Learn about planting leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach, and root vegetables like carrots, beets and radishes. Not to mention broccoli and cauliflower. All of these vegetable plants can be grown in the ground or in containers. Great class for beginning gardeners.
We are excited to say that our classes are at nine Stanislaus County Library Branches! We hope to see you there.
August 2023 Library Branch Schedule
- Tuesday, 8/1 at 6:00 p.m. - Salida
- Saturday, 8/5 at 2:00 p.m. - Empire
- Tuesday, 8/8 at 6:00 p.m. - Oakdale
- Thursday, 8/10 at 1:00 p.m. - Patterson
- Saturday, 8/12 at 2:00 p.m. – Riverbank
- Monday, 8/14 at 6:00 p.m. – Ceres
- Tuesday, 8/22 at 2:00 p.m. - Waterford
- Wednesday, 8/23 at 6:00 p.m. - Turlock
- Monday, 8/28 at 5:30 p.m. - Modesto
Precautions and Harvesting Review
A reminder: before consuming edible flowers, one should always proceed with caution. The flowers should come only from your garden or other trusted sources that have not been sprayed with pesticides. Many flowers share common names, so always look for the scientific name (genus and species) to ensure you have the right flowers, since not all flowers are edible.
Harvest fully opened flowers in the morning right after the dew has dried. Carefully wash them, and as needed remove the stamens, styles, pistils, and sepals (the parts that hold the pollen and the green stems that hold petals together). Use as soon as possible for maximum flavor.
Edible Flowers from Fruits & Vegetables
- Squash flowers are often used in Mexican and Latin American cuisine. Use male flowers that have been removed after pollination. They can be stuffed with a variety of foods, and fried or baked as appetizers and side dishes. In addition to being delicious, they look stunning.
- Pea flowers: Rather than letting some flowers become pea pods, pick a few of these flowers to add a mild pea flavor to a salad.
- Onion/Chive flowers are grown primarily for their bulbs or stems. However, the flowers, along with other parts of the plants from this family have a mild garlic or onion flavor that works well in a range of recipes. Some varieties can remain green all year, thus providing a year-round source of flavor for salads, soups, etc.
- Elderflowers are one of the most common examples of edible flowers and are used in a wide range of drinks such as elderflower cordial or syrups.
- Cherry blossoms are also edible from fruiting cherry trees. They are often an ingredient in Japanese cuisine. They can be pickled in salt and vinegar.
- The blossoms from fruiting plums, peach, citrus, and apple trees, and almond trees are also sometimes eaten, but are generally used as garnish or decoration.
Don't Forget Flowers from “Weeds!”
- Dandelion leaves and green ends of the flowers are bitter, while the petals and stamen have a mildly sweet flavor. Like elderberry, dandelion flowers can be used to make cordials or syrups.
- The daisies you might find all over your lawn have little flowers that can be eaten in salads or sandwiches.
- Clover flowers, both the white and red varieties, are both suitable for eating. The red flowers are the most flavorful and can be used in teas, syrups and a range of desserts.
As the two articles from last week and this week on edible flowers show, there is an incredible array of flowers you can choose from to expand your meals, desserts, and decorate your plates. Your local library is a good source for books for ideas, preparation, and recipes. I'm looking forward to collecting summer squash flowers from our vegetable garden, stuffing them, and grilling them!
Denise Godbout-Avant has been a Stanislaus County Master Gardener since 2020.
/h3>/h3>/h3>Participants will receive free carrot and cilantro seed packets!
Tues, 2/7 at 6:00 p.m. – Salida Library
Wed, 2/8 at 2:30 p.m. – Patterson Library
Sat, 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. – Riverbank Library
Mon, 2/13 at 6:00 p.m. – Ceres Library
Tues, 2/14 at 6:00 p.m. – Oakdale Library
Sat, 2/18 at 2:00 p.m. – Empire Library
Wed, 2/22 at 6:00 p.m. – Turlock Library
Mon, 2/27 at 5:30 p.m. – Modesto Library
Don't see your local library on our list? Contact them to request our classes.
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- Author: Anne Schellman
Fall Vegetable Gardening?
Even though your tomatoes are probably still going strong, now is the time to start planning for your fall vegetable garden! This month we have added the Patterson Library to our schedule. They specifically requested Water Thrifty Gardening, so next month we will offer Fall Vegetable Gardening at their location.
August Library Branch Schedule
- Monday, August 8, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. - Fall Vegetable Gardening - Ceres
- Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. - Fall Vegetable Gardening - Salida
- Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. - Drip Irrigation/Water Thrifty Gardening – Patterson
- Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. - Fall Vegetable Gardening - Riverbank
- Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. - Fall Vegetable Gardening – Oakdale
- Monday, August 22, 2022 at 6:15 p.m. - Fall Vegetable Gardening – Modesto
- Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. - Fall Vegetable Gardening - Turlock
Class Descriptions
Fall Vegetable Gardening: Did you know you can grow vegetable plants in fall? Grow your own salad by planting leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and Swiss Chard,and root vegetables like carrots, beets and radishes. These plants can be grown in the ground or in containers. Great class for beginning gardeners.
Water Thrifty Landscaping (now called Drip Irrigation): Want to make your garden more water wise? This class will teach you how to use less water, and includes detailed tips on how to install a drip irrigation system. It also includes recommendations on low-water use plants you can plant this fall once the temperature is cooler.
Ejoying our classes? Have a comment or request? Post a message below. We want to hear from you.
Contact your local library branch to find out more or if your library isn't offering our classes yet, tell them to contact us!
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