fresh herbs Archives - Curly in Colorado

This weekend I’m helping my husband sell the plants he has grown for our Heirloom Vegetable Plant Sale in Denver. This is our second year and the turnout has been great so far. I have to admit that the past ten weeks have been full of ups and downs. Still, we like the fact that the plants we watched grow from seed are now strong, healthy and ready for the garden.

Why buy Heirlooms?

Heirloom Tomatoes and Peppers

Normally you’ll find hybrid vegetable plants at your Big Box stores like Home Depot and Walmart. This is when you cross two plant varieties to create a completely new one (a hybrid). Because of this, the seeds cannot be saved to plant the following season. Heirloom vegetables offer more taste and nutritional value than those that are grown from hybrid varieties. Also, the seeds can be saved and used to grow new plants the following season.

It’s fun to hear how the plants will be added to gardens and containers. Still, even though we have been lucky with the warmer temperatures this spring, we explain to our customers the importance of waiting until May to plant them. This is because of the unpredictable Colorado weather. One frosty night can stop a healthy vegetable plant in its’ tracks.

We are both weary from today’s activities but happy to know that there are lots of people in town who prefer to by from local growers like my Husband. We’re so excited to meet others who appreciate the value of our heirloom plants. The plant sale will continue through Sunday. Here are some pics from the first day.

Straight Eight Cucumbers

Heirloom Bell Peppers

Genoa Basil

CLICK HERE for more details on the Plant Sale

Lavender Flowers in our herb garden

This morning the hubby and I got up to harvest a few herbs from our garden. Almost everything in it is edible except for a few flower bushes and ground covers. The soil is dark and rich and most of the plants come back each year which gives us lots of herbs all summer long. Herbs can really take off once in the ground but we also have some planted in containers.

Fresh cut lavender ready for drying

Our lavender bushes were the main concern today because the flowers can lose essential oils as the heat sets in later in the afternoon. We have to cut them in the morning so that they’ll be at their best for later use. Afterwards, we hang them to dry in a cool, dark place and then use the flowers and buds in crafts like lavender sachets or Lavender Vanilla Sugar.

Potted rosemary

I try to use most of the herbs fresh when I cook during the summer and whatever is left in the fall, we cut and dry for the winter months. My husband also uses some of the herbs to make his own fruit & herb flavored vinegars which we currently sell in our Etsy store.

Fresh cut chives

This week we’re planning on cooking steaks for the first time on our new grill so the chives we cut today will go great with baked potatoes. I’m also looking forward to using the mint in drinks this weekend or to top a creamy dessert.

CHECK OUT our Etsy store, MimisCraftPantry for Dave’s Herb Flavored Vinegars.