Author Topic: Still Picking  (Read 4770 times)

Tee Gee

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Still Picking
« on: January 25, 2018, 14:13:34 »
Went down to the allotment this morning which I think is my first visit since I went down to collect my Xmas dinner veg.

Everything seems OK after the storms we have had of late so grateful for that.

I noticed two of my three varieties of Garlic are progressing well so that is nice to know.

I picked a cabbage (Tundra) and a couple of sticks of sprouts (Maximus) (see pic)

Came home and took delivery of my seed potatoes, Kestrel, Charlotte, Nadine and Rocket  ( I save my own PFA's)so will set these up to chit tomorrow.


Speaking of Potatoes brought the last lot  of last seasons crop into the house so back to the supermarket varieties from the middle of February I guess.  :sad8:

Usually I don't get to this stage until Mid/End of March but I had a slight attack of Blight with my Kestrels last year and had to remove the tops a bit early so this reduced the crop.

Not to worry still lots of sprouts,cabbage and onions to keep me going till possibly the end of March! :happy7:

BarriedaleNick

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2018, 16:33:59 »
Nice. 
I still have some sprouts and a few cabbages but I have tons of spuds in the garage - PFA and Sarpo Mira.  Had the last few carrots last weekend and have enough parsnips to last through Feb so together with the squash, kale and chard I reckon I can throw a few more roasts together.
Moved to Portugal - ain't going back!

pumkinlover

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2018, 08:48:58 »
On the last of the potatoes now. You are welcome little mouse but it would be nice if you are just one not nibbled so many!
Carrot and parsnip doing well and sprouts and red cabbage.
Packing pre orders later for Chesterfield potato day which is tomorrow. So mine will be chitting soon.
Still got bottles of passata and a freezer full.
Tidying up ready for seed sowing.

laurieuk

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2018, 12:22:21 »
Went to the plot today and picked sprouts, still got plenty ot leeks and parsnips to follow on with.

George the Pigman

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2018, 20:23:10 »
On the plot today and it was a quagmire - we have clay soil! Picked Caveolo Nero and Swede - although the latter have taken some hits from slugs.
Also have Savoy Cabbage and a few measly sprouts (I've always had trouble withe the latter!).
I have some plants I sowed from an All Season Broccoli seed pack from T&M. They are growing well but no signs of broccoli heads as yet. I haven't a clue what variety it is (the three varieties where all mixed in the same packet) or when, if ever, it will appear..
I planted some Swiss Chard and beetroot towards the end of the season and they seem OK and I am hoping they mature enough to harvest in the spring before they bolt.
Parsnips long since gone (only had a few of them anyway). I made a mistake buying seed tapes - never again!!
Lots of spuds in the garage - Lady Chrystal, Charlotte, Romano, Manitou, Harmony & Picasso.Probably my best year ever for them - not only a good yield but a low level of slug damage (and no blight). Fair number of onions (gave up with garlic as we have onion rot)  .Still a couple of Spaghetti Squash in storage  but one needs cutting open as its beginning to shows signs of rot.

saddad

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2018, 14:08:08 »
Got some really impressive Parsnips out last weekend.. and a leaf salad mix is still producing well. The standby's Winter Radish and "mustards" are doing well and we still have some carrots in a raised bed.

galina

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2018, 14:24:16 »
Had the last parsnips, lots of squash, onions, potatoes still in use,  peas and beans in the freezer.  And some broadies, fruit and beetroot. In the garden still lettuce (greenhouse), rocket and turnip greens.  Oh and leeks and kale.  :wave:

saddad

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2018, 15:55:10 »
Started losing squash to storage rot this week... had so many things to store they got left in the big greenhouse and it's too damp, the Hubbards are holding up best but none will stay until May this time..

Paulh

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2018, 20:48:10 »
Went down to the allotment today - about the third time this year only!

Finished off the sprouts - best pick of the lot. Even better, got some sprout tops.

The all-season broccoli which has done very little all season had loads of purple- flowering sprouts.

The leeks had survived the allium leaf miner attack: not great, but no huge damage or obvious pests.

Other things still going OK.

I'mmuch happier than I expected to be!


johhnyco15

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2018, 10:37:20 »
squashes are starting to rot i can never seem to get them to last past early Feb carrots leeks swede Jan king and some other cabbages still left bright lights spinach beet still doing well as celeriac  and late beets  had some rhubarb yesterday in a crumble it was very nice first of new season callis are up summer cabbage are up this weekend will sow carrots in a tub its been a very cold winter here by our standards on the sunshine coast and very wet looking forward to spring and some warm weather
johhnyc015  may the plot be with you

lottie lou

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2018, 11:19:44 »
Just finishing titchy sprouts (at least I managed some this year.  Spuds in garage, should last till mid march.  Couple of pumpkins, loads of titchy leaks growing in tubs. And tons of daubenton kale - even maraudung pigeons don't like it.  Shallots I forgot I had plus peas, beans, dried tommies, currant tomatoes in freezer together with dried beans.  So why do I still feel I need to buy veg down the market?

galina

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2018, 11:56:02 »
I'm envious of those sprouts!   :icon_cheers:

Squashes keeping (or not) depends on two things.  First the variety.  Most cucurbita pepo squashes, ie marrows and acorns are coming to the end of their natural storage life - they are also called autumn squashes because they don't make all winter.  The longer storers are the cucurbita moschatas, ie the butternuts and a few others, they last until early spring.  The longest storers are the cucurbita maxima.  There are many types in that family, for example Crown Prince and Uchiki Kuri.  These can last until it is time to sow again.  There always is a bit of leeway here and even the long storing ones can have or develop a defect and rot prematurely.  So regular inspection is a must.

