That Bok Choy was wonderful in stir fries all spring. The last two are now gifting my garden with beautiful yellow flowers that will eventually bear seed pods for next years garden. In the meantime they are providing both nectar and cover for the beneficial insects that call my garden home.
As I have harvested the Bok Choy I have pulled back the mulch and planted the seeds of Dill and Marigolds. Both are great plants to go to seed in the garden. The Dill will provide seeds for my pickles during the summer saving me money having to not purchase them. The right kind of marigolds can also help control nematodes in the gardens. I keep a plastic mayonnaise jar full of marigold seeds. I also saved about 6 foot of my mustard green row to go to seed to not only provide flowers but also seeds for next years mustard crop. My Black Seeded Simpson lettuce will also go to seed now for seeds for next year. This helps to keep the cost of seeds down for us and allows me to spend my allotted seed money on new varieties that I like to try.
The same thing with a small portion of my spinach harvest. Remember both spinach and lettuce taste bad after they go to seed. So if you want to continue to eat spinach you will have to plant a new batch.
Another thing that helps with beneficial insects is that one garden borders this hay field full of an assortment of grasses. The perfect place for an assortment of beneficial insects that will help to control the bad bug population in and around my gardens. The more habitat I can provide for those good bugs means the less problems I will have with the bad ones.
I remember as a child my parents always planted an entire row of zinnias, marigolds and touch me nots right down the middle of their huge garden. At the end of the season they gathered the dried seeds in a big pillow case that hung in the laundry room from the rafters until the next garden season. That row of blossoms was always buzzing with honey bees, dragon flies and butterflies. As kids we spent hours chasing dragon flies and trying to catch them from that row along with the butterflies. Mama's honey bee hives were right on the other side of the fence and enjoyed the blossoms as well.
So live dangerously and let a few things go to seed. You might be surprised what comes up next year : )
Blessings from The Holler
The Canned Quilter
I'm letting a few spinach and radish plants go to seed now but I'll need to look up how to save them. I don't think I've ever seen a lettuce flower before.
ReplyDeleteAs with most seed you simply harvest the drying seed and I place them on paper plates labeled with what they are and let them finish drying in the house. Just make sure and gather them before they get too dry and fall to the ground.
DeleteI have radishes going to see and I wondered if I should collect the seeds or let them drop to the ground and if I collect them, how and when do I do it?
ReplyDeleteSuz
www.mommasuzs.blogspot.com
I usually try to collect most of mine. Occasionally I get volunteers that I miss and they germinate where they fall.
DeleteHubby and I plan on letting things from our summer garden go to seed. I can't see a better way to do it!!
ReplyDeleteWe always do that too. Gather some, leave some seed themselves. It is always a delight to see new plants in early spring. Dill, Dad's old fashioned lettuce and asparagus are just a few things we let seed. We even get tomatoes coming up here and there. It's a pure delight.
ReplyDeleteWe let some of ours go to seed to as well as save seeds from things like peppers, watermelon, squash, etc. The kale in our garden is one we let go to seed and end up finding some plants all over the place. I just transplant when they are ready.
ReplyDeletePop over to my blog today CQ if you get a chance. I have the Carnival of Home Preserving back in action. Would love for you link up one (or two, however many) posts of your canning, etc.
Another educational post, CQ. Do you have a marigold that you find works better than others?
ReplyDeleteAlthough I tend not to have a root nematode problem. I do however sprinkle a few Cracker Jack Marigolds through out my garden during the year. They eventually get composted or worked into the soil almost as a green manure. I also don't plant very many root crops. A small area of beets for pickling, potatoes and sometimes turnips. I always rotate these crops to different areas in my three gardens never planting them in the same area for two years in a row. I think the marigolds do attract both beneficials as well as pollinators.
DeleteBesides that the gardener enjoys their smiling yellow faces every year : )
Ah. Right.
DeleteI will need to start a garden plan, I think. We like potatoes so I will need to keep track of where I put them.
Or do them in straw or something, I guess. Thank you! :o)
I’m amazed with the variety of plants that you have in your garden. Maintaining a garden such as that is no easy feat, so it’s easy to say that you’re a gardening veteran. :D It’s also great that you intend to make your garden a home to beneficial insects. I love your garden; keep it growing!
ReplyDeleteEthan Frye
Why thank you Ethan for those kind words as I do enjoy my garden : )
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