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| First Homegrown Artichoke |
I think my most exciting news this week is picking my very first homegrown artichoke. As you can see it's a bit on the small side and I may have picked it too soon (there was absolutely no 'choke' in it at all). But I was worried about our temps hitting 96 and it going past it's prime too quick. Well, it was tender, delicious and absolutely wonderful. I don't think I've eaten a fresh arti since I was a kid and we lived in California. I always thought it was great fun to be able to eat with my fingers and get messy and nobody said anything to me because they were doing the same thing!
After I cut this one I could see that there are three more little ones hiding underneath it! Soooo looking forward to more!
Of course I had lots of eggs, (and sold my first dozen!) lots of salad, the Mammoth Melting peas are coming on strong too. And I discovered that even when they are getting lumpy they are still sweet and delicious, they just get a string like an old fashioned green bean. There were a couple of bug eaten strawberries (discovered the culprit, it's the pill bugs aka potato bugs aka rolly polly), a couple of spears of asparagus and a big of broccoli.
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| The chicks have a good time playing in the greenhouse. |
The chicks are growing fast, losing their fluff and growing real feathers. Every day that I can, I put them out in the greenhouse where they are reasonably safe as long as I'm around the yard. At this time it isn't predator proof so I can't leave them out there all the time. Besides which, the far end is where the rat hole is, so I couldn't leave them in there at night, large rats have been known to attack sleeping chicks.
Beautiful artichoke! I haven't tried growing them yet, maybe next year will plant them but not sure how they do in cold areas. And love little chicks - too cute!
ReplyDeleteOh how I wish I could grow artichokes. Our growing season is so short and our winters so cold that it's pretty hard to grow them around here. I have heard of folks overwintering them with a hoop house or green house so some day I hope to be adventurous enough to give that a try! Until then I will just have to settle for the occasional artichoke shipped in from CA!
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! Congrats on the first artichoke and on selling your first batch of eggs. I started giving out free half-dozens to friends and my fiance's coworkers... just enough to get them hooked and want more of the delicious fresh eggs!
ReplyDeleteRiney here today so no gardening! Boo hoo! Nancy at Cozy Thyme Cottage
ReplyDeleteThat artichoke is perfect. You had quite a harvest, peas, asparagus, eggs ... Those chicks are so cute.
ReplyDeleteyeah for your first artichoke! the little girls are so cute!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on both your artichoke and egg sales. Your chicks are really cute.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty artichoke! I planted one last year and I thought with our mild winter and a row cover it would do fine, but sadly it didn't. Your little chicks are so adorable! Seeing everyone's baby chicks this spring has made me want some.. maybe next year!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful first artichoke. I remember eating them as a kid. It was the one thing my mom cooked in her pressure cooker. I was never a huge fan, but I did love to dip the leaves in butter.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I still can't figure out what to do with an artichoke! Yours looks perfect.
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