Monday Harvest – 25th Feb 2013

This week was definitely the week of the tomato.  I harvested some of every variety I grew this year, save the Beefsteak that never really got going and I suspect died sometime back.  In the basket below you can see Broad Ripple Currant, Black Cherry, Tigerella, Yugoslav, Burnley Bounty, College Challenger, Yellow Boy, Rouge de Marmande, Tommy Toe and Tiny Tim.  I’ve had some great salads this week.

Basket of Tomatoes

I did harvest some things other than tomatoes too.  A few Bonica eggplants, a golden nugget pumpkin, garlic chives, spring onions and beans.  Once again I harvested a lot of beans this week.

Harvest Basket

And cucumbers, so many cucumbers.  I keep thinking the Lemon Cucumbers are finishing only to find a whole lot more the next day.

Cucumbers

This next basket is more of the same, summer harvests get a bit like that don’t they?  So much produce.

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We seem to have hit the height of the mini capsicum season.  Interestingly my overwintered plant is producing at the same time as the one sown this year (early July).  The fruits are bigger on the new plant although not as plentiful.  I’m wondering if I am better off growing this variety from seed each year and plant in a larger pot than I did this year to try and increase the yield.  The fruits have heaps of seed so saving some is no issue at all.

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My cayenne chillies are starting to ripen too.  These went into a cucumber salad.  Soon I will be producing enough to start making chilli paste.  But hopefully not too soon as I am starting to feel a bit preserved out.

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That’s it from me harvestwise for this week – head over to Daphne’s Dandelions for more harvesting fun.

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37 Responses to Monday Harvest – 25th Feb 2013

  1. No harvesting for us this week yet as we are still using last week’s haul. Roots do keep well once picked – dug up.

    • Liz says:

      I have to admit to the occasional bout of root envy – we eat a lot of carrots here and i should really grow them but I always run out of space and get too impatient with them.

  2. Jules says:

    Loving your Tigerellas! I’ve got those on the go for the first time this year, though currently at the 1cm seedling stage. Summer harvests are just so colourful! The only thing coming out of my plot this week are parsnips – which are definitely lovely to taste, but not particularly pretty in a harvest basket! Would love to get a recipe for chilli paste if you have a good one.

    • Liz says:

      I usually just make Sambal Oelek, I posted on it last year – here is the link. I kept it in the fridge and am still using it. I haven’t noticed it spoiling at all which is good.

  3. Mark Willis says:

    A lovely display of veg again, Liz. At present I can only dream of such bounty! I am also a big fan of Tigerella – good-looking, tasty and high-yielding – one of my favourites. I am making a determined effort not to sow seeds too early this year. Normally by the end of Feb I have started my chillies and tomatoes, but it’s always a struggle to keep them in good condition for their first few weeks.

    • Liz says:

      I suspect i sowed my winter crops too early as i’m looking at seedlings that really should be planted out but as yet I’ve nowhere to put them…

  4. Bek says:

    A lovely summer harvest. I’m jealous of your beans, mine have been pathetic this year.

    • Liz says:

      I’ve had mixed results – some that usually do well for me haven’t but others have been excellent. I reckon the shade from next doors trees has helped.

  5. Nina says:

    I hear you with regard to being ‘preserved out’! I’ve been making passata about every three days but only one to three jars each time, as the tomatoes have been ripening. I can see that little job in my future for some weeks to come! It’s nice making it with home grown tomatoes, though.

    Ditto with bread and butter cucumbers and cucumber and capsicum relish. Over it!!

    AND I’ve still got heaps of a few different chutneys from last year. I think I’ll take them in to work and leave them on people’s desks. They can’t say no to that, surely??

    • Liz says:

      I think I will just bottle the tomatoes from here on – less prep work. I read in Maggie Beer’s harvest book that she bottles hers with skin on (it apparently falls off when you go to use them later) so if its good enough for Maggie….

  6. Dave says:

    What a lovely mix of tomatoes! It’s nice to see some fresh ones, and you have a great assortment there. I think I see a Gold Nugget squash in one photo too. We ate the last one from our stores last night.

    • Liz says:

      That was one of two Golden Nuggets that I got from the plant this year (after the rodents ate the rest). I haven’t eaten it yet – I have been holding off as once its got i don’t have any more.

  7. KL says:

    Your harvest is lovely; my mouth is becoming watery. When will summer come here? Do you know if cucumbers are perennial or not in warmer climate? Have you tried it in a pot? Thanks

    • Liz says:

      I’m fairly sure they are annuals. I have grown cucumbers very successfully in pots – you need the pot to be pretty large and you need something for it/them to grow up but yes they can do well in pots.

  8. Don’t you just love this time of year?!

  9. What a wonderful array in your garden! It just keeps coming doesn’t it. I’m also feel preserved out. My weekend was full of sauce, chili jam, pickled beets and more.

  10. Sarah says:

    So many tomatoes! It’s a great time of year where you are, well apart from the preserving fatigue…

  11. Dave's SFG says:

    I enjoy seeing the variety of tomatoes you are growing, I don’t have the room. And I spy those Black Cherry tomatoes in the basket, one of my favorites.

    • Liz says:

      I have to admit mine are planted way too close and next year I think I’ll decrease the varieties and plant a bit further apart. Having said that it is fun having all the different types.

  12. Oh wow. Such beautiful colors! I love the variety that you have…the harvest is super photogenic!

  13. Louise says:

    A seriously beautiful harvest, especially your wonderful variety of tomatoes. I can only sigh and eat another peach…

    • Liz says:

      Peaches are good. Peaches are very good. There are songs about Peaches, not many but still songs I can’t think of any about tomatoes – clearly a gap. do you know any musicians who could rememdy this?

  14. it really is fun to see what’s growing, half a word away!

  15. World.

    I’m such a terrible typist. Sigh.

  16. Balvinder says:

    Great harvest ,you groomed them properly! I love lemon cucumber, They seem to have a brighter flavor than regular ones.

    • Liz says:

      My daughter is a huge fan too – Personally i think I prefer the green ones but definitely like having a lemon one from time to time.

  17. kitsapFG says:

    (sigh) Oh those lovely tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. I am totally Jonesing for some of all of those fresh and ripe from the garden.

  18. Bee Girl says:

    You’re tomatoes look simply divine! Such a variety! I’m just starting my tomatoes under our grow lights and have recently realized we’re down to our last few jars or tomatoes from last season…I have a feeling it’s going to be a long couple of months without any garden tomato goodness!

  19. Roger Brook says:

    Oh those Tigerella! It reminds me I must sow some this year, Another couple of weeks and it will be time to sow tomatoes in York UK

  20. Norma Chang says:

    Enjoy seeing your bountiful and varied harvest. Will be a while before I can plant anything in the garden let alone harvest.

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