A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

Three Delicious Things That Should Go Into Your Gardens Right Now

8054811275_65f55bfdee_k

by Sam Philips, Lisa Giroday and Maxim Winther | Heyo! Just because it’s the peak of summer harvesting and there are now tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers galore (and keeping up with salad consumption is a feat), it doesn’t mean you should stop planting. This is a gentle reminder: come Autumn, you will be so happy that you planted another round of carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, peas, greens, and the list goes on. And we’ll make it super easy for you with a list of the TOP 3 time sensitive veggies to plant right now (you can wait on planting more turnips and fall greens)…

1. Beets | This is your last chance to get in a seeding of beets for a fall/winter crop. You’ll thank yourself later as you’re making juice and roasting these nuggets of pure health and deliciousness as the weather cools. Beets need 6 plus hours of sun per day, and be sure to start thinning when seedlings are 2” tall. Because it’s hot and the soil surface can become dry despite watering, cover the area with a lightweight remay cloth to ensure sprouting – it helps shade the soil and keeps in humidity! Once the seedlings sprout, you can remove the remay.

2. Kohlrabi | If you haven’t grown kohlrabi before, why not try something new? Kohlrabi produces better bulbs when planted between now and early August, as planting between mid-May and mid-July can stress them out and produce smaller bulbs. Kohlrabi is in the brassica family along with turnips and broccoli, and tastes a bit like its counterparts, albeit sweeter. Kohlrabi is great raw in salads, or grilled, boiled, or mashed with other root veggies.

3. Peas | Fall peas are to die for! As peas prefer cooler weather, spring plantings and plantings between now and mid-August are best. Your garden peas and carrots can re-unite in culinary harmony in fall as well, so get on it. We love using peas in a pesto for fall pastas. They’re also good for the soil, as they fix – or give back – nitrogen, a macronutrient that is key for leafy development in veggies. Happy growing!

THE VICTORY GARDENS ARCHIVE