When I was a kid, I had a victory garden (though WW II was over by then, I guess we were still celebrating in 1947) at my grandmother's house at 1543 Post Street (now the Japan Center and the Miyako Hotel). She and Dick, my grandfather, had a huge old Victorian with a gigantic backyard. It had a rubbertree, a greenhouse, and was large enough for my Dad and Dick to build a boat. I was allocated a small plot to grow whatever I wished. So, I planted carrots and radishes. I read the directions on the seed packet, I prepared the soil, I stuck the seeds in the earth, I watered, I fertilized, I weeded, and I waited patiently (I know - I lost that trait shortly after the carrots). Small green units began to poke their heads through the crust. Then they got larger and taller and greener! I was excited! My brother, Ron, couldn't wait for the feast of homegrown veggies!! They were his project, too. So, maturity comes to the carrots and radishes. As we harvested the crop, it became very apparent that we had mistakenly purchased the seed packets for "midget radishes and stubby carrots". There was no way to know that the green part above ground, which was lush and full and tall, in no way reflected the underground part of this project. Carrots no longer than an inch and as big around as your thumb (a seven year old thumb, that is). Radishes the diameter of a nickle and not much thicker. Hmmmm. Turns out that I did not prepare the soil deeply enough. Can't just scratch the surface and expect the veggies to make their own way through the hardpan. The leafy green part has the easy route. Nevertheless, Ron and I ate our crop (one sitting was enough) and thoroughly and immensely enjoyed our veggies. They tasted even better when Mom advised us that they should be washed first - not so gritty!

Thanks for stirring this memory, Sebastian! The carrots taste even better today than they did 60 years ago. Rich/Dana's Dad