Wordless Wednesday: In the Garden, Radishes

First Harvest in our garden was...

Rzodkiewki

(pronounced Zhohd-keyehv-key)

Radishes

Radishes are planted in our garden for their flavor in several summer dishes, as well as companion plants.

Plant radishes to deter cucumber beetles, cabbage worms, squash borers, squash bugs, slugs, flies and other pests.  With this in mind, radishes should be planted with cucumber, cabbage, beets, squash, melons, beans, peas and spinach.  Some suggest carrots as well, while others do not recommend this pairing.

Use radishes in the following recipes:

Farmer's Cheese Spread or Pasta Twarogowa

Kanapki

Chłodnik

There are many other recipes you can use radishes in, or you can enjoy them simply by slicing them thin and layering on good bread with butter and a pinch of salt like all the Slavs love to enjoy.

Polish Mama Nutrition:

Radishes are high in of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Folate and Potassium.

Radishes are a good source of Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper and and Manganese, as well as several trace minerals.

They are low in cholesterol, calories and fat, so are perfect for diets.

Read More about radish nutrition facts.



 

My seeds come from Dom itp.  This post is not sponsored by them but if you choose to follow the link or button to their site and purchase anything from them, I would receive commission and thank you.

 

 

Related Posts:

Word(y) Wednesday:  Our Polish American Garden

Word(y) Wednesday: Chicago Botanic Garden, European Plants

Word(y) Wednesday: Garden Inspiration, Cabbage and Violets

Word(y) Wednesday: Garden Inspiration, Cabbage and Violets

Kapusta i Fiołek Ogrodowy

Kapusta
(pronounced Kah-poo-stah)

Cabbage

Fiołek Ogrodowy
(pronounced feeoh-wehk Ohgrood-ohvih)

Viola
The literal translation is Violet of the Garden or Garden Violet.


Fiołek
(pronounced Feeoh-wehk)

Violet


Bratek
(pronounced Brah-tehk)

Pansy
The word loosely hints to the fact that the Pansy is the brother or friend of the violet.  Or that the Bratek is the brat (brother) of the Fiołek.

Violas are related to violets and pansies.  Violas tend to last better through the winter, so some gardeners prefer to use them.  You can use any of these plants interspersed and bordering your cabbage, lettuce, and other plants to protect them from garden pests.

Violet, Viola and Pansy petals and leaves can be eaten: 

• As part of a beautiful salad or dish garnish
• Crystallized on a dessert
• Make a jelly from them
• Use to delicately flavor a cake or icing
• Make a very traditional Torun dish called violet soup which is not common in modern cuisine
• Even the leaves can be cooked like spinach.

I must stress, however, that if you decide to eat the flowers and leaves, do not eat them if they have been sprayed with pesticides.

These photos come from our last trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden's Vegetable Gardens.

I hope this inspires you to garden and to think about non-traditional ways to grow your own food.

Watch for the next few Wordless (Wordy) Wednesday posts for gardening ideas and to see what we are growing in our own personal garden. 

The majority of my seeds come from Dom itp. Some seeds they offer are sunflowers, pickling cucumbers, Polish wild strawberries, several different flowers including violets and garden violas, parsley roots (I highly recommend trying this in some of your recipes), and many other varieties.  Their prices are comparable to going to your local chain or gardening store.  It's like having a piece of Poland in your backyard.

Disclaimer: The links and banner for Dom itp are part of an affiliate program. While the company does not pay for me to post their links and banner, I do receive a portion of all sales made using the links and banner in compensation. If you do purchase something from them this way, I sincerely thank you.

Na razie...

Related Posts:

Word(y) Wednesday: Our Polish American Garden

Word(y) Wednesday: Chicago Botanic Garden

Word(y) Wednesday:  Piękny Jaś