Overwinter?

 It is every allotmenteer's dream to be harvesting all the year around. With stored harvests like garlic, onions, and potatoes this can be a viable claim. But the fresh harvesting activity in winter is restricted to digging up parsnips, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks and carrots.  What we crave by this time of the year is a bit of freshly picked greenery.  The reality is that the best we can hope for is for leafy crops to withstand the onslaught of the winter chill and then spring back into new growth at the earliest opportunity. Here are a couple of candidates:

Miner's Lettuce/Winter Purslane

Seakale Beet/Swiss Chard

Last of the leeks and first of the onions

Spring Hero Cabbage

Just out of the (unheated) greenhouse are these winter survivors. They will be deployed in the open soon, probably with a bit of protection.  The pigeons are keen on fresh greens too!

August sown
All the Year Round Cauliflower
Red Drumhead Cabbage
Little Gem Lettuce

Culinary Notes

There have been some novelties this year.  Yes we have grown cauliflower before but the abundance this year prompted a bit of experimentation with how they are cooked.  That's why the broken off florets are sitting in the food processor:

Deconstructed Cauliflower

 In a few seconds they are transformed into cauliflower couscous.  A couple of minutes cooking in a skillet with appropriate seasoning and viola!  See i-cant-believe-its-not-couscous if you want more extensive instructions.

The next novelty is something I have read about since purchasing my first gardening book (Dr Hessayon's Vegetable Expert) many years ago, but only now tried for the first time.

It is Asparagus Peas.  These grow quite happily in a tub at home and are quite decorative, with deep crimson flowers.  Best not to leave the pods too long before picking as they can turn quite tough and stringy, although the central seed pod remains succulent for longer than the frilly aerofoils.  Like most novelties they will not be repeated for a few years.

My last item is a banker rather than a novelty:

Sungold Cherry Tomato

When all other varieties let you down Sungold can be relied on to ripen on the vine, even in Scotland, producing a steady supply of balanced sharp/sweet gobstopper sized fruit that explode with flavour when popped in the mouth whole.  It is an F1 hybrid and exhibits hybrid vigour - as well as good flavour.

A Time of Plenty

It's raining all day today.  I retreated from the plot after an early morning harvesting expedition.

From the top there's Leaf Beet, Beetroot, Carrots, Horseradish, Cauliflower, Cabbage, French Beans (Purple), Broccoli, Runner beans, Raspberry, Blackberry, Blueberry.

It is a time of plenty!

Good Golly, Big Cauli...

Growing caulies has always been a bit hit or miss for me - mostly miss.  This year I gave Clapton a go.  There was no sign of them a week ago but 5 heads have appeared in unison.  I picked these two each weighing in at over a kilo.  The timing of these is ideal from a school garden point of view.  The All The Year Round we grew there produced some good heads too this year but that was right in the middle of the school holidays (Scotland's schools go back over two weeks earlier than English)

Another surprise (and hence the poor quality snap - also it was raining) to spot a young sparrowhawk on the birdbath at home.  The residents were understandably perturbed.

A Consort of Violas

You may have detected that I am not really a flower gardener.  Very much of the edible tradition I admit.  But I am learning.  At this time of year violas are thriving when all else has gone to sleep.  Today I potted up the seedlings above.  

But I also potted on these All The Year Round cauliflowers.....

....to add to my collection of overwintered broadbeans

So I haven't entirely abandoned my principles!