Gone to Flower

Unless there is some avid seed saving going on, many gardeners strive to harvest and eat their vegetables before they go to flower or bolt. Oftentimes the desired edible portion of the plant will turn bitter or woody as the energy is directed towards flower and seed production, which translates for many into a total waste of the food we worked so hard to grow. When you think about gardening from an aesthetic standpoint, however, and all the energy and money folks put into growing flowers and various annuals, it can shed a whole new light on vegetables gone to flower. Having such a large garden and odd growing season this year, more things are flowering in my vegetable patch than usual, and I have found I am enjoying it almost as much as I would have all those fresh veggies harvested at the right time. I am starting to think that these vegetable blooms get overlooked far too often, and are deserving of some due appreciation.

Behold the mustard flowers. I’m sure you have noticed these growing wild along roadsides and out in fields and appreciated all those bright, sunny yellow blooms. They’re quite cheery. I’m really enjoying just looking out at them in my garden, and hoping I’ll get some mustard seeds out of the situation.

This particular patch of radishes I allowed to bolt on purpose. Rat tail radishes are grown for their spicy seed pods that make excellent pickles. They also produce lovely purple and white flowers that make great cut arrangements in mason jars.

Parsley flowers are quite a sight to behold, plus the seeds are great for cooking, so you really can’t go wrong with letting your parsley go wild.

I have been really loving all the potato flowers this year. With all the varieties I planted, I’m seeing a great assortment of colors out there.

So, that’s my unconventional gardening tip for the day. Try to look at those unruly areas of your vegetable patch in a new way, and you might just discover you had a knack for growing flowers all along. Sometimes it’s good to just sit back, relax and let a few things go to flower. You may be delighted by what unfolds.