The Kitchengarden part two;

Fennel is a winter staple; this vegetable lends itself to create healthy, tasty dishes. It is good cooked or raw. As I use it mainly in winter, most of the time I cook gratins, soups, sauces with tomatoes or as a side vegetable.

Lettuce is grown through autumn, winter and spring.

The vegetable garden is on the third and sunniest level of our terraced garden. A Eureka Lemon tree grows near the veg. garden. Lemons are available all year round.

The old kitchen sink lends itself to wash and prepare the vegetables.There are always some lemons ready to use.

The hanging Geranium has a very strong smell and it attracts the small Mediterranean fruit fly which is a terrible pest. We only spray this plant with a insecticide and the fly feeds on it and dies. Since we have this plant,Tomatoes, Capsicums and Eggplants are not affected anymore. We do grow everything without pesticides.

Chinese snow peas are very tender and eaten pod and all. I cook them in a ceramic pot which is suitable for the stove top. It only needs a little butter or olive oil and a diced onion, no water, to make a very tasty dish.

We also grow beans; red onions, rockmelons, watermelons, corn and also different berries. Cucumbers, capsicums, aubergines and chillies.
Homegrown Beetroot is very very sweet and tender for salads or gratins or just as a vegetable.

Beetroot Nutrition

The dark red colour of beetroot is thought to be a combination of the naturally occurring yellow betacyanin and purple betaxanthin pigments. These strong pigments are potent phytochemicals and antioxidants that work to protect damage to body cells from free radicals. It is known that the more vibrant the colours of our fruit and vegetables, the more they have to offer in terms of nutrients to help protect our bodies from damaging free radicals.

Beetroot contains the all important nutrient called betaine. This nutrient is known as a mehyl donor which in effect helps make chemical processes in the body work effectively such as proper liver function and cellular reproduction. Betaine also helps the body make carnitine. Carnitine is a nutrient that helps the body turn fat into energy.

Coriander; flowers are very pretty and set seed for the next crop.

The fruit of the white Mulberry tree is very sweet and delicious. Spring is the time to grow its fruit.

Believe it or not:

A person who sows seed of kindness enjoys a perpetual harvest.
Anonymous