On the last Friday of each month in our "From Seed To Feed" series, we post tips on how to bring your harvest to your dinner table. There's no point in growing delicious vegetables, if you don't know what to do with them! As the final summer tomato harvest approaches, a question arises that you might not have thought to ask: can you eat tomato leaves? My fiance, Justin, and I were inspired to ask this question after having a delicious tomato salad at Dallas's famous Lucia restaurant this summer. The salad had a dressing made from tomato leaf oil, and we immediately knew we had to replicate it at home. We asked our server how it was made, and he informed us that they puree the leaves, add them to olive oil, and squeeze it through a cheese cloth. Simple enough, and it worked! We used it as a replacement for olive oil on a caprese salad, and it was fantastic. Do not try this with store-bought tomatoes. We are referring to the leaves on the plant itself, not the small leaves attached to the stem because those are too fibrous to eat. Contrary to popular belief, you can eat tomato leaves. So why do so many people think they are poisonous? Tomatoes (and eggplant, potatoes, and peppers) are a part of the nightshade family. Nightshades also includes plants famously toxic to humans, like oleander and larkspur. That’s why “nightshade” is often associated with “deadly nightshade.” Tomatoes do contain some of the harmful compounds, but their leaves, stems, and fruit will not hurt you. You would need to eat over two pounds of tomato leaves to cause any harm. So go easily on this stuff! Now that you know they are safe, how do you eat tomato leaves? From Portland chef Jenn Louis's phenomenally informative cookbook, The Book Of Greens:
Can you think of a better way to celebrate the end of tomato season? If you are in Dallas and ready to start a garden this fall, we would love to help. Click Book Now on Facebook, or click Services on pottingwithpotter.com to setup a consult in the coming weeks. Happy eating!
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“Pray for miracles, but plant cabbages.” ― Ken Follett, British novelist Growing up in the 1980's, I often thought of cooked cabbage as one of the worst things you could possibly be forced to eat, primarily because of the original Willy Wonka movie. Do you remember all four grandparents in one bed eating cabbage water? Sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it again. In actuality, cabbage can be delicious, if prepared correctly. It is also nutritious and very high in vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, and fiber. For everyone planting cabbage in the coming days, I wanted to offer a few tips to keep in mind:
If you are in Dallas and ready to start a garden this fall, we would love to help. Click Book Now on Facebook, or click Services on pottingwithpotter.com to setup a consult in the coming weeks. Happy planting!
Did you know that the Dallas Public Library has a seed library? There is a collection of open-pollinated and heirloom seeds located on the 6th floor of the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library (1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX 75201). What is a seed library? A seed library is a depository of seeds held in trust for the community at large. Seeds are free to the community, and there is no requirement to return seeds. Farmers and home gardeners have been saving and sharing seeds with each other for thousands of years. Unfortunately the tradition has been largely abandoned over the past hundred years. Here are some reasons to start saving and sharing again:
How to "check-out" seeds:
Donations help keep the collection sustainable, but the library does not require borrowers to return seed. However, as we grow as gardeners and experience success in our gardens, we should consider bringing seeds back to share with the Seed Library community. I will be posting information in the spring on how to collect and donate seeds. Until then, if you are in Dallas and ready to start a garden this fall, we would love to help. Click Book Now on Facebook, or click Services on pottingwithpotter.com to setup a consult in the coming weeks. Happy planting! Did you know that the best time to start your fall garden is right now? With our current high temperatures in the mid-90s, the cool weather of autumn may seem like only a dream, however, it will be here before we know it. Early August to early September is the prime time to plant by seed in the DFW area, so don't get left behind, wishing you had some fresh vegetables to use for Thanksgiving dinner.
What should you be planting now? Some of my favorites are broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, beets, carrots, onions, radish, collard greens, lettuce, kale, and bok choy. My next post will include the best places to find seeds. Until then, if you have questions or need help getting started, schedule an initial consult. Click Book Now on Facebook, or click Services on pottingwithpotter.com. Happy planting! I am so excited to have you here! This is the place to find the monthly Potting With Potter newsletter, where you can see what is growing in my garden, what we should focus on planting next, and tips on how to use what is growing in your garden.
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