Veg for Christmas

[grahamhobbs]

Tomorrow will be picking veg for the holidays, we have ready
Broccoli (Calabrese)
Cauliflower
Sprouts
Swede
Kohl Rabi
Carrot
Parsnip
Beetroot
Fennel
Kale, Russian and Cavolo de Nero
Chinese Cabbage
Pak Choi
Leek
Lettuce
Endive
Lambs Lettuce
Rocket
Land cress
Seakale
Sorel
Mustard leaves
some tiny french beans still in polytunnel
Parsley
other herbs

In store
Pumpkin
Onion and shallots
Garlic
Borlotti / butter/ othrr dried beans
Broad beans (frozen)
Chilli
Tomato puree

Missing
Turnip - not big enough yet, seedlings attacked
Coriander - forgot to sow
Celeriac - missed this year as messed up at seedling stage
Radicchio - poor germination

[gregorach]

That's a pretty good showing! I've had a poor year, so I've only got sprouts, chard, beetroot and parsnips ready to pick (and to be honest, I'm not sure about the state of the beetroot), with tatties, onions, shallots and garlic in store. I had one of those "Oh poo - I forgot to sow any leeks!" moments sometime in August...

[Mrs Moustoir]

That is an excellent selection!

We've just got leeks, chard and carvolo nero ready - despite the neglect. We've been having some quite significant ground works done this autumn so the veg patch has been left to its own devices.

[Odsox]

Very impressive Graham.

For fresh veg I have only ...
Sprouts
Savoy cabbage
January King cabbage
Russian Kale
Pak Choi
Leeks
Carrots
Parsnips
Lettuce
Spring onions
Tomatoes

Stored veg;
3 varieties of Potatoes
Onions
Shallots
Garlic
Frozen peas
Frozen broad beans
Frozen sweetcorn
Dried borlotti beans
Dried peas
Butternut squash
Uchiki Kuri squash

Fresh fruit;
Myrtles

Stored fruit;
Apples
Frozen apple purée
Frozen raspberries
Frozen black currants
Frozen blackberries
Frozen rhubarb

Herbs I don't count as they just overwinter with a few leaves available.
But those I'm taking more care over;
Pot of basil
Trough of mint for windowsill (for early potatoes in early April)

To come;
Spring cabbage
Purple sprouting

Haven't sown my early peas in the tunnel yet, they will have to wait until after Christmas now.

Hmm, better than I thought when I first started this list, we shouldn't starve then.

[grahamhobbs]

Oh yes I forgot we've got Red cabbage and January King cabbage as well - Savoy, bit of a way off.

We don't do many potatoes, so no potatoes, except half a dozen I found accidentally in the ground on Monday.

Our freezer is not big enough for all that lovely fruit you've got Odsox, but we have loads of apples stored and some in kilner jars.

My peas are under way, although I had to do a 2nd sowing because without thinking I sowed them direct and they got massacred by mice.

[Odsox]

Oh dear, I totally forgot our Kilner jars, we have several jars of Gooseberries and a few Plums, plus several dozen of Tomatoes from whole cherry toms to soup toms and thick & thin purées to suit all menus.

Regarding herbs, I have 3 huge Lemon Grass plants in the tunnel bed. I didn't expect them to do at all well, but they love it in there and it now looks like a 5 foot tall bed of rushes.

Peas, I always wash in paraffin just before I sow them, no trouble with mice then but maybe not too ecologically sound.
Cheaper and less frustrating though.

[phil55494]

This year may well be the year we manage to harvest a fresh parsnip and leek from the plot for Christmas dinner. The last few years we have had them ready but when they're under a foot of snow in frozen ground, they're not going to be on the table.
There is kale ready at the plot, garlic in store and courgette chopped up in the freezer ready for soup. We didn't get enough spuds or onions to last us till this time - more reason to try again next year

[grahamhobbs]

Odsox, yes I used to use paraffin but I'm finding it difficult to find anyone who sells it these days and although Lawrence D Hill recommended it years ago, I'm not sure it is considered organic these days.

Interesting about the lemon grass, haven't tried it myself, thought it needed to be kept very moist.

[Odsox]

Interesting about the lemon grass, haven't tried it myself, thought it needed to be kept very moist.

Yes it does, I have the soak away from my septic tank cross one of my tunnels so there is always a damp strip across the middle. I made a deep bed on top of it and planted it there.
I also have an early flowering blueberry there as well and that really enjoys the damp and protection.

[Henwoman]

I just have a modest selection, not like the real growers above. There's aubergines, tomatoes, beetroot, parsnips, carrots and some bits of celery, then butternut squash and onions in store. Also loads of sage, rosemary and a little parsley. It so lovely having all this veg though and hopefully, now I am able to bend down having lost 82lbs so far since 18 July's op, next year I'll have a better tended plot producing more.

A Merry Christmas and Happy and productive New Year everyone!