Kitchen Garden Forum

I'm trying chard this year - Bright Lights. I like the look of them, don't know what they're like to eat.

Also trying to grow some sweet potatoes. Need to look up Jenny Green's pointers for growing them.

Also going to try my Persian melons and butternut squash again this year. Just planted them today, so maybe they'll do something. Usually I'm too late for them to grow any fruit - last year none of the melons germinated, but it was so wet and cool when I planted them. Will keep my fingers crossed.

Tried Tuscan Black Kale - Cavolo Nero last year. Grew too much and DP only liked it in minestrone. Maybe grow one or two plants rather than 8 this year if I can get some seed.

Hi Alan

I also try to do at least one new thing every year. This year it includes Lady Christl potatoes and Kodiak peas (which no-one seems to know anything about). Re-runs after past failures include melons (now that I have a greenhouse)and Alderman peas (now I have a new veg. plot that is disease free).

After a while it gets difficult to find something completely new - but I notice that horseradish is not on your list.

Malk
Bright Lights chard is much the same as green. It is also excellent in a mixed salad of baby leaves - so it's worth sowing a few extra, or use the thinnings. Persian melons are a new on on me. Isn't it rather early to sow them? The late Bernard Salt's advice was don't sow cucumbers "until the cherry trees are in full blossom" - and for melons "The best time to sow is when the cherry blossom is dropping its petals". Poetic and, I think, acurate. Works for my cucumbers anyway.

Chris
I'm wary of horseradish getting out of hand, and we use so little. We have a very good local maker of horseradish sauce (Gold Award last year in Gwir Flas Cymru/True Taste of Wales).

Thanks Alan. Any tips for growing tomatillos?
Malk, pm me about sweet potatoes if you feel the urge. Hang fire for a while yet unless you have a heated greenhouse. They hate the cold.

I grew some Bright Lights for the first time last year....now I love 'em but the Governor says they are a 'bit earthy' for her so I get 'em all to myself.

I am still picking leaves off last years plants..the frost has slowed them down a bit but tasty new leaves keep on coming

A definitely for 2007... in fact I have already got the seed

Bright Lights are excellent. I grow one lot to get me through the summer and another for overwintering.

Use the leaves as you would spinach and the stalks as celery.

Jenny
Tomatillo tips: sow and pot on exactly as for tomatoes.
I used to plant out when about 6-9 inches tall. Then just leave them to get on with it, just putting in some support if the wind gets them. I have seen them grown inside, and they are enormous, so stick to the open.
When they are ripe in the late summer/Autumn they are good sliced raw. They store quite a long time kept dry and light, or freeze.

Many thanks Alan. I was going to grow them in the greenhouse, so now I'll put them outside. What would you say was roughly the yield from one plant outside?

Hi Jenny

Never weighed them, but I would reckon 2 to 3 kilos from a 3 foot high plant - but don't quote me on that
By all means keep on of two for the greenhouse to be on the safe side, if you have room. Trouble is you can't really control them as you do tomatoes by side-shooting.

Alan

Ta v much.

Don't know if I'm early, Alan. They're heritage seeds my mum sent over from the States and didn't come with instructions.

Last few years I've planted them in late March and they didn't seem to have enough time to get any fruit on them, if they germinated at all. This year I thought I'd treat them like my other heat-loving plants like peppers and tomatoes and start them early at home in a heated propogator (sp?) to give them plenty of time. I'll keep you informed. Keep your fingers crossed.

Thanks for the advice on the chard, never eaten the greens, but the Bright Lights look so interesting I thought I'd give them a try. My DP will probably turn nose up at them, not big on greens, but will try them at least.

Malk
Judging by what I can find such as

http://www.seedfest.co.uk/seeds/melons/ ... allpersian

you are probably wise to sow your melon seeds early. Look after them. Hope they do well.

Alan

After further research, I have come across this in "The Vegetable Garden" by Vilmorin-Andrieux (English translation 1885)

Persian or Odessa Melon
A rather vigorous growing plant, with long and somewhat slender stems. Leaves of medium size, tolerably lobed and cut on the edges, and of a lively green colour; fruit devoid of ribs, very much elongated and narrowed to a point at both ends, especially at the stalk end; skin smooth, of a very dark green colour, with yellowish bands, which are themselves spotted, or striped with green, flesh very thick, almost without any rind and almost entirely filling the fruit, rather firm but very finely flavoured, juicy, sweet and highly perfumed. This melon requires a great deal of heat, and seldom ripens very well in northern countries. The fruit, if gathered a short time before ripening, may be kept for several weeks, and sometimes even for a part of the winter, provided they are stored in a place where the frost cannot get at them.

Does this sound like what you have?

Alan

I think i might try growing some Mouli this year, either Minowase or April cross.
I have never grown it before, but for those of you who have never heard of it, it's like a giant white radish.

My apologies Alan, i couln't resist it.

Will this be OH next year if he does?