Winter Survivors

Not the prettiest of pictures, but I must give credit to the crops which have survived the winter and are still providing food for the table.  

Top of the list has to be carrots.  

The fleece/mesh that was in place to keep off the root fly goes on to afford some protection from the weather.

Hardier than carrots but competing for sweetness are the leeks.  This is the last of them just before I lifted them to make soup yesterday.

Even more bedraggled but showing signs of recovery is spinach.  There were three rows of different varieties and I think it is the Winter Giant that has proved most robust in fighting off the persistent annual meadow grass.

Another hard nut is the Swede.  The pigeons have pecked off the leaves that the frost didn't get, but they still deliver on flavour. Kohl Rabi also deserves a mention as the big swollen stems have overwintered well.  Salsify has also shrugged off winter.

Last but not least I planted up the former strawberry patch with a mixture of brassicas in late summer and hope yet to get some spring pickings.

These are my winter survivors.