Cart Log In Menu
cooking-from-the-garden, printer-unfriendly,

Grow Great Greens

In both early spring and early fall I relish planting diverse crops of crispy flavorful greens to harvest from prepared garden beds. These fast-growing, really nutritious varieties are a delicious way to get my body and spirit awakened and toned up for the months ahead. Here are a few of my favorite early and late season starters for fellow kitchen gardeners. These cool season crops can be directly sown into the garden soil to grow smoothly and quickly.

Choose Chard

The deep green leaves and crispy stalks of chard are easy to grow in any well-drained soil. Just be sure to thin young plants regularly so they'll have room to spread and grow 2 to 2 1/2 feet tall. You can begin harvesting the outer leaves when young plants are well established and have 6 to 8 leafy stalks. Bred from a New Zealand heirloom, Renee's Garden Bright Lights chard stalks shine in vivid colors including pale green, cream, yellow rose and even orange with dark green leaves. We also offer yellow, peppermint striped, magenta and yellow color chard choices. These flavorful, mild, juicy plants will be ready to enjoy in the kitchen in just 50-60 days from sowing. Chard plants grow well in a wide range of conditions and can take the last spring frosts or the first light fall frosts in stride. Their pretty leafy stalks will continue to provide bountiful harvests for months, right through summer heat.

Garden fresh chard has a sweet clean flavor I really relish. Chard can be prepared quickly, and both the crunchy succulent stalks and rich green leaves are great eating. For a quick meal, chop chard in 1 inch pieces and sauté in a little olive oil for a few minutes, then add a little chicken or vegetable broth and braise until tender. Finish with a splash of fresh lemon juice or drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Chard is wonderful in homemade chicken soup made with carrots and onions, and is traditional in minestrone soup. I often use layers of chard in a quickly assembled lasagna. One of my favorite main courses in spring is a big platter of stuffed chard leaves - just dip the big leaves in hot water to soften them first, then fill with your favorite cheese or meat filling (like those you'd use to stuff ravioli) and poach these plump rolls in a little chicken broth. Or use steamed seasoned chard as a bed for poached eggs for brunch or to accompany thick slices of grilled ham.

 

Spinach Is Special

Spinach leaves laid out artfully on a table - Renee's GardenIf you love fresh spinach salad, early spring and fall is the perfect time to grow the best leaves – crispy, thick and sweet tasting with no metallic overtones. Just sow the seeds in a well-worked fertile soil. Be sure to firm the soil well over the seeds to ensure good contact and if the first sowing germinates unevenly, plant more seeds as they'll catch up fast in spring weather. You can eat the tender young seedlings in salads as you thin out your spinach patch when plants are a few inches tall. As plants become established in 40-50 days, just snip off the bigger outer leaves, leaving at least 4 or 5 younger center leaves so plants will continue to produce. Water and fertilize after harvesting and you'll have 2 or 3 pickings before the weather gets too warm and plants respond by beginning to go to seed. Pull and discard at this stage. Plant spinach again in late summer/early fall as days begin to cool down for a fall crop which will last longer in the garden with thicker sweeter leaves.

Garden fresh spinach lends itself to lots of great salads. I love to add fresh orange slices and grilled chicken or beef strips to a bowl of spinach leaves for a whole meal salad. Or try a traditional wilted spinach salad with a sweet and sour hot bacon dressing. Go oriental with a dressing made with a little fresh grated ginger and garlic, chopped scallions, soy sauce, peanut oil and a touch of sesame oil. I often mix baby spinach leaves half and half with spring baby lettuce leaves to add both color and flavor to everyday salads.

To cook garden grown spring spinach, wash it well in several rinses of cool water, then steam it gently in just the water that clings to the leaves. With fresh spinach, this takes only a few minutes as the tender leaves soften with only brief heating. Meltingly delicious, delicately flavored steamed young spinach needs only a knob of sweet butter to season it to perfection. To really celebrate its taste, make a festive spinach soufflé or spinach omelet.

 

Italian Treat

 

Close up of broccoli raab growing in the ground - Renee's Garden
If you enjoy robust flavors with a lot of spirit, join me in growing a crop of Broccoli Raab this spring or fall. Also known as "cima di rapa" or "rapini," this rich tasting Italian vegetable is a fast growing early spring bonanza. Broccoli raab plants produce flavorful leaves and tender juicy stalks topped with buds that look like tiny broccoli florets. Both leaves and stalks have a fine robust flavor, somewhat like broccoli but more hearty and spicy. 

Broccoli Raab is planted in cool spring weather about the time you sow radishes. It likes a rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Young seedlings should be thinned until plants stand about 4 to 6 inches apart to grow their tasty flowering shoots. Harvest by cutting off these leafy stalks at 7-8 inches tall. Then fertilize well to get a second harvest a few weeks later.

