Renting Property but Yearning to Garden: Bidding Adieu to the Second Year of Horticultural Delights
In the heart of a bustling city, an enthusiastic gardener embarked on a unique journey - gardening while renting for the second year. This green-thumbed individual, who prefers to remain anonymous, shared their experiences and the lessons they learned, particularly focusing on the art of harvesting dill and beets.
**Harvesting Dill**
For those unfamiliar with dill, it's a fantastic plant that can be continuously harvested all season. The gardener struggled to know when to harvest dill, so they looked it up and found out the appropriate time is when the dill is about the size of a golf ball, around 60 to 90 days after sowing the seeds.
Dill is a "cut and come again" herb, meaning you can harvest parts of it without killing the plant. To harvest dill leaves, simply cut off the top growth just above a node to encourage new growth. For fresh use, pinch or cut off individual leaves or stems, encouraging the plant to produce more foliage. If you want to harvest the flowers, wait until they are fully formed and just starting to open.
For longer storage, cut the dill, lay it flat, and freeze it. You can also chop it and freeze it in ice cube trays filled with oil or water. Dill can also be dried by hanging it upside down in a warm, dry place or using a food dehydrator.
**Harvesting Beets**
Beets are another root vegetable that requires some basic knowledge to ensure the plants remain healthy and productive. The gardener discovered that beets are typically ready to harvest about 60 days after sowing the seeds, and they should be harvested when they are between 1 and 3 inches in diameter, depending on the variety.
To harvest beets, use a fork to carefully loosen the soil around the beet without damaging the roots. Once the soil is loosened, gently pull the beets out of the ground. Remove the greens by cutting them off at the base of the plant, leaving about an inch of stem attached to the root. This helps prevent moisture loss from the root.
Beet leaves can be harvested to eat, up until they are 6-inches tall and become tough. Beets can be stored in a cool, dark place for several weeks. Remove any excess dirt and store them in a breathable bag or container.
The gardener's adventure in urban farming came to an early conclusion this year due to neglect and other factors. Despite the challenges, the gardener considers their gardening while renting adventure a success, as it helped them appreciate the work that goes into food production.
[1] The gardener's kale plants were stripped of their leaves by something or someone. [2] The seed paper planted by the gardener did not sprout. [3] The author made several mistakes in the gardening process, including planting at the wrong time and not using fertilizer. [4] The author planted dill, beets, kale, and seed paper with a mystery plant this year. [5] A quick 15-second video was provided showing how easy harvesting dill is. [6] The author found a summary of growing and harvesting dill on Almanac's website. [7] The author was trying beets for the first time as they are not something they normally buy at the grocery store. [8] If beets protrude an inch or two out of the soil, it's a good time to harvest them. [9] The gardener's beet plants did not get enough water this year.
[4] The author planted dill, beets, kale, and seed paper with a mystery plant this year as part of their home-and-garden lifestyle.
[7] The author was trying beets for the first time as a new addition to their gardening, discovering that beets are typically ready to harvest about 60 days after sowing the seeds.
