Usually on a Monday, along with other bloggers, I join Dave over at Happy Acres and share the previous week's harvest.
Last week we didn't really harvest any vegetables. It isn't that we don't have anything to harvest. We have the usual winter crops but we just didn't need any fresh supplies at home.
I wondered if I could stretch the term harvest to include a non-edible crop. If harvest means to gather and if a crop can be anything grown with the intention of harvesting from it then maybe I can include flowers. After all, when I was teaching we decorated the church with fruit, vegetables and flowers for the annual harvest festival.
So here is my last week's harvest.
Unlike the dahlias, the chrysanthemums survived last week's frosts.
The dahlia tubers will need lifting and storing overwinter. According to James Wong the tubers are edible. Apparently the plants were first brought into the country as an edible crop. We won't be eating ours. Has anyone ever tried them?
The chrysanthemums may have survived the frosts but the wind has had an effect on the plants. Most things on our plot lean to the east.
Next year I'm hoping to grow all the chrysanthemums in one bed, that is if they make it through the winter. I'll then be able to stake them to try and combat some of the wind effect.
I'm hoping Dave forgives me including my non-edible harvest as I am linking to Harvest Monday hosted on his blog Our Happy Acres
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Looks like a harvest to me. So long as it's been gathered in I think you're alright. Things are hanging on out there at the moment, but it feels as though the end is nigh for most of the flowers now. Make the most of them while you can !
ReplyDeleteI am definitely making the most of the chrysanthemums, CJ. The house is full of them.
DeleteYup - that's a harvest :) I love "harvesting" flowers and will be missing my weekly pickings but am looking forward to next year when hopefully the rabbits won't find their way into the veg area and I'll have zinnias once again.
ReplyDeleteYes I’ll also miss my fresh cut flowers, Margaret
DeleteI didn't know the dahlias tubers are edible, Sue. That's a harvest! I can't believe you have had frost.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think that I’ll be eating ours Nadezda. From what I’ve read you can use then like potatoes.
DeleteI prefer to stay them storing to see their blooms next spring :-)
DeleteFlowers are definitely a harvest in my opinion. Food for the spirit. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat’s a good way of describing it Michelle.
DeleteOf course flowers are harvest and yours seems to be a prolific one
ReplyDeleteThanks, Roger.
DeleteSure looks like a wonderful harvest to me! I always love seeing your flowers. I've never tried dahlia roots though.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad it passed as an harvest post, Dave. I’ve never tried dahlia roots either and don’t intend to.
DeleteWhy not? Besides, they are quite a bit prettier than veggies and make a lovely change.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you approve, Deborah
DeleteWell you've picked them Sue so they must be a crop. Do you lift all your dahlias every year? Mine come mainly come through at the allotment although they are in raised beds. I have read before that dahlias tubers are edible but they don't appeal in the least. I've nibbled on a few unusual petals but that's my limit :)
ReplyDeleteWe don’t have many dahlias, Anna so we do lift them.
DeleteFlowers are definitely a harvest in my view. Have you thought of leaving some of the dahlias in the ground, mulch them and see how they go? I always think lifting them, like tulips, is unnecessary hard work!
ReplyDeleteWe have left dahlias in the ground in the past Julieanne but they needed mulching and covering with plastic to stop them getting too wet. The other thing is that we want to remove them so we can tidy up the bed and if we left them they would be in the way. We don’t lift tulips though.
DeleteA beautiful harvest Sue: your chrysanths look fantastic!
ReplyDeleteWe have just finished digging our dahlia tubers to store them over the Winter. They do tend to get rather chewed by rats if we leave them in, so best in crates safe and sound!
I just hope that the chrysanthemums last for more pickings, Kathy.
DeleteThat certainly counts as a harvest Sue, a rather wonderful one at that! Lucky you having all those flowers to harvest, they sure have done well.xxx
ReplyDeleteThey really have, Dina. We didn’t expect them to spread so far.
DeleteThat's really beautiful harvest to decorate your home! ;)
ReplyDeleteWe definitely have plenty of vases of chrysanthemums all over the house, Malar.
DeleteBeautiful harvest.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brian
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