Andy Ziegler is a chef at Nostrano in Madison, WI. He also provides produce for the restaurant and runs his own (commitment-free) CSA out of his garden in Middleton. Andy grew up on a farm so he has been gardening since he could walk. While I am a gardening novice, Andy is a gardening guru. When I interviewed him for the Local Chef series, he shared some gardening tips.


When do you harvest?

I shared with Andy my shock that all of the plants in my garden were still alive. I had to admit to him that I had no idea when to pick the vegetables, let alone what some of them were. His tips were totally logical (probably why I didn’t think of them) and his humble manner was comforting as he admitted he struggles with the same issue.

  • Look at similar produce in the grocery story to see how big it is. Compare to your garden. Pick it when it looks like the store produce.
  • Spend time with the plants. Keep an eye on them every day to see how they have changed.
  • When in doubt, let something go to rot. Generally, not every piece of produce will be ready to go at the same time. Sacrifice one so you get the most out of the rest.

Here are pieces of advice for certain types of plants:

  • Eggplant: Touch it. When it has a little give, it’s ready to go.
  • Squash: If you want a sweeter squash, pick them when they are small. If you will be using it for breads or baked goods, you can let them get bigger.

Garden Friends

As we walked through his gardens, I noticed that he used a lot of filler plants. In between the rows of salad greens, he planted carrots. He explained that the carrots prevented weeds.

 

 

In the herb garden, he planted marigolds and petunias. These flowers attract the good bugs and keep the bad ones away.

 

 

How to Store Fresh Herbs

When we went inside to look at the amazing CSA shares, I noticed they had a mason jar filled with basil on the counter. Apparently, basil does not like the cold. If you want to keep your basil nice and fresh (post-picking), put in a mason jar with the stems in water. Do not put it in the fridge.

Sage, my new favorite herb thanks to this recipe by Patrick O’Halloran, should be stored in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel. I should also mention that sage grows like a weed. If anyone in the greater Madison area wants some sage, see me. I can’t pick it fast enough.

Want some fresh produce?


Click the picture above to learn about how you can get fresh, local produce without committing your summer away to a CSA.

 

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