Well, it’s going to be a later than usual post today! When you run one the largest far north gardening blogs, and a “minor software update” throws a major technical problem, let’s just say that becomes a major priority!
So, tonight, we’ll keep it brief and easy. One of the things we’ll often do is allow our vegetables to flower!
We’ve definitely observed that some pollinators definitely prefer veggie flowers for some reason. While we grow tons of “regular flowers” for their enjoyment, the veggies we allow to flower often see all the action!
Some veggies will also taste just fine if you allow them to flower. For example, we often can’t get to all of our bok choy and it loves to flower early in the season! As long as the stalks and leaves don’t develop a woody, less tasty version of itself, those plants are still just fine to consume! This can extend your harvest by weeks to a month or more!
So, if you don’t have a major reason to harvest things out, like maybe you don’t have a preservation plan for that plant, don’t be afraid to let it flower!
One of the fascinating things we’ve learned is that many pollinators try to focus on a particular type of flower during their pollen runs. So, this diversity of flowering can definitely help bring in pollinators that might otherwise pass you by.
Your bees and other pollinators will likely appreciate these extra flowers! And you’ll likely see some attracted to these plants more than others!
