Hasn’t this been an amazing year for our gardens? Things are growing at an astonishing pace! Between the heat and the rain, we’ve got a winning combination! Talking with other gardeners, we are surprised at the variance of rain from one part of town to another. But it sounds like everyone is having a good year so far; every day brings us a new delight to discover in our gardens! Keep taking those daily tours of your yard!
Wednesday, August 8 from 1:00 p.m. till 5:00 p.m. is the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society’s Annual Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Show at St. Gerard’s Parish Complex. Be sure to circle that date on your calendar! This show brings you the best of the gardening year: fruit and vegetable displays, cut flowers, plant displays and flower arrangements. We have a few new categories this year that we think you’ll enjoy! Admission is $3.00 and includes tea or coffee and dainties. It’s a lovely way to spend an afternoon, browsing through lovely horticultural displays of all kinds, and then having tea, so bring a friend and join us!
Garden quiz: which plant goes back in time to ancient Greece, is popular as a culinary spice all over Europe and the United Kingdom, is said to aid digestion and boost our immune systems, and can bring tears to your eyes? If you guessed horseradish, you are right!
Horseradish is a member of the brassica family — a family that includes cabbage and cauliflower. (This makes it a target for the cabbage butterfly, in spite of its sharp flavor!). The plant is a perennial, grows about four feet tall, and spreads through the roots, so it can be invasive. The leaves are beautiful: dark green, large and elongated. Horseradish likes a sunny location, but should be placed at the back of the garden because of its tendency to spread. It is not very fussy about soil type but would not like an area that is consistently wet. Harvesting of the roots happens in the fall, and from there they become the delicious and heated condiment that tastes so yummy with beef or mixed with beets to make a wonderful relish used at Easter.
If we wanted to plant horseradish, we would plant a root; from what I have read, one root supplies enough horseradish for most of us.
Do you enjoy sushi and the hot taste of wasabi? Guess what? Wasabi is a cousin of horseradish; it is a perennial and grows a thick root like the horseradish but it is far more finicky about growing conditions. Wasabi likes wet, shaded areas, and there aren’t too many areas in North America that naturally fit those requirements. The other day we saw a tv program that toured a wasabi greenhouse in Britain; the crop was growing completely indoors where they could easily control light and moisture. While the plants looked healthy, it is hard to say what their crop will be like.
If you have ever wondered why wasabi is served with sushi, you may be surprised at the answer. The sharp taste of the wasabi does indeed emphasize the flavor of the fish, but another reason is that the wasabi plays a very important role in killing bacteria that could cause food poisoning.Â
The gnarled roots of the horseradish and wasabi each yield a delicious crop, one that has been vital and immensely valued for centuries. Think of that next time you are eating beet relish!
Visit us at www.yorktonhort.ca; you’ll see what’s happening with the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society!
Have a great week, and be sure to wear a hat!Â
