Craving Salad in the Summer can be a Problem
My body is screaming for salad rocket (Eruca sativa) but it is mid-summer and the heat is killing anything that does not like the extreme sun. Some of the salad greens I like to grow (dandelion leaves, chickweed, salad rocket, etc.) do not want to grow in extreme heat. Even if I water, the plants seem to just die off. Almost all of my swiss chard is dead but some of the other plants are thriving.
In this following HiveGarden Journal post, I want to take you through my week of gardening and retell some of the interesting things that happened. Firstly, a week or so ago, a family of almost 15 helmeted guineafowls destroyed some parts of my garden. I muse briefly on the net positive we can take from this. Secondly, I muse on some of the interesting shapes that salad greens can take. I wonder if there are nutritional differences to the shapes? (Please read on and share your findings on this topic if you have heard about this fascinating subject!) And lastly, I reminisce about all the salad greens that will only arrive in the winter, but I end on a positive note by finding some seedlings of my salad rocket that self-seeds throughout my garden.
Guineafowls Trashing my Garden
With glee, I heard the guineafowls and ran downstairs to take some photographs of them (check these two posts if you'd like to see them: Post 1 and Post 2). After they went their way, I saw the destruction they left. When only one or two visits the garden it is not that big of a problem, but when a big flock swoops in, they can cause some problems. On the right, you can start to see the damage and the little footprints they left behind. But can there be something beneficial to this destruction they leave behind for us gardeners to clean up?
Guineafowls, apparently, are beneficial to have around because they eat all of the ticks and small bugs. So on that front, they are extremely helpful and important. But as they rummage through the garden on their search for these sometimes elusive bugs and insects, they break plants and spread fear in the hearts of gardeners.
Is this not how plants get distributed and dispersed? Luckily for me as the gardener, it was succulent, it grows a new plant from those that break off, but if no one was around, this broken piece would become a new plant. So maybe the benefit in these rummaging periods is the distribution of plants like succulents. I am not sure, I am trying to find something positive in their destruction! (haha)
Difference in the Shape of Wild Rocket Leaves: Difference in Nutrition (?)
There are various factors that contribute to the size of leaves. Fruit, in my limited understanding, is the same. With less water, less nutrient-dense ground, and so on, the fruits of, say, the grapevine will be smaller but more "packed with sugars". This is a good thing for some winemakers (or so I heard). I extrapolate this reasoning to the shape and size of leaves. I am not sure if this is correct or wrong, maybe you have read something on this topic?
In a video on edible so-called weeds, the author stated that there might be nutritional benefits in the differing shapes of dandelions. However, at the time the author did not elaborate on this point, nor were sources shared. Since then, I lost the link to the video (what a shame!) and I cannot find anything online on this topic.
I grow wild rocket in two different spaces. The one is grown in healthier soil and I water it daily. The other one is grown in compost and sand (also healthy but not soil per se yet). The latter gets more harsh sun hence (or I think) the smaller leaves. However, the smaller leaves have more "punch" and flavor than the bigger ones. My reasoning: there are more nutrients in the smaller leaves. But I can totally be wrong.
A Summer Salad with Winter Greens
Sometimes nature is funny. Or, no. I am the funny one to think that nature works according to my arbitrary human mind. In any case. What I see as winter greens sometimes grow in the summer. They struggle but some survive albeit not as healthy as when they grow in the winter. But in the summer heat, my body craves a refreshing green salad. I struggled to find enough leaves, but I made a little summer salad with garlic chive flowers and wild rocket flowers.
Seedlings for the Winter
I let my salad rocket self seed. There where I want them to grow they struggle, but there where they leave their seeds, they grow best. This is a waiting game, and can sometimes turn out bad (namely, when they grow in the summer and bolt to seeds). It is a good sign that they are growing now, for in the winter I will have plenty of salad greens! But, o, how I wish to have some salad now.
Post Scriptum or a Prayer to Seedlings
It must be scary to be a seedling. I mean, there is nothing really that can protect you. I hope that all my seedlings of the salad rocket will survive because I really am craving a big bowl of rocket leaves and roasted butternut (weird combo but it works!). All the photographs were taken by my iPhone and the musings are of my own. Please do your own research before you consume anything, but do not let fear stop you from exploring! The flowers of, for example, garlic chives are edible and life-changing. I love them. Happy gardening and stay safe.
First of all, a salad of rocket leaves and roasted butternut is not weird, it's perfect.
Secondly, DAMN YOU FOWL OF ANY KIND. You make think you are clever, coming round with you 'oh, I eat all the bugs and fertilise your garden' holier than thou excuse, but FUCK YOU for eating all my silverbeet that self seeded in the part of the garden that I DID NOT GIVE YOU ACCESS TO and don't you dare give me that 'the wind blew the gate open and I thought it meant we were allowed' look! Are oats and grains not enough for you???
Sorry now I'm getting personal.
Wicking beds are the best for summer greens, as is self seeding in parts of garden good for them, so yay for self seeding... Or me shaking seed plants all over garden...
As is changing perception of what a salad is, in summer. Rocket ALWAYS bolts fast and is too bitter for me in summer. So it's usually spiraled zucchini, fennel fronds, fennel flowers, cucumber, tomato, lettuce from wicking bed, and like you, any other random greens I fight fowl for.
And so much basil!
I'm planting greens especially for the chooks today.
Oh yes! There is just something to that combination (I also add candied sunflower seeds; basically sunflower seed brittle).
Especially when they dig out seedlings and new plants. And the squirrels as well. Damn you squirrels for stealing all of my gooseberries and strawberries and peaches, damn you! (I can also get personal on your comment 🤣.)
I have been wanting to do this for so long, especially in our drought-ridden area. Or what I wanted to do is to capture all of the water again and re-use it either on the same plants or elsewhere. A concept very close to this one.
This sounds fantastic really. I have a whole bed of fennel growing well now, so guess who is getting an overload of fennel this autumn. I hope they grow nice and strong so I can harvest them in the winter for some lovely soups.
One can never have enough basil! I love it. A quick pesto on some pasta is the best.
Thanks for the visit! Always lovely to hear the stories from that side of the pond.
Oooh yes fennel in soup is good. Last season: leftover roast potato with fennel and leek tops .. cooked and pureed.. a bit of fetta and black onion seeds on top... Yum.
Oh my, that sounds like heaven! I am shamelessly going to write this down and make it this winter. Thanks for sharing this!
I feel you about guineafowls. As for me, I got some poultry of mine ravaging my sweet potato vies. That desert rose still look beautiful. By the way, I am also planning to grow succuletns and cactus soon! Greetings from the Philippinss!
Thank you so much! They are spectacular succulents. Best of luck! They grow so well and easy and quick from cuttings that you will have loads in no time.
Oh no! The poor birds are hungry for some sweet potato!
😍 lovely and fresh, and powerful, las flores de mi jardín serán mis enfermeras 🎶
Thank you so much! Indeed they will be. Thanks so much for the visit.
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