We managed a bit more work on the allotment last week most of which was covered in my last post.
A further visit to the allotment on Sunday saw the early brassicas planted. We planted calabrese - Aquiles, cabbage - Regency and cauliflower- Helsinki. All were bought as plug plants. We have bought early brassicas this way for a few years now as conditions never seem conducive to raising our own early plants and this way has usually served us well.
We managed a small harvest. As you would expect rhubarb dominated.
One plant of purple sprouting broccoli survived winter and is providing modest - very modest - pickings,
The chives were added to mashed potatoes. We are still using potatoes in store but are quickly running out.
We also found a cauliflower. It wasn't the best of specimens but provided us with a helping each.
As the row of chive plants are starting to produce flowers, I cut a bigger bundle of chives later in the week. I clipped and froze them for use later. I've become quite a fan of freezing herbs and find it very useful to have a small stock in the freezer for those occasions when no fresh leaves are available.
Another favourite is coriander (cilantro). We have a pot of this in the greenhouse which was showing the early signs of going to seed so I gave it a 'haircut' and have frozen that too.
This week I am linking to harvest Monday hosted on
Dave's blog Our Happy Acres
Posts
A little of this and that is certainly better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteYou are SO right, Michelle
DeleteLooks like a good variety of things to me! I bought many of my brassica plants last year and it was a good way for me to sample some varieties I might not grow had I started them myself. The ones you bought look like very healthy starts from the photo.
ReplyDeleteIt just seems that the early ones need sowing before we are in a position to do it, Dave
DeleteMashed potatoes with chives, I don't think I've ever had that combination but it sounds wonderful. And I would buy Brussels sprout starts if they sold them, they seem extra finicky to me and I never start them early enough. It's amazing how good your cauliflower looks for having overwintered and the sprouting broccoli is lovely.
ReplyDeleteOur Brussels sprouts are sown now, Phuong. Only club root resistant ones are successful for us and no-one produces plants that are club root resistant.
DeleteLovely update Sue thank you for sharing and taking the time to write this post and blessing to Martyn and yourself
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda
DeleteSue, I follow you in freezing some greenness and I've sown coriander, parsley and celery to have them in winter time. Your chives is too tall, mine started growing, about 1-2 cm tall.
ReplyDeleteHappy harvest!
We are hoping that the weather will improve this month, Nadezda. Celery never seems to work for us.
DeleteThey do say that potatoes are a good first crop for a piece of ground, since they break up and aerate the soil, so maybe they will rejuvenate your old herb bed. Btw, I shuddered at the thought of that big bunch of Coriander - that stuff really make me ill!
ReplyDeleteI thought about you when I was posting about coriander, Mark.
DeleteAny harvest is better than no harvest, when you know the provenance. Afraid you can keep the cilantro! I think it's my Marmite factor. They do say you love it or hate it!
ReplyDeleteQuince is another food in that category., Deborah. I love both and hate Marmite. I've never tried it but din't have to to know that I wouldn't like it.
DeleteLeeks and carrots giving out here. Rhubarb and chive recipes required.
ReplyDeleteThe least said about carrots the better. Rhubarb crumble muffins?
DeleteIt's good to be getting anything at this time of year. I do miss the rhubarb from my allotment, it's so expensive to buy in the shops and I had more than I could possibly eat at the plot.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should set up an online rhubarb business, Jo :-)
DeleteI am impressed that you have cauliflower Sue. It must have tasted good
ReplyDeleteIt was a surprise to us too Kathy. Not the prettiest of specimens - a true wonky cauliflower but that didn't spoil the taste.
DeleteI'm amazed you still have a harvest, it is the beginning of May! Good idea planting the taters in the old herb bed, a girl can never have too many. Mine are still in the veggie patch from last year, I never harvested them, now they are growing again, I may leave them and see what they produce, Peanut is still there so I can't weed it....sighs...xxx
ReplyDeleteWe have just about used our stored potatoes, Dina. Peanut has a lot to answer for or a good excuse if you look at it a different way.
DeleteI'm another in the anti-cilantro camp, but I used to grow it for my pet guinea pigs. How fun that you're harvesting more rhubarb; mine is just showing - a sure sign of warm weather.
ReplyDeleteWe have other varieties that are just starting, tpals. Rhubarb isn't a fan of heat though.
DeleteWe are two or three weeks behind too, but despite the slow start your plot is looking fabulous :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks neat, Jayne but fairly empty
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