Radicchio in my Kitchen Garden

Radicchio (Cichorium intybus) made it into my vegetable garden when my husband sowed (literally poured) a packet of Salad Greens seeds in between tomato plants last summer (2013).  The seeds emerged quickly, produced healthy foliage till they began to bolt and produced flowers.  Autumn came; one type of the greens continued to grow and did not bolt.  Then winter came; the leaves of this plant began to form heads - like that of cabbage.  The new leaves also began to turn wine-red in color.  It was then when I began to wonder what this plant was - Radicchio!

When Monocle Magazine named radicchio Vegetable of 2014, I was determined to keep a close observation on these curious plants growing in my garden.  The mildly bitter and vibrant red radicchio is considered a super food due to its high antioxidant content.  It was tempting but I resisted harvesting them.  At this point they were more valuable as a learning tool than food.

Spring came and the radicchio heads began to unfurl and flower initiation began.  The plant finally began to bolt.  The ground-hugging salad item suddenly turned into seven-foot flowering plant.  Beautiful blue flowers opened every morning and faded in the afternoon.  This scheduled flower opening made the bees busy during the cooler time of the day.  Indeed, radicchio is a good insectary plant.  Being a member of the Asteraceae plant family (commonly known as aster or sunflower family), the flowers are designed in such a way that insects can land on them with conveniently.

 Plant radicchio for food, beautiful flowers and insectary plant.

Attracting Butterflies in your Garden

On one of my walks with my family, we noticed so many butterflies in meadow along the American River.  They were attracted to the flowers.  We sat there and watched them and tried to take pictures.   However the sun was so bright that it was challenging to take good pictures. 

I wondered what attracted the butterflies to that place.  There are basic requirements for butterflies to like a place.  Just like most living organism butterflies need the following: water food and shelter.

Wildflowers

  

Here are some ways to add to your yard to help attract butterflies: 

1. Plant native wildflowers

2. Include larval plants.

3. Grow nectar-producing flowers

4. Provide a sheltered spot using windbreak or wind blocks.

5. Create a garden well away from traffic.

6. Provide a full sunny spots for warmth.

7. Install water features.

8. Plant a variety of plants to include cluster and single blooms.

9. Plan and plant for successive blooms throughout the season.

Nectar plant

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Greek Oregano: Nectar Producer

Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare): Nectar Producer

This season, there is a succession of insectary plants serving the pollinators in my kitchen garden.  For this year it started with the biennial flat leaf parsley.  Then there were the annuals such as cilantro, bok choy, radishes.  Currently, the Greek oregano plants are flowering and they are like haven for bees.  Early in the morning bees swarm the flowers and they eat nectar all day long until dusk. 

Greek oregano is a drought tolerant perennial plant that grows up to 60 cm. tall.  It blooms profusely from July to September with white flowers that attract bees indicating a considerable level of honey potential.  Its small oval-shaped leaves are aromatic which made it an important culinary herb particularly in Italian cooking. 

Origanum vulgare has white flowers.

For the bees, the plant is a source of food - nectar.  

Plant one in your garden today to lure the pollinators to visit your garden regularly.

Save and Celebrate the Pollinators

In the course of any given season, we plant and water, we fertilize and weed but for most of our crops someone else has taken the responsibility of performing the key job that result in a good harvest.  The pollinators are our partners in the backyard or in the fields.  They are the bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, flies, beetles, and bats. 

This week (June 21-27, 2010) has been designated as the National Pollinator Week by the USDA.  This post is not that late - you still can check out their website and see what you can do.  

One small step at a time counts.  As gardeners, we can make deliberate attempts to make our backyards a favorable habitat for pollinators.  It does not take much from us to help improve this "world of pollinators".   In my garden for example, I allow my herbs and vegetables (cilantro, parsley, sage, mint, rosemary) to flower.  These are insectary plants - they harbor insects including pollinators.  Now as the season progresses, the annual and biennial herbs dry out - but the bok choy (in the picture) and radishes which were purposefully left to flower are hosting the insects.  These are just plants from my kitchen garden.   There are so many ornamental plants that can provide pollen and nectar for them.   Different plants attract different pollinators.  Diversify your crops to provide a continuous food source throughout their active season.  If you want to take action for pollinators there is a specific recommendation for your area. 

In food production, the pollinators are our allies.