Monday 8 December 2014

Harvest Monday - parsnips

Unsurprisingly, a bit of a quiet week. Haven't got on the plot very much but I did collect up 4 big bags of leaves for making leaf mould. I could do with some more but ran out of time on Saturday. And then Sunday was a bit cold and rainy so I didn't go down. Of course today, when I was at work, it was lovely and sunny and perfect for a day on the plot, darn.

I popped across during my lunch break though today and dug up some parsnips. Quite a mixture of lengths! This was all the 'snips from one of my little rows. I have another 3 or 4 rows. I sow them in between the rows of broad beans.

I was given another bag of apples this week too from someone at work, which I used to make a big batch of stewed fruit for the freezer yesterday. I'll be giving a jar of preserve as a thanks. The last one (blackberry and red currant jam) went down well.

I roasted my last butternut squash with cashews and flaked almonds (no pics). It was so good, gutted that was my last one. I do still have a couple of large 'orange' squashes and a couple of little ones too but wanted to use up the butternut first as they don't keep so long.

And finally, a little wrinkly chilli pepper that went into scrambled eggs. There's a few more left on the plant but having brought it indoors, the naughty aphids have warmed up too and are going on a rampage.So I don't think it will last that much longer.

Well, that's me for the week!

Linking in with Harvest Monday over at Daphne's Dandelions.

 

 

9 comments:

  1. Yum parsnips. I think when mine run out I'll have to buy them from the market. The funny thing is I never used to buy them.

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    1. Yeah Daphne,it's wierd, they're not something I'd really buy often either. But I think homegrown ones have a much better flavour.

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  2. I'm hoping to grow parsnips next year - like Daphne I've actually never purchased them but that's one of the great things about gardening - it really peaks your interest in all sorts of veg that you would otherwise not give a second glance.

    I also brought some of my pepper plants indoors this fall - aphids got to them in pretty short order too.

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    1. Your raised beds should be good for parsnips Margaret. I was a bit worried when the first two I dug out were the stubby ones!
      Yeah the aphids become a real problem in my lean to at certain times. And if I try to grow pea shoots or salad in autumn / spring they get got too. I'm not very vigilant at looking out for them or getting rid of them.

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  3. No plot visit for us this week just feeding from the stored vegetables,

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    1. Lucky you've got lots of stored up goodies sue.

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  4. Brilliant parsnips, I bet they're delicious. I'm definitely going to try growing them next year. I've got a pepper plant inside that I'm trying to keep until next year. I'm really hoping the aphids don't attack.

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  5. Thanks CJ, haven't tried the parsnips yet but looking forward to them. I think they'd appreciate being roasted :)
    Yep, defintiely worth a go at growing them. I go down the 'sow thick and then thin out' route but other people station sow a few seeds at each point and then thin. Because parsnip seed is only meant to last a year I try and use it all up in one go by chucking it all in. Probably not the best approach it works ok so far.
    Good luck with your pepper, I've heard you can get a good head start if you manage to over-winter them.

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    1. I was thinking I'd try growing parsnips next year - for some reason I thought they grow from tubers (like seed potatoes) but they just grow from seed - makes sense, they look like carrots. Don't know what I was thinking but I'll still give it a try if i can find some seeds for next season. I LOVE roasted parsnips.

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