Winter Garden

Brussels Sprouts.JPG

Karen,
I hope you eat the leaves of the brussel sprout plant. They are terrific.
Bernie

Really? Please tell me about it and how are they prepared? I love this idea, as I hate wasting any part of these beautiful plants. Thanks!

Karen,

Brussels greens are one of my favorites. Raw or blanched, they make an excellent wrap. I usually cook them with a little pasta (I like the way whole wheat pasta works with the hearty green flavor). Here is a post on my blog about them (forgive all the b.s. about my band). But really, the sky is the limit. The same goes with the broccoli greens.

http://punkchef69.blogspot.com/2009/11/ ... pasta.html


rwj

I'm so jealous ! I was about to harvest the empty Brussels sprout stalks for use in a centerpiece when an unexpected freeze hit. Now the droopy tops stand like forlorn guards over the snow blanketed garden. Oh, to be able to have a winter garden. I am seriously considering retirement options with an extended growing season.
Have never eaten the green leaves but will do so next year. Thanks for the info

Chistina, we have had a lot of freezing temps here, as well. In one of the pictures you can see, on the right hand side, some white cloth. It is called Frost Cloth and we have had to use it all winter. We have PVC pipe frames on the raised beds and tie the frost cloth just above the crop, to the frame work. It got down to 19° on two mornings. Mostly we've been 28 - 32°. Rather unusual for us to have it so cold for so long. Even my lettuce under the frost cloth is thriving. I did not realize until I pulled my first plant today, to harvest the sprouts and leaves, that it was infested with aphids. First it was worms, and I was out everyday picking those things off. The aphids hide in the cracks and folds. I had a time today washing all the leaves and tiny sprouts. It is not a crop I will put in again. I'm going to try root crops next year and see if I can do better with those. I go strictly organic, and refuse to use any sprays, so far the bugs are winning.

Thanks Karen. You have sparked a new idea. Along with some info in the latest Johnny's Seed catalog about extended growing crops I am going to look into what I can grow in the long Wisonsin off season. Looked at Belgian endive - totally possible in my garage in the winter. I like challenges like this !