In My San Diego Garden and Kitchen
The last of the brassicas is always Romanesco. The plants are huge, especially when planted in my raised beds with the compost-enriched soil. This year I planted only three (not six) and set them out in an adjacent bed where strawberries will now go. This is the plan going forward.
One Romanesco went to a friend and we’ll enjoy two. The above head is about eight inches across, much larger than any you might purchase.
A new favorite side is Lemony Romanesco with Pistachios which used scallions from the garden and a neighbor’s lemon. Flavors blended ever so well and would be suitable for any cauliflower or broccoli side.
Read previous blog posts about Romanesco here and also here.
Orange marmalade was the garden event of the week. I met up with my sister who is the orange marmalade queen in her kitchen in Newport Beach. She has the better stove with six burners. Marmalade is faster with two cooks since there is significant prep.
In about six hours we produced 52 jars. Most are given as gifts and I’m often told it is the best orange marmalade to be had. Thanks mom and grandma for the recipe and technique. Kudos also to my husband for keeping a 35 year old navel orange tree productive, healthy and organic.
Broccoli side shoots about 2-3 inches across were ready to harvest last week. Successive ones will be smaller, but Premium Crop broccoli does well in SoCal and yields very large heads and generous side shoots.
I harvested the first two Rosaine lettuce which has become my favorite winter lettuce. Read more about this remarkable Little Gem type lettuce at Territorial Seed Co.
Here’s the start to a side salad with Rosaine, gathered mesclun lettuce and baby leaf spinach.
A few of the salads from the last two weeks. Notable seasonal additions: kumquats, persimmons, tangerines, celery and snow peas.
A “this and that” bouquet for the church entry table. The perennial garden awakens slowly as days lengthen. All of Southern California is hoping for more rain. San Diego has received less than one inch since April 2024—the driest start to the rainy season in 174 years since records were first kept.
Check the What I’m Planting Now page as I succession plant in the cool season garden. Then head to Harvest Monday, hosted by Dave at Happy Acres blog and see what garden bloggers around the world harvested last week.
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