Saturday, September 12, 2015

Spanish Tarragon, Stevia, & More Juliets

This is the first year I've grown Stevia, a natural sweetner, ten times sweeter than sugar. These are the flowers just now coming out.

Here is the stevia almost four feet tall grown from a 3 inch pot planted this Spring. Not sure what I'll do with the plant. I must research if I can dry it and use the leaves. No matter though, I derive a tremendous satisfaction growing plants and seeing them blossom into their own.

These are Spanish tarragon flowers. If you don't try growing any other herb you must try this one. Spanish tarragon imparts an earthy and pleasantly pungent flavor to quiche, squash casserole and so many other dishes. It's an herb that begs you to experiment in the kitchen. Every time I use it Gary says what is that flavor, and I tell him it's the Spanish tarragon. It is really different from French tarragon which is also a wonderfully pungent herb to use in cooking.

The plant easily sprawls and covers a patch of garden bed with it's green leaves and bright yellow flowers. I am not sure this plant will over-winter but if not I will grow it again for it's unusual contribution to my culinary pursuits.

Previously I've mentioned growing Juliet tomatoes. Here is a cluster ripening on the plant.

Here is a branch of Juliet tomatoes sprawling over the ground every which way. I'm still picking a plate full of these wonderfully firm salad sized tomatoes every day.

I meant to take photos of the push plates from the recent firing but I packed them up for the farmer's market then thought about it. I will try to get some photos at the market. Made it to Atlanta to two different clay suppliers and back (more about clay changes and choices coming up soon). Then Gary got all the clay unloaded and got the car all packed up for 6 am tomorrow morning. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

12 comments:

  1. Those herbs and tomatoes looks great. I love Juliet tomatoes in my pasta salad. Very colorful.

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  2. Hi Gigi, thanks, yes the Juliet's hold up well in salads rather than breaking apart and they are overly juicy and messy.

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  3. I am with you on the satisfaction of growing and nurturing plants. When I can use them it in cooking it is an extra bonus. A big bonus.

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    1. Hi Sue, thanks, yes so rewarding in taste and psychologically at having grown something yourself that tastes so good and plus you know it doesn't have pesticides on it.

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  4. I can just imagine the wonderful scents and tastes from your herbs and tomatoes!

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    1. Hi Barb, thanks, oh they are so wonderful, just to walk outside and rub a few leaves between your fingers and smell the fragrance, so relaxing.

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  5. Hi Linda, I am new to your blog. I just started taking pottery classes and was looking for inspiration on the internet and came across your blog. I am looking forward to seeing your push plates and perhaps trying it myself. Also, I look forward to seeing what you do with your stevia plant. Hopefully it can be used as a sweetener in the kitchen. Thank you for all that you share on the internet, I really appreciate your posts.

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    1. Hi Cathy, thanks and welcome, good luck with your pottery making, blogs are a great way to learn about clay.

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  6. I love fresh herbs and was tempted to buy some punnets on Friday when I was at the supermarket. Spring has sprung here and the supermarket had a load of lush little plants just waiting for me to buy them. I might just have to succumb to the temptation when I go again in a couple of days time!!!

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    1. Hi Lee, thanks, I have no idea what punnets are, but growing herbs is so easy they hardly every get bug damage and in a mild climate they are year around and so flavorful and of course you know they don't have any pesticides on them if you grow them yourself.

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  7. Your gardens alway look so lovely. I can't wait to start gardening next year.

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    1. Hi Michele, thanks, oh you are going to have so much fun landscaping, a slightly raised bed for herbs would be good so they don't sit in too damp soil and even if herbs aren't blooming their various leaf shapes and colors add interest to the garden. Of course you only see the individual plants, I'm not showing you the weeds Although we did use ground cover cloth and bark and that has really helped with the low maintenance.

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