We lifted the dahlia tubers and removed as much soggy soil as we could before laying the tubers, to hopefully dry off a little, on the plot greenhouse floor. They were also covered with a pile of enviromesh to protect then from any possible frosts. Eventually the tubers will be bagged and stored in the garage at home.
It's always a tense moment when we dig the first parsnips of the season. Vigorously growing tops do not always result in large roots. In the event the parsnips would not have won any prizes in a beauty contest but the roots were very chunky each having enough flesh for a couple of meals for the two of us.
One of these was another pie that wasn't a pie. It had a scone topping so I would really say that it was more of a cobbler than a pie. Along with half of one of the parsnips, I used some of the leeks that we harvested, and some carrots. I added some bought sweet potato and mushrooms. The recipe called for scone mix but I made my own mix instead.
You may have noticed from the photo of the leeks above, our leeks have brown streaks but no evidence of any sort of bug attack. We have to peel off several layers of leaf before the leeks are clean. We thought that the cause of the problem was the excessive wetness but apparently we have been too kind and provided them with too much fertiliser. Next year we will treat them mean!
On Thursday we took Ruby for a walk around the grounds of Nostell Priory. The scene now is very different. No signs of autumn colour hanging on just very bare trees. The 'lake' in top left and bottom right photos isn't actually a lake more a giant puddle. The going is generally much muddier now which didn't bother, Ruby although she wasn't at all happy that she had to have her legs washed when we came home. Fortunately, her coat prevented her tummy from becoming muddy so she avoided a full body wash.
My acrylic print destined for a dining room wall finally arrived on Friday. It was shipped quite quickly from Germany but was hanging around for longer once it arrived on our shores. The courier was UPS and at first their tracking informed me that the parcel would arrive on Tuesday. As we planned to go to the allotment on Monday I checked again to make sure there had been no changes. There had been and the parcel was now due to be delivered on Thursday. Of course when we arrived home on Monday there was a note through the letterbox saying that they were sorry to have missed me and would try again the next business day which one would assume would be Tuesday. To make sure I checked the tracker again and it stated that my parcel would arrive on Wednesday. At this point I decided to try ringing UPS which isn't easy as finding a phone number isn't easy. Finally, I managed to get through to them and after discussion decided the best option was for me to specify that I wanted a definite delivery on Friday. In the meantime I had an email from the German company asking if I was satisfied with my print!
We paid a second visit to the allotment on Sunday afternoon. This time the aim was to clear a bed in which we had grown flowers. We pulled up all the dead flowers and removed the sweet pea supports. We were then intending to dig up any weeds but the ground was far too soggy so we pulled up what we could. We had also planted some spinach and chard in this bed. These were left in place as they were still fresh and healthy.
The fungi that we are finding on the allotment bear testimony to how wet it continues to be.
A mini harvest from the garden greenhouse was a second cutting of some coriander. Some was used fresh and the rest frozen. I wonder whether it will regrow again and provide a third harvest. Another vegetable based meal last week was a vegetable and bean stew. This used some of our cabbage, carrot, onion, squash and peas.A third veggie meal was a spiced root and lentil casserole that was made in the slow cooker. I forgot to take a photo but the ingredients included the other half of the parsnip, some carrots and an onion.
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Your parsnips are gorgeous. I am so envious. I bought one to have on Christmas Day. It costs one dollar and is wimpy, wilted and brownish-yellow but that will not show in a mash.
ReplyDeleteI hope your Christmas is enjoyable, weatherwise and healthwise, foodwise and family including dog-wise.
We always look forward to the first parsnip of the season, Jane and it did not disappoint.
DeleteI hope your Christmas is as enjoyable as possible. I’m sure Ruby will keep us entertained.
The ground certainly is saturated at the moment Sue. I'm sure that the parsnips will taste good. I have experience of trying to contact UPS this year which was most frustrating. Ruby looks like a most intrepid explorer and adventurer. Her new haircut is most becoming. Great to hear that the vaccine is rolling out and fingers crossed for us younger but no so young ones 😄
ReplyDeleteIt’s difficult to actually speak to anyone in business these days, Anna they seem intent on keeping customers at arms length.
DeleteAccording to the calculator, Jo mentioned I think I am estimated to be vaccinated in March.
Ruby certainly has no fear of heights.
Lovely photos of Ruby. There's an online calculator which tells you, based on certain information, when you might expect to get the vaccine. Not till June it tells me, it's going to be a long job with so many to vaccinate.