 

Vitamin rich, deep green broccoli raab is wonderful prepared in the traditional Italian manner. First, blanch it quickly in a boiling water bath for a minute or two, then drain. Heat a little fruity olive oil and a generous amount of chopped garlic and add the broccoli raab. Sauté, stirring, just until tender about 5-6 minutes. Serve by itself, or toss with hot pasta and top with freshly grated hard cheese like Asiago or Parmesan. Or serve as a zesty side dish with grilled sausages for a soul satisfying supper. You can also enjoy broccoli raab in any spicy oriental stir-fry – it has a real affinity for garlic and chilies. Once you've grown and eaten this zesty vegetable, you'll develop a real craving for its intense full flavor. I also often cook the leafy stalks and buds to serve at room temperature with a garlicky herb dressing. My friends and family really look forward to this seasonal treat as a first course or savory salad.

Garden fresh chard has a sweet clean flavor I really relish. Chard can be prepared quickly, and both the crunchy succulent stalks and rich green leaves are great eating. For a quick meal, chop chard in 1 inch pieces and sauté in a little olive oil for a few minutes, then add a little chicken or vegetable broth and braise until tender. Finish with a splash of fresh lemon juice or drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Chard is wonderful in homemade chicken soup made with carrots and onions, and is traditional in minestrone soup. I often use layers of chard in a quickly assembled lasagna. One of my favorite main courses in spring is a big platter of stuffed chard leaves - just dip the big leaves in hot water to soften them first, then fill with your favorite cheese or meat filling (like those you'd use to stuff ravioli) and poach these plump rolls in a little chicken broth. Or use steamed seasoned chard as a bed for poached eggs for brunch or to accompany thick slices of grilled ham.

 

Spinach Is Special

Spinach leaves laid out artfully on a table - Renee's GardenIf you love fresh spinach salad, early spring and fall is the perfect time to grow the best leaves – crispy, thick and sweet tasting with no metallic overtones. Just sow the seeds in a well-worked fertile soil. Be sure to firm the soil well over the seeds to ensure good contact and if the first sowing germinates unevenly, plant more seeds as they'll catch up fast in spring weather. You can eat the tender young seedlings in salads as you thin out your spinach patch when plants are a few inches tall. As plants become established in 40-50 days, just snip off the bigger outer leaves, leaving at least 4 or 5 younger center leaves so plants will continue to produce. Water and fertilize after harvesting and you'll have 2 or 3 pickings before the weather gets too warm and plants respond by beginning to go to seed. Pull and discard at this stage. Plant spinach again in late summer/early fall as days begin to cool down for a fall crop which will last longer in the garden with thicker sweeter leaves.

Garden fresh spinach lends itself to lots of great salads. I love to add fresh orange slices and grilled chicken or beef strips to a bowl of spinach leaves for a whole meal salad. Or try a traditional wilted spinach salad with a sweet and sour hot bacon dressing. Go oriental with a dressing made with a little fresh grated ginger and garlic, chopped scallions, soy sauce, peanut oil and a touch of sesame oil. I often mix baby spinach leaves half and half with spring baby lettuce leaves to add both color and flavor to everyday salads.

To cook garden grown spring spinach, wash it well in several rinses of cool water, then steam it gently in just the water that clings to the leaves. With fresh spinach, this takes only a few minutes as the tender leaves soften with only brief heating. Meltingly delicious, delicately flavored steamed young spinach needs only a knob of sweet butter to season it to perfection. To really celebrate its taste, make a festive spinach soufflé or spinach omelet.

 

Italian Treat

 

Close up of broccoli raab growing in the ground - Renee's Garden
If you enjoy robust flavors with a lot of spirit, join me in growing a crop of Broccoli Raab this spring or fall. Also known as "cima di rapa" or "rapini," this rich tasting Italian vegetable is a fast growing early spring bonanza. Broccoli raab plants produce flavorful leaves and tender juicy stalks topped with buds that look like tiny broccoli florets. Both leaves and stalks have a fine robust flavor, somewhat like broccoli but more hearty and spicy. 

Broccoli Raab is planted in cool spring weather about the time you sow radishes. It likes a rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Young seedlings should be thinned until plants stand about 4 to 6 inches apart to grow their tasty flowering shoots. Harvest by cutting off these leafy stalks at 7-8 inches tall. Then fertilize well to get a second harvest a few weeks later.

 

Vitamin rich, deep green broccoli raab is wonderful prepared in the traditional Italian manner. First, blanch it quickly in a boiling water bath for a minute or two, then drain. Heat a little fruity olive oil and a generous amount of chopped garlic and add the broccoli raab. Sauté, stirring, just until tender about 5-6 minutes. Serve by itself, or toss with hot pasta and top with freshly grated hard cheese like Asiago or Parmesan. Or serve as a zesty side dish with grilled sausages for a soul satisfying supper. You can also enjoy broccoli raab in any spicy oriental stir-fry – it has a real affinity for garlic and chilies. Once you've grown and eaten this zesty vegetable, you'll develop a real craving for its intense full flavor. I also often cook the leafy stalks and buds to serve at room temperature with a garlicky herb dressing. My friends and family really look forward to this seasonal treat as a first course or savory salad.

Your Cart

Total $39.96

Checkout