Bed 23
Carrots
Carrots prefer full sun and loose, light soil. Carrots grow well in cool weather. Plant in the spring or the fall; your carrots may take anywhere from 2 to 4 months to mature. Carrots come in a rainbow of colors, sizes, and shapes: purple, red, orange, yellow, and white. How to Harvest: Carrots can be harvested at any size. The thickness of the top of the root poking out of the soil is often a good guide to the size of the root, or gently push some of the soil away from around it to get a better look. |
Snow Globe Cauliflower
Cauliflower thrives in full sun. It is a cool-season crop that grows in spring and fall. However, it can be difficult to grow because it does not tolerate heat or cold. Though usually white, cauliflower does come in other colors including purple, yellow, and orange. How to Harvest: When the heads are compact, white, and firm, then it is time to harvest them. Ideally, the heads will grow to 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Cut the heads off the plant with a large knife. Be sure to leave some of the leaves around the head to keep it protected. |
Mammoth Sunflower
Mammoth sunflowers are native to North America, heat-tolerant, and resistant to pests. You can even harvest their edible seeds for a snack! Sunflowers are heliotropic, which means that they turn their flowers to follow the movement of the sun across the sky. How to Harvest: Let the flower dry on or off the stem until the back of the head turns brown, the foliage turns yellow, the petals die down, and the seeds look plump and somewhat loose. With sharp scissors or pruners, cut the head off the plant (about 6 inches below the flower head). Lie the sunflower head on a flat, clean surface and grab a bowl to hold the seeds. To remove the seeds, simply rub your hand over the seeded area and pull them off the plant or you can use a fork. |
Bed 24
Carrots
Carrots prefer full sun and loose, light soil. Carrots grow well in cool weather. Plant in the spring or the fall; your carrots may take anywhere from 2 to 4 months to mature. Carrots come in a rainbow of colors, sizes, and shapes: purple, red, orange, yellow, and white. How to Harvest: Carrots can be harvested at any size. The thickness of the top of the root poking out of the soil is often a good guide to the size of the root, or gently push some of the soil away from around it to get a better look. |
Mammoth Sunflower
Mammoth sunflowers are native to North America, heat-tolerant, and resistant to pests. You can even harvest their edible seeds for a snack! Sunflowers are heliotropic, which means that they turn their flowers to follow the movement of the sun across the sky. How to Harvest: Let the flower dry on or off the stem until the back of the head turns brown, the foliage turns yellow, the petals die down, and the seeds look plump and somewhat loose. With sharp scissors or pruners, cut the head off the plant (about 6 inches below the flower head). Lie the sunflower head on a flat, clean surface and grab a bowl to hold the seeds. To remove the seeds, simply rub your hand over the seeded area and pull them off the plant or you can use a fork. |
Broccoli
Broccoli is a cool-season crop that thrives in full sun. It is rich in Vitamin A, potassium, folic acid, iron, and fiber. Broccoli can be harvested more than once - once the main head is harvested, it will often keep producing smaller side shoots that can be enjoyed for months to come. The leaves are edible, too! How to Harvest: Harvest broccoli when the buds of the head are firm and tight, just before the heads flower. However, if you do see yellow petals, harvest immediately, as the quality will decrease rapidly. Cut heads from the plant, taking at least 6 inches of stem. Make a slanted cut on the stalk to allow water to slide away. (Water can pool and rot the center of a flat-cut stalk, runing the secondary heads.) Most varieties have side-shoots that will continue to develop after the main head is harvested. Broccoli leaves can also be harvested and prepare like kale or cabbage greens. Be sure to wait to harvest broccoli leaves until after you have harvested as the leaves are necessary for the broccoli plant to feed itself. |