ReplyDeleteShe’s quite photogenic, Jo. I found the calculator and it estimated end of February to beginning of March for me.
DeleteVery smart indeed Ruby, Bertie has had a recent trim as well. He likes to look out the window and check what's going on in the neighbourhood. And when I go out, he stares out at the street until I get back. Your coriander looks good, I never do very well with coriander, maybe I should try it in the greenhouse. Excellent parsnips, I bet they taste amazing.
ReplyDeleteRuby is just as nosy travelling in the car, CJ. She hates having the hairdryer round her head and bats it away with her paw.
DeleteThe parsnips did taste good.
Leeks are reputed to be hungry plants. I have seen advice to add FB&B to a trench and then plant them on top. Mystifying. Coriander always surprises as it quite likes the cool (and doesn't run to seed like in summer). I nearly always forget to sow mid/late summer! I too have high hopes for parsnips this year.
ReplyDeleteWe read that the brown streaking was too much nitrogen, Mal but since reading that article I read another that stated they are nitrogen hungry so who knows which is correct.
DeleteI use a lot of coriander so try to grow as much as I can.
Hi Sue, I hope to grow dahlias for the first time next year so your advice on lifting and storing is useful. The harvest looks great and as usual your home cooking photos are making me feel very hungry! I like the look of the veggie stew, might give that one a go. Ruby just gets more gorgeous, especially with her new hair do!
ReplyDeleteTake care, Karen
Our soil is heavy clay, Karen which is very wet and cold in winter which dahlias hate. We have successfully left them in the ground in the past but covered the ground in plastic and piled straw on top. One year it was so cosy under all that and bees nested under the straw and we couldn’t remove it ‘til they moved on.
DeleteIt's so wet here too. Dismal, and we missed the Grand Conjunction. I have no idea what is happening outside now. Delivery companies can be the most annoying things, and drivers fail to follow even the most simple of requests when we are asked for alternative deliver instructions. Still, your print is safely with you now.
ReplyDeleteStay safe and well in this now seemingly never ending lockdown.
The delivery companies will say that they are overwhelmed, Deborah but surely they could take on temporary staff as I'm sure there are many out there that would love a source of income at the moment. Royal mail are hopeless at the moment too. You stay safe too.
DeleteIt certainly is wet in your area. It is even wet enough here my small moss path has been rejuvenated. I made a lentil soup this week. No parsnips here. I have never eaten one. I don't recall seeing them available at the grocery either. This makes me think I should try to grow some just to see what they are like. Ms Ruby sure is a cutie. Love to see what she is up to.
ReplyDeleteWe really like parsnips, Lisa but I guess not everyone does. Ruby is always up to something.
DeleteI think it's always a bit tense when digging the root veggies. I know I always feel better after I lift the first sweet potatoes, which gives me some idea of how the rest will do. It looks like you were rewarded with those large first parsnips though.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right, Dave there is always some degree of trepidation when digging the first of any root crop. I’m now hoping the first lot of parsnips aren’t just a fluke.
DeleteYour chunky parsnips look great as do the pie and bean stew. You are giving me lots of ideas! My leeks have gotten quite fat now but a few look like they may flower so will need picking quickly. The Priory looks like a wonderful place to walk, but yes, dogs hate being washed down afterwards. Oh Lordy, I'm having similar problems with deliveries, many items running late, many being delivered twice! How adorable is Ruby, what a wonderful life she has. Oh, here's to a vaccine!xxx
ReplyDeleteWe were happy with the parsnips, Dina. If our leeks look to be starting to run to seed, I lift them, chop them and freeze them. The Priory is NT but as we are members admission is free. Ruby does have moments when adorable isn’t the word to describe her. Yes can’t have the vaccine soon enough. A friend had her first jab yesterday so she is well ahead of the game.
DeleteDear Sue and martin,
ReplyDeleteI love your pictures. Ruby is a pretty dog, very curious. I'm glad your acrylic print successfully arrived, despite on the covid situation. And it'd good that you can see light at the end of a tunnel. Here there is no it.
A Merry Christmas, happy holidays with your family and loved ones.
Good health and take care!
Ruby is sometimes too curious, Nadezda she’s into everything. I hope there is some light for you too soon. Have a happy Christmas or as happy as it can be in the current situation are you able to see your family or do you have similar restrictions to us?
DeleteWe don't have such strict restriction now, Sue. But we are both in our 70+ and do not dare to travel by public transport or underground. We will talk to ours on Skype, sure it's less dangerous.
Delete