New Beginnings

Just a few hours of sunshine and my broad beans 'Aquadulce Claudia' are up an looking forward to the Summer.
But what on earth this big bumblebee is doing out in January beats me! I think he lives underneath the brickwork at the front of the house which is South facing. Whenever the sun comes out he warms up and goes for a test flight!
So in between sunshine and showers this week a complete rainbow appeared over the bottom of the garden! I wonder if there is a pot of gold there waiting for me? The rainbow just comes down over my rhubarb!

Magazine Review

I came across a new magazine the other week. I can highly recommend The Edible Garden magazine (I think the garden is edible, not the magazine). I am pretty sure this is a fairly new magazine, this Autumn and Winter issue was only issue 2. The next issue, Spring is due out in March. This is quite a big, heavy, glossy magazine at a pricey £4.99 per issue, but I can easily see it being picked up and read over and over again throughout the season.
This issue has a review of several kitchen gardens like West Dean, Heligan and Knightshayes in Devon which are open to visitors, a lovely article about crop rotation, growing pumpkins, quince and beekeeping, as well as a wonderfully illustrated article about the magical world of forcing rhubarb at Janet Oldroyd's Yorkshire Rhubarb company.
Treat yourself to a copy of this magazine, see if you think it is worth £4.99. I do!

Chitting

A trip to the garden centre yesterday. Lucky for Leo there was a large pet food section there as well.
If you've ever smelled bonemeal then you can imagine how irresistible it is for dogs!
Anyway, I bought a very early variety of potato. Rocket is described as ultra early in some catalogues. I have done well with these in the past, especially if you want to force some a bit earlier in a pot in the greenhouse. Just a handful of first early new potatoes is worth the effort.
I've set them out on a bench in the shed next to a window. These will be chitting for a few weeks prior to planting.
And my first Broad Beans 'Aquadulce' are up! Let the season begin!

What a Bargain!

Before you fork out a fortune buying this years' seeds from the usual catalogues, go down to your local branch of Wilkinsons. Their garden and seed department is fantastic value. Today I bought Broad Bean Aquadulce and Pea Hurst Green Shaft for just 98p.

Things I Wouldn't Grow Again

I love to experiment with new varieties of veggies every year. It is so important to try new things, but sometimes it doesn't turn out as well as you expected. These Bulgarian Giant Leeks were fun to grow, they really were giants, but they tasted of absolutely nothing! That's what counts in my book so I won't be growing them again.
I thought these early, cold tolerant tomatoes Sub Arctic Plenty would give me an early crop. They didn't grow well for me at all. Not even a decent crop later on. They might do well for you, but didn't live up to their promise for me.
I thought Asparagus Peas sounded interesting. Supposed to taste like asparagus. Well, you have to pick them when they are very small otherwise they get tough and stringy. There just weren't enough to bother with! They were not prolific and the winged pods had no real taste at all. The flowers were beautiful though! (but Matron doesn't do flowers!)
I thought that growing Yard Long Beans would be fun too. Sold in Asian grocers shops here in the UK these are a tropical climbing bean that are supposed to grow in the UK. Well they didn't for me. I tried several times in several ways with lots of heat and sunshine, but they didn't even get off the ground. Don't think the UK climate is appropriate for these.
It is fascinating and wonderful for me to try new things on the allotment, but it is a case of trial and error! What might not grow for me on my London clay, might do better somewhere else.

New Year Plans!

Happy New Year bloggers!
The seed catalogues have started dropping on to the front door mat already! Matron has been thumbing through the pages and making plans for the New Year. My favourite company Thompson and Morgan have a really extensive vegetable seed range, and I just couldn't resist a very, very special opportunity. In 2010 the Paton twins from Hampshire grew an enormous pumpkin of 1504 pounds and broke the British record! Well, seeds are available (at some expense!) and Matron has decided to grow a giant pumpkin this year. I'm going to start piling up the horse manure in an attempt to beat my pathetic effort with this Dill's Atlantic Giant a few years ago. Here goes!

