79 Posts
Hallie
Pullman
WA
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 09:36:31 AM
|
Regarding lettuce, sometimes I cut off the whole head and sometimes I just take the outer leaves with scissors. It will usually grow back once or twice.
Some people swear by cover crops, but I usually just cover my (small) beds with compost or straw or leaves as a mulch. The next year I might dig it in where I plant something, but I try not to do a lot of tilling. For a small garden, I think the no-dig or minimal digging techniques are easiest. I, however, am a lazy gardener. 
Hallie
Sister #1112
www.maryjanesfarm.tv |
|
|
|
CascadeFootHillsFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
133 Posts
Stephanie
Granite Falls
Wa.
USA
133 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 10:02:14 AM
|
That helps so much. I wasn't sure if it would grow but again at all. I have 6 romaine, lovely and perfect but I didn't want to chop them down if they were not going to grow again. I'd rather leave a little for show! The rest I will try to do a little of both, chop and observe and take a little from the bottom and see what they do too.
Thanks Hallie!
"A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle." Irish Quote |
|
|
|
Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 11:53:27 AM
|
yes, lettuce will continue to grow so you can trim off parts or all. I usually do all of one plant and then rotate so it is growing while I use others.
I'm not sure the edibility of lupine though it is native and I have it in my flower bed. It is just now flowering for me so no seeds yet. Once the flowers die back watch for the seeds. I just gathered on my Columbine. I let some seed pods get to the point where it released seeds naturally and then I collected some still in pods that were about to let go.
Best Growing |
|
|
| |
Garden Gate: I have a green thumb but....... |
|
I have a green thumb but.......
