We paid a visit to the allotment on Christmas Eve to gather together some fresh vegetables to see us through the Christmas period.
The allotment certainly looked Christmasy as two thirds of the plot were still covered in frost.
The problem is that the property adjacent to our site has a huge leylandii hedge which for much of the winter shades about two thirds of our plot.
You can spot it in the background of the photo above. Not only does it shade most of the plots on our site at this time of year but it also provides an ideal habitat for the wood pigeons that just love to plague us.
The sun was shining on Christmas Eve but was so low that it didn't make any impression on one side of our plot and half way across the other side. It also meant that in the shade it was bitterly cold. Where the sun peeped over the hedge it blazed into our faces blinding us when walking towards it. As my eyes are sensitive to bright sunshine at the best of times this is very unpleasant.
You can just make out in the photo above the line where the sun has reached and melted the frost. At this time of year we are envious of Jan, our neighbour, who has his plot to the left of this photo. His plot is out of the shade cast by the hedge and was working in the sunshine.
As we didn't intend staying longer than we needed to harvest a few vegetables and take a few photos and video we didn't end up too cold but it was good to arrive back home and into the warmth.
So what did we manage to harvest?
We replenished our stock of carrots and parsnips.
We had harvested all of the Below Zero leeks and so moved on to the second variety - Oarsman. These leeks had grown much bigger than the ones harvested from the previous variety and were more the size we would expect.
Rather earlier than intended - these cabbages were meant to be harvested early next spring - we cut our first Savoy cabbage. The variety is Sabrosa. It wasn't very large but the head was solid and provided us with a couple of meals.
As I mentioned in my previous post, this year our sprouts have been a big disappointment. We really didn't expect to harvest any at all but we did manage to pick enough tiny sprouts to have with Christmas dinner. Maybe we will manage to harvest a few more, but really they only provide a taster. It's better than nothing though.
Finally, I'd like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and fruitful new year.
Finally, I'd like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and fruitful new year.
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It was just carrots and horseradish for our harvest yesterday. We have now consumed all the sprouts we have grown! For some reason we are currently warmer than you!
ReplyDeleteChristmas Eve was our only real frosty day, Mal. Other than than we have had quite a lot of dull miserable days. Those sprouts could constitute our total harvest. We still haven’t harvested any of our horseradish,
DeleteI haven't seen any frost over Christmas, but I think that's due to our lie-ins. It feels a bit chilly today though.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year - I hope 2019 is a good one and I look forward to following your progress
Just New Year’s Eve day for us, Belinda although it may have been frosty early morning before we got up.
DeleteThe plot looks very seasonal covered in frost. Christmas dinner wouldn't be Christmas dinner without sprouts so I'm glad you managed to harvest some. Wishing you both all the very best for 2019.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, Jo Christmas means sprouts, I winder whether i]ours will do some more growing?
DeleteThe low angle of the winter sun gives our garden a lot of shade too. I've got a couple of savoy cabbage plants growing but I don't think they are as big as yours yet. And you reminded me I need to dig some horseradish too. I'm hoping they grew bigger since this was their second year in the ground.
ReplyDeleteThe savoy cabbage wasn't very large, Dave just that the head was tightly packed. WE have a few still to heart up so I hope they he some growing left in the,=m.
DeleteI'm fortunate that my garden is perched on a south facing slope so I get enough sun to make a winter garden possible. My Brussels sprouts are runts this year too. I haven't harvested any yet because I keep hoping that they'll get bigger. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping the dame for our sprouts, Michelle. A south facing slope sounds ideal for this time of year.
DeleteHappy New Year, dear friend !
ReplyDeleteGreetings
Thank you Ela.
DeleteShade is an issue for my garden too. A two story house is only 10 feet from my garden so some days the sun doesn't arrive in the garden until 11 or 12. Nonetheless, it is acceptably productive but it must be wonderful to have a winter garden in full sun.
ReplyDeleteOur back garden at home is the same eg shaded our house as it faces north.
DeleteI did not know your plot was frosty Sue. What a nice leek!
ReplyDeleteHappy new prosperous year!
That was just one day, Nadezda but over winter we usually have quite a few frosty days.
DeleteOh, it does look cold there. It's going to be - something here for the next few nights so our log burner will be roaring. Lovely seeing you still harvesting, those leeks do look good. Best wishes for 2019.xxx
ReplyDeleteThat day was cold, Dina. We have had a couple of afternoons at the plot this week which were milder.
DeleteA very Happy New Year to you and Martyn! I would be mighty happy with those pickings just before Christmas - around here, anything that you can get out of the garden at the end of December is a bonus.
ReplyDeleteWe usually have carrots, parsnips and leeks over winter, Margaret as long as the ground isn’t too frozen too dig then out.
DeleteOh that's a fine festive harvest Sue! What a shame about that tall hedge. I suppose the householder wants their garden to be private but it does look as if it doesn't need to as tall as it appears. We've had a run of mild but grey and dreary days so it was great to see some sunshine today even though it's much colder. Happy New Year to both of you and enjoy your growing xxx
ReplyDeleteThe electricity board have cut it back once, Anna when the hedge was interfering with the electricity lines. I don’t think privacy is an issue, I thinks it’s one of those cases where someone plants leylandii and just leaves them until their upkeep is a problem.
DeleteThis looks like a mighty fine haul of veggies. Happy New Year may your allotment receive enough sun and rain to make everything grow.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa let’s hope we all have a productive year,
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