A Winter trip to Wisley

I went to RHS Wisley yesterday. Needed an excuse to try out my new camera. A trip to the model vegetable garden is always on the itinerary, I always pick up new ideas and tips.
Some of these pumpkins and squashes are stored in the shed on site, very decorative!
The broad beans are looking amazing. This variety Aquadulce is one of my favourites and here they are in the greenhouse. Haven't planted mine yet, must get a move on.
One of the lesser known veggies here is Salsify. I have grown salsify a few years ago but with many root vegetables, my soil is too stoney and roots always fork. If you do get a chance to grow them, certainly give them a go. The taste is a wonderful cross between a parsnip and a Jerusalem artichoke.
In the greenhouse at Wisley there is a stunning display of Winter flowers. This orange tree caught my attention.
In the steamy tropical zone this cocoa pod was just amazing. Sadly my new super dooper, all singing and dancing new camera doesn't have an 'anti steaming up the lens function' now that would be really useful.
I was so excited to see Japanese horseradish 'Wasabi' growing in a pot in the model vegetable garden. I have never seen this growing before, I would just love to get my hands on some. Has anyone seen it growing? Does anyone know where I can get some?
December? snowdrops? is it Spring yet?

Matron's New Camera

I can see more clearly now!
Father Christmas gave Matron a new Sony HX7V 16.2 mp camera. It will take me a year to find out all the gadgets and gizmos therein. All I want really is to point and squirt.. it even has a GPS tracking device!! what on earth.....?
Anyway, the close up macro focus is excellent. What a marvel of nature is this Cavalo Nero leaf!
I like to leave flowers to go to seed during Winter. These are my garlic chives. Beautiful white flower heads that the bees adore. Perhaps the birds will enjoy these seeds too.
Crab apples are hanging on in there! I resisted the temptation to pick them, they brighten up the garden and the birds may need them more than I do!
Still a few Brussels Sprouts left over, I hasten to add that I didn't grow these! These are from a farm shop near Biggleswade in Bedfordshire - the heart of Brussels Sprout country! I just love them so much I just enjoy eating them with nothing on!!... oooh Matron!

More Christmas Veggies

This Cavalo Nero or Tuscan Black Kale was donated as part of my Buddy Morris memorial vegetable garden this year. Though all the black tomatoes,black beans and black potatoes are now gone, this sturdy stalwart remains.
Leeks are my one faithful friend on the Allotment during a long, hard Winter. Always ready for action at any time! These are Musselburgh leeks, I've tried others but keep coming back. Simply the best!

Matron's Christmas Veggie Blog

Welcome to Matron's Christmas Veggie blog. It is quite a challenge to grow anything at this time of year, so thank you to everyone who sent a photo. Here's what's on the menu in your neck of the Christmas woods! Well this lovely plate of citrus fruits was sent in from the Estudio Campana in sunny Almeria, Spain.
Many thanks to Stacy at Plot number 58 for this lovely Cavalo Nero. This is a wonderful Winter crop, just perfect for the Christmas Dinner plate.
Jane sent in this beautiful Swiss Chard. This is one of my favourite Winter veg, it brightens up any plot right the way through to Spring.
And what a feast from Scarecrows Garden down in the Southern hemisphere. Christmas dinner in Australia must be a very colourful event.
And here is Matron's own offering, these Jerusalem artichokes are a bit smaller this year. They are such an invasive pest if you don't keep them under control. I have been picking stems and stalks all year to try to keep them under control. That said, I just adore the flavour - and now that I work from home I don't have to worry about the antisocial consequences from eating bowls full of these... fartichokes!
Rob from Birmingham sent in these lovely brassicas, Gloire de Portugal. Really fresh green leaves are a real delicacy on the Christmas table, freshly picked and steamed. Bon appetite.
Jeffrey from the Eagle Close allotments sent this lovely selection of squashes and pumpkins. I keep meaning to try growing spaghetti squash (left) I must put it on my list for next year.
Serious congratulations to Jennifer for her first ever attempt at growing potatoes!! Once tasted you are hooked on growing your own .. forever. This variety California White.
What a wonderful trugful of veggies. Thanks to Kay at Gardening Tools.
Beautiful photos of beautiful veg on the Christmas Table at Kelli Boyles Garden.
What Christmas dinner would be complete without fantastic home grown parsnips. Bon Appetite goes to Nome at the Nome Grown blog.
A fresh crop of Oca from the Oca testbed blog. Fresh and in season right now! Thank you Ian for adding wonderful variety to my Christmas Veggie blog.
Jeffrey at the Eagle Close allotments has inspired me to attempt more green salad in Winter. These pea shoots are decorating the best plates in the best restaurants at the moment!
What a beautiful still life painting this would make! Thanks to Peggy from her Organic Growing Pains blog in Cork, Ireland for this festive fare. I just adore brussels sprouts!
Beautiful red Cabbage from Orlaith. This is an essential ingredient in Matron's Christmas Dinner, just steamed with apple, onion, vinegar, cloves and seasoning. Brilliant!
And my lovely blog-mentor Stan for starting me off on this blog-quest all those years ago. Inspired! Wishing you all a Veggie Christmas!