gumbo2176 wrote:bwhite, you didn't mention how long your rows are to get a scope as to what size garden you have. Cabbage and cauliflower are two things I do not grow even though I do like them. They take up lots of space in the rows and they are one and done, so once harvested, the rest of the plant needs to go. Also with cauliflower, once the head starts to develop you should pull some of the leaves over the head and tie them off to protect it from the sun.
I do broccoli and brussels sprouts because they produce much longer. Kohlrabi is a good root crop. I find the bulb tastes very much like the heavy stems of broccoli with just about as little flavor, so stir fry would be a good thing to do with them.
If you like cabbage, I think you'll like collards. They do have a much stronger "green" taste and I generally cook them down in a pot with seasoning ham or good smoke sausage with onions and garlic. Just chop up the leaves and stems in large pieces, add a little oil to a pot, fry off the onions and meat for a while, add the garlic cook for a couple minutes, then add the greens. They will cook down like spinach so don't be afraid to fill the pot with them. The greens will wilt and release their juices while slow cooking. If you want to, add a little water or stock in the beginning, but not more than a half cup.
My garden consists of five 45 ft. rows, with about 15' of row on one end for herbs, about the same on the other end of the rows for my cucumbers to grow on a trellis and a 12'x4'x1' raised bed for some root crops and Japanese greens.
Listen to Grandpa, he sounds like he's been there, done that.
I don't know the exact length of the row. basically it was enought where 1 average sized trailerful of maneure thinly covered all of the rows. Johnny(g'pas neighbor) said the kohlrabi are similar to water chestnuts when stir fried, so i might try it. How do you mean cabbage and cauliflower take up alot of space? I will try it this year, and depending on how it goes, I might add another row of each. In NW florida, would I be able to get 2 crops of cabbage and cauliflower? or would it get too cold too quickly? I've heard of cooking hamhocks in collards. I'm not a fan of traditionally cooked greens, but prefer good fresh greens chopped up for a salad. I do LOVE sushi so I'm anxious to try the collard substitute. I've always trashed the stem of broccoli, but I guess this is a wasteful no no? What do you mean "Japanese greens"? and how do you grow a raised bed? Is that making a bed out of lumber or something? I'm wanting to start a garden on my balcony once my fiance and I get married and move into an apartment to grow some camellia sinensis and other herbs and spices. What would be a good thing to grow in these conditions on the balcony?
And yes, my 85 yr old grandfather has been farming/gardening probably at least 90% of his life so he knows a thing or 2....He even showed me up while we were getting manuere and was slinging it easier and longer than I was(and I work out alot)....