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 Veg Journal - 2011 December

The weather was nowhere near as cold as it was this time last year, and the overwintering peas and broad beans are doing very well as a result. Apart from this, we're harvesting leeks, root crops (carrots, parsnips, swedes and beetroot) and are enjoying the cabbages too. With a view to next year's planting, we ended the year by working out our seed order. Happy New Year!


Week ending 8th December

3rd - Picked the first 2 leeks of the season and 2 carrots (7oz). The over-wintering peas are beginning to come up.

5th - Picked 3 carrots (5.4oz).

6th - Despite the quite cold and wet weather the remaining beetroot and calabrese are still looking healthy and viable, although the calabrese only produces very small heads which invariably flower before we pick them! The over-wintering broad beans are beginning to come through now as well as the peas, although there are only 2 or 3 visible at the moment.

7th - Picked 1 carrot (5oz), 1 beetroot (14oz), 1 leek and some kale. Also picked the first swede (7.6oz) of the season.

8th - Picked 1 carrot (8.4oz) and 1 swede (10.2oz).

Click on a photo to see a bigger version:

  • First two leeks of the season (3rd Dec)

  • General view of the plot in early December (6th Dec)

  • Sunshine on the beetroot stems and leaves (6th Dec)

  • Flowering calabrese (6th Dec)

  • A broad bean shoot venturing into the cold (8th Dec)

  • Lots of over-wintering peas coming through (8th Dec)

  • One of the first of this season's swedes (8th Dec)

Week ending 16th December

12th - Picked a swede (1lb 6.8oz) and made chips with it, which are surprisingly very good.

16th - Picked 4 carrots (4.7oz), a parsnip (6.1oz), a swede (6.6oz) and a beetroot (6.2oz).

Click on the photo to see a bigger version:

  • The makings of a small stew (16th Dec)

Week ending 24th December

17th - It was very frosty overnight, so decided to check the greenhouse. The marigolds are still flowering, but more importantly the herbs are still okay - we want the parsley and thyme for stuffing mix! Picked some calabrese, which is also still going strong, despite us thinking that it isn't frost hardy, but the florets are very small and they're still flowering, even in December. Lots more of the peas and broad beans have germinated - let's hope they don't get too frosted.

19th - Picked a carrot (7oz), cabbage and leek.

23rd - Picked 3 carrots (5.8oz), a cabbage and 2 leeks.

24th - Picked 2 carrots (12½oz).

Click on a photo to see a bigger version:

  • The veg plot in mid-December (17th Dec)

  • Oregano in the greenhouse border (17th Dec)

  • Parsley in the greenhouse border (17th Dec)

  • Thyme in the greenhouse border (17th Dec)

Week ending 31st December

25th - Picked 2 carrots (13.8oz) and 2 parsnips (11½oz). It looks like almost all the broad beans and peas have germinated - more than have ever germinated in a batch before, which is very pleasing. The herbs in the greenhouse are still looking good, but the marigolds are almost over now.

27th - Picked 2 carrots (8.6oz).

31st - Sorted out the shopping list for next year's seeds, as quite a few packets were empty and some were out of date. Decided to buy tomato plant seedlings this time, to see if it makes any difference to the general health of the plants in the long run.

Click on a photo to see a bigger version:

  • Christmas carrots (25th Dec)

  • Christmas parsnips (25th Dec)

  • Autumn sown peas (27th Dec)

  • Autumn sown peas in closeup (27th Dec)

  • Autumn sown broad beans (27th Dec)

  • Autumn sown broad beans in closeup (27th Dec)

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