Vegetable Experiments

2013-07-25Uncategorized Standard

[Written 11 August 2013]

We tried to grow some vegetables this summer in the garden, most notably carrots and radishes.  We tried both sowing first inside and then moving the plants outside, as well as just sowing seeds outside.  Here’s what’s happened so far:

This particular pot has parsley on the far end, which started out in pots inside, and was moved outside sometime in June. It never managed to get any bigger though. The plants around the middle could be weeds, or they could be flowers I sowed back in June.

This particular pot has parsley on the far end, which started out in small pots inside, and was moved outside sometime in June. It never managed to get any bigger though.  I neglected to sow any outside. The plants around the middle could be weeds, or they could be flowers I sowed back in June.  I’m waiting to see if they bloom before I’ll know for sure.

Pretty carrot plants from seeds that were sown outside in late May. The carrots themselves are tiny though.

Pretty carrot plants from seeds that were sown outside in late May. The carrots themselves are tiny though.

Tiny carrot in spite of the big plant.

Tiny carrot in spite of the big plant.

Now, interestingly, the radishes that we sowed outside started out looking good, but then the leaves turned a bit yellow, and all of a sudden the plants decided to grow stalks and produce flowers. We got a few smallish radishes (before the stalks appeared) but the radishes themselves have stopped growing.

Now, interestingly, the radishes that we sowed outside started out looking good, but then the leaves turned a bit yellow, and all of a sudden the plants decided to grow stalks and produce flowers. We harvested a few smallish radishes (before the stalks appeared) but the radishes themselves stopped growing (and may have shrunk!) when the stalks showed up.

Tiny radishes.

Tiny radishes.

Pictured here is the last of the radishes that we started growing inside, and then moved outside. We didn't plant them deep enough, so the developed pretty much on top of the soil, but they got BIG, and were pretty tasty.

Pictured here is the last of the radishes that we started growing inside, and then moved outside. We didn’t plant them deep enough, so the developed pretty much on top of the soil, but they got BIG, and were pretty tasty.  This one was the smallest of the lot.

We also sowed carrots inside, and then brought them outside once they had established themselves a little. They got a little mangled in the transport, and basically had to regrow their tops. They're still tiny, even though they were sown at the same time as the other carrots.

We also sowed carrots inside, and then brought them outside once they had established themselves a little. They got a little mangled in the transport, and basically had to regrow their tops. They’re still tiny, even though they were sown at the same time as the other carrots.

One of the BIG radishes next to Emma and Anna.

One of the BIG radishes next to Emma and Anna.

UPDATE 11 August 2013: We got a carrot! I harvested what looked like the biggest carrot of the lot today, and it was small, but pretty yummy. I wonder how long to wait for the rest...?

UPDATE 11 August 2013: We got a carrot! I harvested what looked like the biggest carrot of the lot today, and it was small, but pretty yummy. I wonder how long to wait for the rest…?

So bottom line:  Sow radishes inside, and move them outside.  Sow carrots directly outside.  Parsley is still up in the air, starting inside didn’t work so well.