Absolutely. When someone tastes an organic tomato next to a regular, commercially grown tomato, the first thing they say is, “Wow!” The difference is amazing. The organic tomato has a natural lusciousness, it’s succulent, it’s juicy, and it’s sweeter. There’s a sweeter taste to it.
It’s a system that replenishes the soil. It takes into account every aspect of growth of the animals that are raised on that property. Everything is utilized. The animals are utilized to fertilize the soil, the soil is replenished on an ongoing basis. The crops are rotated, the cattle are moved, or the animals are moved to different places in the ecosystem that’s created.
You can harvest lettuce at many different stages but there are some differences you need to be aware of when it comes to the type of lettuce you are dealing with. Loose-leaf varieties need to be picked before they bolt and begin to form a flower shoot. Head or iceberg lettuce varieties should be harvested when the heads become firm. Cut the head at the soil level making sure to remove any brown or yellowed leaves. You should cool leaf type lettuces by submerging in cold water and then refrigerating. Head lettuce needs to be dry before refrigerating to prevent a rust appearance that may form inside the head.
It has been 2 1/2 weeks since our last update about our growing potatoes vertically project. Absolutely amazing the amount of growth that has taken place over that time… at least above ground
The big unkknown is still whether or not there are actual potatoes growing under all that foliage… time will tell but we are very much encouraged.
The next step is build up the outside ring so that we can add some additional soil and compost and hopefully force another layer of potatoes to grow. That is this afternoon’s project. Will let you know how it goes on our next update.
Depending on your desired leaf-size and tenderness spinach can be harvested at any stage. Many of the different spinach varieties will be ready for you to harvest anywhere between 40 to 50 days after seeding. The smaller the plants the more tender they will be. It is very important to make sure to harvest spinach before the plant starts to bolt or make a flower shoot.
Spinach can easily be harvested two or three times if only the leaves are cut. This will force new leaves to form from the center or the plant. Cutting the outside leaves about half way down the stem is the best method. If the entire plant is cut at the soil level, new leaves will not form. You should only cut spinach when dry and then immediately refrigerate in an airtight container or plastic bag to preserve freshness. Do not store spinach wet or it will quickly deteriorate.
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