November has brought chilly days here in Germany. Last week, I wrote about the strawberries that were still growing on my balcony. I thought they wouldn’t turn completely red in this cold weather so I harvested them. I’m hoping to propagate this fascinating late variety next spring.
At this time of year, the balcony plants require very little care—just a weekly check to ensure no pots are too dry. I’m amazed at how effortlessly beautiful the cyclamen looks. On sunny days, when the temperature goes up to around 10°C, I enjoy a coffee break while admiring the planter arrangement I made last month after more than 20 years. It's not too late to make one. I highly recommend giving it a try!
As it gets colder, some plants are thriving. Parsley, for instance, is still going strong. During the summer, I would use parsley in tabbouleh or mix it into salads with tomatoes and cucumbers. However, these colder months make me feel less like eating salads. I’ve read that parsley is delicious in omelets or tempura, so I will try that and am now exploring more recipes.
Italian black kale is another winter favorite. It’s one of the few vegetables that can withstand heavy snow and continue thriving outdoors. With its unique appearance, it’s become a staple in my garden. I started the seedlings in mid-summer. The plant looks a bit sparse now since I’ve harvested some leaves, but it will form its unique shape.
Regrown vegetables are also doing well. Green onions are planted here and there on my balcony, ensuring I never run out when I want to make Japanese bowls or Miso soup. It’s such a simple yet rewarding way to grow vegetables.
The purslane and lamb’s lettuce I mentioned last week are also still thriving. Observing the diversity among plants—their preferred seasons and conditions—never ceases to amaze me.
This week’s highlight was supposed to be the arrival of a new Yuzu tree. Unfortunately, it was delivered while I was out and is now waiting for me at the post office. 😢 I’ll be picking it up tomorrow morning. Once the yuzu tree joins my balcony garden, I’ll have three citrus trees in total, including my old lemon tree and the kumquat I purchased this summer.
In Japan, it's said "It takes three years for peaches and chestnuts, and eight years for persimmons," but a friend once told me that yuzu takes a whopping 18 years to bear fruit! Despite that, I’ve learned from a YouTube channel by a fig farmer that yuzu is actually a great choice for beginners, which gave me the final push to order a yuzu tree which I was wondering to buy one for years.
Waiting for my yuzu tree, I’ve been pruning my lemon tree, thinning out the dense branches on the kumquat, and dusting off the leaves. Here’s to nurturing new growth next spring and dreaming of a bountiful citrus harvest next year 🍊 😊
As for the Hive Fest fig seedling, its leaves are slowly growing. It’s the only seed that sprouted, so I can’t confirm it’s a fig just yet. But comparing it to photos of seedlings grown from seeds, it does look fig-like. I’ve placed it in a prime spot by the window, dreaming that it might someday bear fruit as delicious as the figs I had during Hive Fest in Croatia.
That's it for this week. I hope I’ll be able to introduce the yuzu tree in next week’s garden journal. Until then, wishing everyone a wonderful Sunday. Happy gardening 🍋
ドイツは11月に入って寒い日が続いています。さすがにもう真っ赤にはならないかなと、先週はまだ株につけて育てていたいちごを収穫しました。晩成の丸いいちごをつけるこのおもしろい株を春に増やせたらと思っています。
バルコニーの植物はこの時期は週に一度、乾燥している鉢がないか見て回る程度で、本当に手がかかりません。手間をかけずにこんなにきれいに咲いていてくれるシクラメンには驚きです。日中は晴れて気温が10度くらいまで上がると、先月作った寄せ植えを眺めながらコーヒー休憩を楽しんでいます。寄せ植えおすすめです！
寒くなっていくつかすごく元気な植物があります。まずはパセリ。夏だったらパセリとトマトときゅうりのサラダ、中東な穀物サラダにガンガン刻んで混ぜるのですが、この秋冬は体が冷える気がして、そこまでサラダを食べていません。以前、オムレツや天ぷらに入れるとおいしいと書いている人がいたので試してみて、他にもレシピを開拓したいです。
イタリアの黒ケールも元気です。真冬が得意な野菜が少ない中、黒ケールは結構な雪が降っても外で生き抜いてくれる貴重な野菜で、見た目がおもしろいこともあり、毎年夏の半ばに苗を作って育てています。葉をとって食べたのでちょっと寂しい感じですが、ここからおもしろい形に成長します。
再生野菜たちも好調で、ネギはそこここに植っています。納豆ご飯を食べようとしてうっかりネギがないという事態を避けられます。
先週紹介したスベリヒユやノヂシャも相変わらず元気です。こうして見てみると、植物ごとに本当にさまざまで得意な季節や環境ってそれぞれなんだなと感じます。
今週のハイライトとして、新入りの柚子の木を紹介したかったのですが、留守中に宅急便の配送があり、郵便局で私を待っています 😢 明日朝一でお迎えに行きます。柚子が加わると、うちの柑橘系は古株のレモン、夏に購入した金柑と合わせて3本になります。「桃栗三年柿八年」は有名ですが、数年前に友人に「柚子の大馬鹿十八年」と教えてもらいました。こう聞くと育てるのは難しそうですが、意外にも柑橘初心者にまずお勧めなのが柚子なのだとか。イチヂクの育て方について動画を見まくっていて、新潟の園芸農家の方のYouTubeチャンネルで知りました。
柚子の到着を心待ちにしながら、柑橘動画で育て方を勉強して、レモンの新芽を落として、金柑の密集しすぎている枝を整理して、葉っぱの埃を掃除しておきました。来年の春の新芽を大事にして、来年は柑橘類が豊作の一年にしたいな・・・なんて！
そして、Hive Festイチヂクはというと、少し葉っぱが大きくなってきました。目が出たのはこれ一つだけで、イチヂク確定とはまだ言えないのですが、でも種から育てている人の写真をみるとなんとなくイチヂクっぽい。これがあのクロアチアで食べたおいしいイチヂクだったらいいなあと夢を見つつ、窓際の一等席に置いています。
来週のガーデンジャーナルでは柚子を紹介できるといいな。それではみなさん、よい日曜日を。Happy Gardening!
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STOPHomegrown strawberries from balcony garden, mmm, so delicious! :) When people see all the plants you have, they think your balcony must be huge :) Apartment life with a bit of improvisation! I always manage to grow tomatoes, even if it’s just three. I savor every single one! 😂
Tomatoes are must for my 1.5 square meter + garden too. I know what you mean. They are price less 😉
very good effort and optimizing spaces, congratulations and sorry for you guys there standing such a freezing and unhealthy temperatures there
Small space make me creative 😊 November is tough but I must say winter is not too bad. We can still grow somethings both indoor and out door, and moreover I enjoy the changes in the seasons.
I also need an endless supply of onion. I was making soup the other day and realized i had none. I have other types of onions but not for greens.
Your garden fills me with so much joy as I read your post. It is so special to have so much growing so well. I applaud you! The food you harvest, I am sure, will taste twice as good because you know you grew it yourself! Keep well, and happy gardening.