Look at What’s in Season in Your Local Market or Garden! ARTICHOKES Artichokes are fun to grow, and you can plant them in late fall. You can buy the starter plants at your local nursery. They grow quite tall so make sure when you plant your artichoke it has plenty of room surrounding it. When the artichokes have stopped appearing and the plant starts dying off, cut it back and it will come back next season!
BEETS The wonderful thing about beets is that although it is an annual, it can be planted year-round on the Central Coast and, with staggered planting, you can enjoy a continuous supply of both the delicious green tops and bulbous roots. It is delicious in salads, roasted, in sandwiches and, if you are energetic, pickled!
GARLIC Garlic is easy to grow and produces numerous bulbs after a long growing season. It is frost tolerant. Beyond its intense flavor and culinary uses, “the stinking rose” is good in the garden as an insect repellent and has been used for centuries as a home remedy.
KALE For a fall harvest, young kale plants can be set out 6 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost. Kale is delicious in salads, quiches, and soups! To make kale chips remove the ribs and toss in olive oil or lightly spray and sprinkle with a combination of cumin, curry powder, chili powder, roasted red pepper flakes or garlic powder. Bake at 275°F for 15–30 minutes to desired crispness.
KOHLRABI Plant Kohlrabi seeds outside after danger of a hard frost: sow in midsummer for a fall crop, or in fall for a winter crop. Before cooking, trim and peel it very thoroughly (the skin is quite tough and indigestible). Slice, julienne or grate it into your salad or slaw for a great crunch and a fresh but slightly spicy flavor. It also can be cooked — boiled, steamed, sauteed, roasted or fried.
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fall-winter 2021-22