Apart from variety, there are storage conditions.  Frost free is a must and not touching is another.  As the days get longer and if they are in bright sunlight you can get seeds inside germinating and that will also make them rot.  I haven't found that they need to be kept particularly cool during storage.  Window sills on the north side of the house are well suited, but storing them under the bed or on top of the wardrobe works too.  Cool guest bedroom window sill that isn't in bright sunshine is a winner.

Lastly, they store well in the freezer.  Any that develop a spot need to be dealt with promptly.  They  can be deseeded and cut into chunks for roasting, or prepared for other dishes and frozen without blanching.  If any are going off now, they can be used up that way and brought out from the freezer during the more lean harvesting months.   I put frozen squash slices around a roast straight from the freezer or put chunks into stock and when cooked, blitz up for soup (with a bit of cream on top).   :wave:

Paulh

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #12 on: February 04, 2018, 10:00:33 »
Thanks, Galina, that confirms my experience.

I store mine on the deep sill of the east-facing bay window of our hall/dining room. The orange, biscuit and blue grey hues of the various squashes makes a fine (though gradually reducing) display into spring with the added advantage that visitors comment on them - "are those real? can you eat them?" - yes, and you're getting one with your dinner!

Just a Crown Prince and a potimarron left now, with half a Black Futsu in the fridge. The latter now has flesh that has a deep colour and rich flavour, almost like a mango in texture.

I'd not grown winter squashes until about three seasons ago, now I wouldn't be without them.

Digeroo

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #13 on: February 04, 2018, 15:54:24 »
Went to plot today for the first time since Xmas.  I got some flower sprouts, and some Russian kale.  And some cleavers for a brew of tea, and some parsley.  There are still some parsnips but I did not take a spade. 
The deer have been nibbling the purple sprouting so I put the nets back on so hopefully they will recover.  The broad beans are all black even the ones still covered in bottles, luckily the ones in the garden look very green and bonny.  Same seed so not clear why the difference.   
The areas I dug through are now covered in weeds.  The areas I covered in manure look better. 
Wind was very cold.  I will wait for it to warm up a bit before I get stuck in to some serious work.
Still eating tromba squash and have a crown prince looking good. 



vague

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #14 on: February 04, 2018, 22:45:36 »
I love picking winter veggies! I picked a big bag of True Siberian and Nero di Toscana Kale today, and some dikon raddish which I forgot about.  Looking forward to the spring cabbages.
I've got celeriac, butternut squash and red cabbage in freezer.
Also have one grey pumpkin, size of a large grapefruit, which developed eyes and a mouth over xmas.  I thinks he's staying!

johhnyco15

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #15 on: February 08, 2018, 14:18:28 »
todays haul
johhnyc015  may the plot be with you

galina

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #16 on: February 09, 2018, 11:04:57 »
Vague,  I wonder how this face happened.  Nature or a little one with a felt tip pen?  Johnny did I spot a couple of pepper there?  How did you manage that?   :glasses9:

In the last week or so our three cornered leeks have really exploded into growth.  Lots of chopped chive/mild garlic type of greens over everything at the moment - equally good in fromage frais or quark cheese to go on bread  or with a fried egg,  and also snipped on top of cooked dishes as a garnish.  The Babington leeks have also put on a growth spurt.    :wave:

johhnyco15

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #17 on: February 09, 2018, 12:09:37 »
Vague,  I wonder how this face happened.  Nature or a little one with a felt tip pen?  Johnny did I spot a couple of pepper there?  How did you manage that?   :glasses9:

In the last week or so our three cornered leeks have really exploded into growth.  Lots of chopped chive/mild garlic type of greens over everything at the moment - equally good in fromage frais or quark cheese to go on bread  or with a fried egg,  and also snipped on top of cooked dishes as a garnish.  The Babington leeks have also put on a growth spurt.    :wave:
last of them from my unheated greenhouse they cropped really well this year
johhnyc015  may the plot be with you

vague

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #18 on: February 09, 2018, 17:43:19 »
Vague,  I wonder how this face happened.  Nature or a little one with a felt tip pen?  Johnny did I spot a couple of pepper there?  How did you manage that?   :glasses9:

In the last week or so our three cornered leeks have really exploded into growth.  Lots of chopped chive/mild garlic type of greens over everything at the moment - equally good in fromage frais or quark cheese to go on bread  or with a fried egg,  and also snipped on top of cooked dishes as a garnish.  The Babington leeks have also put on a growth spurt.    :wave:

Galina, nature definately had a little helping hand!
Although I'm quite impressed on how long it's stored! :wave:
OH isn't admitting to anything!!
« Last Edit: February 09, 2018, 17:46:51 by vague »

galina

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Re: Still Picking
« Reply #19 on: February 09, 2018, 18:34:33 »
Vague, thanks for showing us.  Great fun.  A mystery for sure! :sunny:

 It looks like a cucurbita maxima squash, that is the type that lasts the longest.

 

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