Today I offficially began my annual process of ordering seeds. This year, I am especially interested in growing "microgreens" to add intense flavor to my bed and breakfast guests' breakfast entrées but especially to add a pretty splash of color and a petite artform on each plate. Here are two kinds of seeds that I ordered from "High Mowing Organic Seeds" in Wolcott, Vermont for that purpose... dwarf grey sugar snow pea and an heirloom bull's blood beet. The snow pea has the bonus of a beautiful blossom.
Any tiny seed will produce "microgreens" if the young seedling is harvested shortly after they sprout while the leaves are small, "normally about 7-14 days after the seed is sown when they are under 2 inches tall. Clusters are clipped just above the soil line right after the first set of true leaves form. True leaves follow the initial, simple-looking seed leaves and look more like the mature plant." (Source: sunset.com) The Sunset web site has a simple condensed primer on growing and harvesting micro-greens. Sungrownorganics.com has a list of some commonly grown microgreens with photos so that you can see if the plant offers the color, texture, and shape you desire. However, they are a distributor of plants to restaurants, farmers market vendors, etc. so it is not a seed purchasing source. Some examples of plants grown for microgreens are cress, garnett amaranth, basil, celery, mint, arugula, red cabbage, swiss chard, beet greens, carrot, kale, red purslane, radish, mizuna, and flax. There are many others that I discovered, as well... some common and some not so. When choosing seeds for planting microgreens, take into consideration that some plants have a spicier flavor than others. If the adult plant is more on the firey end of the spectrum, such as radish, cress, or mustard, the micro version will be as well. Some examples of milder varieties are red beets and swiss chard.
Another seed that I purchased from "High Mowing Organic Seeds" is an heirloom Long Island Cheese Pumpkin. It is the same variety that I purchased at the Minneapolis Farmers Market at the end of September last year which Dick carved into a cozy house for Halloween.
"Like a wheel of cheese: flat, round and slightly ribbed. L.I. Cheese is a long-ago favorite that has regained popularity due to the increased interest in specialty produce. The skin color is buff like a butternut and the deep orange flesh is at least as sweet and good, if not better. Beautiful enough to be ornamental and tasty enough for a meal. Plants have vigorous vines and heavy leaf cover. Days to maturity:110 days" (Source: www.highmowingseeds.com
Feb. 24, 2009
Today's mileage: 2 mile walk
Total monthly mileage: 58.75 miles
Bible reading? Complete.