the hungry gap

Well, it's that time of year. The last of the stored onions were used in a soup today so we'll have to start buying them now (boo hoo). Home-grown onions from May to March isn't a bad result though.

I have about a dozen leeks left and two kale plants and after that it's what's in the freezer. How are others managing for home-grown at this lean time of year?

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Permalink Reply by Jan Willetts on March 8, 2012 at 1:09

Not much that looks appealing-some "blown' sprouts, spring cabbage yet to heart up, shabby pak choi in the mini polytunnel, beetroot I forgot to lift, a few leeks lingering. But some winter lettuce and rocket still doing well ,lots of parsley and some shallots . I dried some borlotti , haricot and kidney beans and we only finished our pumpkins last week. Late sown onions have overwintered ok, garlic is doing well and aquadulce broad beans look healthy and ready to go. Bought a soil thermometer in Aldi today, only £3.49, will be testing regularly now before setting out onions and shallots.

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on March 8, 2012 at 3:37

Have still got a half cwt. of King Edwards, about 6 pound of frozen runners and 2 jars of pickled garlic. The onions ran out a fortnight ago. I have had a picking of the centres from the early planted PSB, probably get another one this weekend. There are a dozen spring cabbage in, but only one ready for pulling and I lost the winter caulies. with the snow. 2011 was my first year back growing on an allotment, after a 15 year gap and bearing in mind that half the plot still needed clearing and digging at the end of Feb. , definetly had a good year. I know that every time the King Edwards come into use, the taste in them cannot be shop bought..

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on March 8, 2012 at 9:09

Pickling garlic's a doddle, I finely chopped mine, then in a jar with white wine vinegar.

Samantha Smith said:

I didn't have enough freezer space to store any of last year's produce and didn't get round to giving pickling or preserving a go so ended up giving most spare stuff away (which is fine, especially when it is family members or close friends). This year though I plan to save up for a cheap freezer to go in one of the outside sheds. This can then be purely kept for allotment goodies which will then last a bit longer. I also want to try out pickling and drying this year.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Smith on March 8, 2012 at 10:17

There are a few leeks left in the garden, some kale, swiss chard, parsley and chervil that made it through the winter. But the good news is that the spring herbs are starting to grow again – lots of sorrel coming up, some chives and my tarragon plant is just starting to grow again. And then there are the nettles that are going into a soup for tonight.

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Permalink Reply by Jade Hwang on March 9, 2012 at 17:29

i have chives, garlic and pea shoots. I have to buy vegetables most months for I haven't yet learned the skills of self sufficient.

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Permalink Reply by Stacy Drury on March 9, 2012 at 19:42

yesterday I dug up my last celeriac and all i have left is 2 leeks that seem to have grown from somewhere and some herbs.

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Permalink Reply by Petra Hoyer Millar on March 9, 2012 at 22:59

I still have some leeks and kale. The leeks were a 'mistake' in that I planted them too late last year, but they have come through great. They're now swelling nicely, so have a good crop to look forward to. Parsley and Coriander too still looking great too.

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on March 9, 2012 at 23:57

Pulled my first spring cabbage today, GORGEOUS

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on March 10, 2012 at 0:06

Fred, I'm green with envy, as green as a spring cabbage. It looks like I'm going to have to dig up more of the back lawn to make way for more veggies!!

The dog won't be impressed if she has less room to run about. And I don't suppose her indoors will be over the moon either.