I saw a post from @calendulacraft where I commented that arugula was my favorite plant to eat and it's true. On sandwiches or eaten with some salad dressing. They have a really nice, peppery taste and lots of nutrients. And they are easy to grow. Especially the wild arugula, which is really similar but grows little yellow flowers and have a much "stronger" taste. Stronger is a nice term, they are really peppery and taste more like a weed. Somewhere between collard greens and a dandelion.
The wild arugula grows very large and healthy. The basic leaf shape is the same as modern varieties, but the leaf itself is a bit thicker. The taste is similar, but more like mustard greens. Wild arugula contains antioxidants, several important vitamins, minerals like Calcium and Protein. Arugula is best eaten raw, but I have seen it on pizza and hot sandwiches. Below are plants I harvested today: Strawberries, Rose petals, Chives and Peppermint. And Wild Arugula.
Rose petals are actually nutritious and I read somewhere that they contain a compound that is actually good for your eyesight. Mint is also great for you. And it's refreshing. The Chive Onions make a really nice soup base. They are also used in baked potatoes and other dishes. They taste similar to an onion, but a different, more flavorful version. #foodie alternative to sliced onions. Strawberries are always the first berry that ripen. Usually, I just wash them off and eat them raw. The Wild Arugula is also great raw. Just wash with filtered water and add some balsamic vinegar.
I know I promised a #garden update once a week, but I couldn't help slipping in an extra journal entry. Look how well one of my plants is doing under the SCROG fencing! A beautiful shade of green and really reaching for the sky with it's true leaves spread upwards. The horizontal fencing will create a stress trained Sea of green. Using regular seeds: Praying this is a female plant! Some of the plants I have are feminized clones and others are "regular" seeds that might be male or female.
Finally, I would like to show off my Sweet Potato plant. It took a long while to sprout. Look at that beautiful dark green and purple color! Much different that a "regular" potato plant. Turns out they are from a different family. The morning glory family. That's why they look so different. And who doesn't love sweet potato fries with their Cheese Burger? Such a great food item to grow for home cooking. Can't wait to harvest this spud strain for the first time! Even if it's not from the nightshade family. Once the top leaves die off, I will harvest this tasty tuber and serve with eggs and fried mushrooms.