Ruby Sparkler

 

Today I tasted the first radish of the season.  I am rather successful at growing radishes in my long plot.  I sowed the seed early, so covered it with a fleece cloche to protect it from frost.  It has been a bit difficult to keep it weeded and watered under there, but the seedlings developed well, and a few days ago I noticed the glow of ruby red appearing from the earth at the base of some of the plants, telling me that it was almost time to harvest some of them. 

Radishes grow so quickly once the roots start to ripen that it's best to check them every day so they don't become woody and inedible.  The one I tried today was perfectly ripe, and had a good peppery kick.  The variety I sow is Sparkler, because I love how the name exactly describes its taste. 

I spend such a lot of time maintaining the land on my plots, that I forget that the result of my work will be food to eat, so today it felt like a bonus that I could actually feed myself as well as admire the beauty of what I am creating.