Most of my "outdoor" time this past week has been cleaning out my garage so I can fit my car back into it for winter - there is nothing pleasant about scraping ice off the windshield for 4-5 months. However, I did get around to a bit of cleanup in the yard.
First up were the jerusalem artichokes shown above. These are planted in a space that is obviously not well suited to growing these sunchokes. Which is good and bad. Because they spread very easily (any piece of broken off root left in the ground will regrow), it is good that they don't grow as well as they could in a better location. But bad because they have only flowered once in the three years I've been growing them. I really bought them only for the flowers although I do like to eat them roasted now and then. The picture shows about half of the three pounds harvested.
And I decided to harvest all of the horseradish root that was growing in a small container. As with the jerusalem artichokes, leaving any bit of the root will likely result in more horseradish next year as it is also a bit invasive. I dumped the container of soil into another area of the garden so it's possible I'll find some growing next year. I usually keep horseradish around as it is helping in staving off Colorado Potato Beetles. I will mince it then add some vinegar and salt to preserve it.
The only other item harvested was a small bunch of spring onions while cleaning out that garden bed. I will be heading over to Our Happy Acres to see what other gardeners are doing on this Harvest Monday.
You have some interesting harvests. I've never grown, eaten or even seen Jerusalem artichokes. How do you use them? I've also never grown horseradish.
ReplyDeleteThey are just like any other root vegetable ... roasted, mashed. Sometimes I just mix them with potatoes.
DeleteI can attest to how hard it is to get rid of sunchokes! I planted some years ago, and they've come back ever since. Too bad I can't even eat them, as I'm one of those people that doesn't digest them well. I love the flavor though.
ReplyDeleteI planted horseradish this year, and I need to dig it soon. I won't mind if it spreads a bit though, as I do like to eat it a lot!
I was thinking the same thing ... let the horseradish loose of the container and let it spread! It has very lush greens.
DeleteI've also never eaten Jerusalem artichokes but the farm has them growing in their driveway, in a center island in surrounded by asphalt so that's their trick in keeping them contained!
ReplyDeleteHorseradish is on my grow list too - didn't realize that it was invasive, so that's good to know. Do you think it would survive in the pot if you left it outside all winter?
I have left it outside in the container two winters in a row, so it definitely survives!
DeleteThose are two veggies that I haven't tried growing even though I do like them. There just isn't room in my garden for them, although I suppose I could try the horseradish in a pot, it looks like it worked for you and that's one veggie that you don't need to grow a lot of.
ReplyDeleteYes, horseradish in a pot works very well although it gets root-bound easily so needs a good sized container.
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