Spring Broccoli Trials and Where Did All the Grass Come From?

What kind of grass is it, anyway?

I’ve been saying for weeks that the spring garden is really grassy this year.  Usually our method of pre-sprouting in the fall and then tarping over the winter is effective at keeping the spring garden weed free.  We’ve never had so much grass.  Why is there so much grass?   Mysteries abound, I thought.  Then I was talking with my mom, and she asked “what kind of grass is it, anyway?”  As soon as she asked the question I knew.  It isn’t crab grass.  It isn’t goose grass.  It isn’t any of our weed grasses.  It’s millet.  The same millet that is in our mixed species summer cover crop.  Yes, the reason the crop field is full of grass is because we planted it.  Not on purpose, mind you.  But apparently we let the millet go to seed last year.   And we are living with the consequences.  But now we know better.  This year we will be sure to mow down the cover crop before the millet sets seed!

Spring Broccoli Variety Trial

This year we are trying spring broccoli!  It is my opinion that all brassicas do best in the fall.  In the spring, temperature swings and warming weather can cause plants to bolt.  Even if they don’t bolt, they tend to produce smaller heads.  Heat can make broccoli bitter.   For these reasons, I’ve shied away from spring broccoli, pronouncing it too inferior to it’s fall counterpart.  But it has been many years since I last gave it a try.  Maybe I simply hadn’t found the right varieties.  This year we are testing out four different varieties to see if spring broccoli is worth the trouble.  So far the results have been pretty tasty!   We are judging them based on flavor, head size, uniformity, and side shoot production.  The temperature and rainfall have been all over the place and the field is full of grass.  Perfect conditions for a variety trial.  If spring broccoli can perform in these conditions, it’ll be a keeper for sure.

Small Shares

• Beets
• Onions
• Kohlrabi
• Lettuce Mix
• Chard (Broccoli for Saturday)

Full Shares

• Beets
• Onions
• Kohlrabi
• Bibb Romaine
• Collards
• Red Russian Kale
• Broccoli or Turnips