Grow Your Own Magazine

HeyWayne · #1 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 02:38 PM

Just a quickie.

I was hpoing to have some home grown veg for Christmas dinner, but things aren't looking hopeful.

My potatoes have run out, cauliflowers will probably be all done by then, sprouts are either tiny, or blown, cabbages have been eaten by someone other than a dinner guest. My carrots I think have stopped growing (I pulled one up the other day, and whilst it was perfectly formed, it was only about 2-1/2 inches long, and full of holes).

I have some sugarsnap peas and runner beans in the freezer, but that's about it.

There's always next year I guess, and I reckon I'll have a better idea of when to plant things, and how to extend the growing season by then...

Anyone else a little miffed that they won't have much for Christmas dinner? (by that I mean home-grown, we're not going to starve with Waitrose down the road!)

shirlthegirl43 · #2 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 02:43 PM

Yup. Total spud failure for me this year. My sprout plant (single survivor) is about 8 inches tall with no sign of sprouts, brocolli and calabrese will probably be gone by then. However, I do have 2 buckets of carrots which I moved to the greenhouse last week - they are promising. I also may have kale and chard and I hope a couple of snowball turnips will still be around. Cabbages are very lacy and I don't fancy trying to evict whatever is enjoying them (not pigeons so hard to find).

Will try harder next year and now have a freezer so will be able to store some of the crop that way. As you say, it is all a learning curve thing and fun to try to serve some of your own produce in mid-winter.

Flummery · #3 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 02:50 PM

I never have spuds left by Christmas as I only grow earlies (unless I get my act together and plant a bucketful in August - and August's too short!).
I will have parsnips (thank you vine for the pre-germination and loo roll tip!) as I've tried a few already and they are massive and clean as a whistle. I also have kale and dark cabbage - it's spring cabbage but unseasonably early. The freezer will yield french and broad beans saved especially. And of course my dear old JAs. Hate sprouts! The way things a looking I might also have baby bear pumpkin left for a nice orange splash on the plate. Wayne, you're making me hungry!

SueA · #4 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 05:02 PM

I've been trying to grow some new potatoes in a tub but don't think they've got anywhere, I planted then quite deep but haven't seen any top growth at all yet. You could always grow some salad leaves now HeyWayne & serve turkey salad!

Hazel at the Hill · #5 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 05:13 PM

Well, my aim of not buying any more veg (haven't since March - tho' mum keeps giving me celery hearts when they do '50% free' offers...) is working pretty well so far - but lack of foresight with the Brussels means that it'd either going to be an 'alternative' christmas meal, buying a 'stick' from the farmers market in a couple of weeks, or doing a swap with someone at the Hill for beetroot, which I do have a-plenty.

Still eating pots, parsnip, froz fr and runner beans, cauli, cabbage and leek (actually I've impressed myself there! How smug am I??)

Kale, spring and red cabbage to come, which need to keep me going till the broadies kick in in May. I won't die of scurvy, then, but maybe from terminal flatulance!!

shirlthegirl43 · #6 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hazel at the Hill

I won't die of scurvy, then, but maybe from terminal flatulance!!

Hope you don't smoke!!

Hazel at the Hill · #7 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shirlthegirl43

Hope you don't smoke!!

I wouldn't dare!!

Seahorse · #8 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 05:21 PM

I didn't grow any spuds this year but have been nursing three (count 'em!) parsnips in a bucket for my Christmas Dinner for a while now.

Almost everything we grew got eaten as soon as it was ready (some of it didn't even make it indoors

) but I might be able to fight the caterpillars for the remnants of the kale and swiss chard.

Claire

Cutecumber · #9 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 05:28 PM

I once got a red cabbage around Christmas time but that was by accident!

I don't produce much so there's nothing stored, but I've got a pot of round carrots that are slowly getting there and some "interesting" winter leaves... claytonia, land cress, rocket, corn salad and some lettuce.

Outside, there's Kale, spinach beet and Purple Sprouting Broccoli - not sure any of it will be edible by Christmas, though.

