The garden veg thread.

When do cauliflowers start to get 'cauliflowery' ? we have healthy leaves on, growing nicely but no cauliflower! same for broccoli too?
 
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It took me 3 weeks to sort the first 4 beds at the allotment and then 3 months to sort the 5th bed.

But please another one is sorted, just one left to sort, tomorrow morning I will be pulling up a couple of onions, taking some brocoli and green beans and possible take some spinach leaves. Really starting to take quite a bit off the allotment. Got peas ready but will pick them Monday night for dinner.
 
I didn't know or expected that broccoli plants grew so tall! They are pushing my insect mesh to the limit and the leaves are pushing up against it. Little 'broccolis' the size of tennis balls are forming too, well chuffed as this is our first attempt with it.
 
My cauliflowers are ready, been taking them as they have got to an ok size.

Cabbage are just an hotel for slugs now..haha
 
My cauliflowers are ready, been taking them as they have got to an ok size.

Cabbage are just an hotel for slugs now..haha

My caulis are no even cauli like yet, just green plants....
The broccoli was great, it did few meals. However, on the plus side with the help of sergeant slug pellet the cabbages are growing well.
The kale is booming, I think you could grow kale anywhere, slugs and caterpillars leave it alone, you pick off what you need and it grows back, it tastes really good too.
Big crops of runner beans now and leeks, carrots, onions, corn and parsnips all coming along nicely.
 
Just pulled out my last cauliflower from the allotment, also think I have had the last of my sweetcorn too. Having lots of raspberries atm, which are delicious.

This year has been crazy, I plan to get a diary for next year to plan and record what I am doing.
 
Just pulled out my last cauliflower from the allotment, also think I have had the last of my sweetcorn too. Having lots of raspberries atm, which are delicious.

This year has been crazy, I plan to get a diary for next year to plan and record what I am doing.

How big did your caulis get? I haven't managed anything bigger than a golf ball...

On other hand all other crops really successful and pleased overall. Had first harvest of parsnips yesterday, so white and smelly compared to shop bought's. Corn, carrots, kale, leeks still giving and will do into the new year.

Left some beans on the trellis to mature up and will use them next year. Beef tomatoes really great and delicious, a great crop from 2 plants but a few plants a little late going in (bad supplier) so need a warm next few weeks. A brilliant cucumber season, loads of pickles made and I'm getting fed up of them on every meal :oops:, however in November i'll miss them.
 
How big did your caulis get? I haven't managed anything bigger than a golf ball...

Some as large the the size 3/4 football (5 is proper size right?) They were the largest I got which maybe 3/4 got that size from the 12 planted. Still got bags of cauliflower in the freezer, probably last me well in to next year.

Going to dig a parnsip up next week to have with my Sunday dinner
 
Dug a parsnip up, wasn't disappointed it was huge, way too much for one Sunday dinner.

Going to have to learn to make parsnips soup.
 
Funnily enough I wrestled with a monster parsnip the other day, really enjoying them roasted - what else can you do with them?

I think I have a cauli the size of a golf ball :D

going to dig that bed over, got a decent broccoli harvest (wrong broccoli species I feel), caulis a big fail. About 3 cabbages to eat, but now the bugs are winning. Corn all eaten, bean trellis drying out a few seed beans, a good crop otherwise. The kale thinks its still summer! The leeks are a bit smaller than I thought they would be now, but probably my fault for not thinning out. Our red onions are doing well now, from seed too.
In the greenhouse last 3 or cucumbers on, a few large beef tomatoes in need a a bit sunshine (can ripen in kitchen window if required). The scotch bonnet chilli's a great late show and pure fire from a plant :eek: serious mouth burn, practical joke legends in the making :D:D
 
Guess what we had today? Parsnip soup....very good it was too.

here it goes:

1 onion sliced and softened in a bit of oil/butter with salt
3 medium parsnips, washed and chopped up, skin left on.
Add parsnips to softened onion
1 level teaspoon of mixed curry powder, add water to cover it all and simmer until soft.
Blend and eat!

Simple, easy & tasty.

Turned over 2 of the beds today, chopped up the broccoli stems and dud caulis in the soil, added a few handfuls of chicken muck pellets and covered with old carpets.
 
you would think it's bulb price, but if not it's going to sting! I think it's expensive for the bulb!
 
you would think it's bulb price, but if not it's going to sting! I think it's expensive for the bulb!

I actually don't think its a bad price for 20 bulbs. 24p a bulb.

Premier seeds don't seem too bad on price, comparing it to Wilkos (where I buy most of my seeds) you actually get them either cheaper or you get more seeds in the pack for the same price (so effectively cheaper).
 
So going to have a go at Parsnip soup this weekend, dug a few up to try it.

Also getting lots of raspberries atm so going to have a go at making some Jam.
 
Winter is never an active time in the garden, but as the days are getting lighter its time to start thinking about what to grow (or you may have already sorted it).

I have made jam and parsnip soup over the winter and its been great, really enjoying the them both.

Garlic took a while to show but now I am wondering what I will do with it all.

I have leeks and onions on the go from seed, leeks being a new thing for me this year. I think I need to pot them on now, I have sown in a big seed tray but want to pot them into a plug tray.

My peppers want into the heated propagator last week and have already started to germinate, I think the trick was to heat the compost first before planting, where in past I have planted in cold compost then put into the propagator. Still have result either way but this way it is quicker. I also overwintered a few peppers that look like they may just survive (something I will try every year now).

New things on my list this year to grow it Leeks, Chard, Pumpkins & courgettes. Looking forward to seeing the them grow and hoping it gives me good results.
 
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