I'm fighting pigeons as opposed to caterpillars!

JennieAtkinson · #10 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 05:31 PM

I should still have maincrop potatoes and plenty of onions, carrots, parsnips, cabbages, kale and hopefully a bit of blue sprouting broccoli on the fresh side. A single lettuce is still thriving in the polytunnel, so hope it doesn't go bitter before the day.

I'm not a great fan of sprouts, so don't really miss the fact that I can't seem to grow them up here. I've still got masses of stuff in the freezer and dried borlotti beans and chillis. So reasonably plenty to choose from, thankfully.

moggssue · #11 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 05:58 PM

I have parsnips in the ground, which may not last until christmas day becos I LOVE them!! In the freezer are fre beans, cauli and carrots, and then the potoatoes which have just been frosted ... hmmm ... trying to serve 8 or 9 ... dont think so! But its a start.

momol · #12 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 06:25 PM

I have collards, nero di toscano, ragged jack, rainbow chard, black carrot and some mustard out there. I think I will manage to harvest some leavy kale for XMas but for now I am eating my frozen veggies ( N Z spinach, french beans & Korean squash), dried mushrooms and consuming my winter squashes. They aren't any feast meal but ok for now...

Momol

axe70 · #13 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 06:34 PM

got some carrots and some potatoes in tubs
in the green house the spuds i think will be to late
but the carrots will be fine
i will be going to the local farmers market as back up

shirlthegirl43 · #14 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 06:37 PM

Hi and welcome to the vine Axe. When did you plant your spuds?

seasprout · #15 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 08:43 PM

Welcome Axe70.

Why dont you all move Christmas Day to next week..? No..? I'll get my coat.

Bren In Pots · #16 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 08:49 PM

I've got a bucket of carrots and 9 parsnips left, the leaves are dying back on my parsnips so do I pick them or will they be OK.

sewer rat · #17 (**permalink**) 27-11-2007, 11:59 PM

I'm planning my christmas boxes and hope that they will contain potatoes, carrots, onions,and then a selectionof veg from the following options; leeks, black kale, sprouts, cabbage, swede, PSB - other possibles include chard, beetroot, winter lettuce, rocket and radicchio.

Flummery · #18 (**permalink**) 28-11-2007, 10:11 AM

Your parsnips will be ok Bren - they keep very well in the ground, even if the leaves fall by the wayside. Don't forget to mark the ends of your rows so you know where to dig them up!

Bren In Pots · #19 (**permalink**) 28-11-2007, 10:51 AM

Thanks for the info Flummery

Flummery · #20 (**permalink**) 28-11-2007, 11:21 AM

Whoops - just realised they are in pots! No need to mark the row, I guess! Wake up Flum!

Bren In Pots · #21 (**permalink**) 28-11-2007, 11:37 AM

Flummery I'm growing them in one of those big yellow tubs that builders have mortar delivered in so I might mark the parsnips that are left with little piles of sand it'll save me searching for them.
I've been really impressed with my first parsnips

planted 40 seeds in loo rolls and ended up with 39 plants.

Winged one · #22 (**permalink**) 28-11-2007, 12:51 PM

I'll have my own onions and garlic (use a lot of those over the hols), some frozen summer brocolli, and hopefully 7 baby carrots. I have no idea how they are doing under the earth, but leaving them there for another few weeks won't do them any harm I reckon (there's not an awful lot of leaf growth). There may still be a few peas on their vine too - there were plenty more pods for gattening on Monday, but the weather may get them in the next few weeks. And I'll probably have to start thinning out the cabbages too, so I can add that to the mix as well.

Next year - I have big plans, including brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, and a lot more frozen offerings!! Doubt if I'll get enough spuds to last that long though.

Cutecumber · #23 (**permalink**) 28-11-2007, 02:14 PM

Quote:

planted 40 seeds in loo rolls and ended up with 39 plants.

Wow! That sounds like a record! Parsnips are notoriously bad germinators.

What's your secret Bren?