I took advantage of a beautiful Saturday morning to drop by the plot and collect some vegetables for Christmas. It's always a pleasure to be able to pick something fresh from the plot at this time of year. When I first got my allotment I was a bit rubbish at growing Winter veg, mainly because I didn't know how far ahead preparations have to be made. So, for the first few years I mainly grew Summer crops. (Pic - butternut and Crown Prince Winter squash in store).
Now, I manage to have a few staples on the go: leeks, Winter cabbage, kale, parsnips and Brussels sprouts; all of which are still on the plot. In store I have potatoes, onions and Winter squash along with runner and broad beans, sweet corn and carrot in the freezer. (Pic: some of my Winter veg picked today - 23rd Dec 2017).
A lot of Winter veg takes up space on the allotment for a long time over the season but, it's worth it in my opinion. Leeks can be sown indoors from February and planted out in late May/June; Winter cabbages and Brussels sprouts should be sown under glass in late March/early April for planting out in May; likewise parsnips need to be sown as soon as the soil is warm enough in early Spring.
These vegetables will go on growing throughout the warm months and will start to be ready to eat from late Autumn depending on variety. I don't bother with early/mid/late season leeks, I just grow the old fashioned Musselburgh - there'll be a few to dig from October and they will stand well, getting larger, until April. Choose an F1 sprout like Bosworth, Trafalgar or Montgomery, they are less likely to blow open and can be picked from late October (Bosworth) and will go on producing into early Spring. (Pic: Bosworth F1 Brussels sprouts - 23rd Dec 2017).
Try Winter cabbage Tundra F1, sow a few in late March along with your Summer cabbages and plant out at the same time in May, protected with nets. They will continue to grow on long after the Summer cabbages have been picked so you can start taking them in late Autumn. The outer leaves will look ragged and awful but peel them off to reveal a glorious and weighty cabbage head underneath. If, like me, you have stony clay soil, use a metal bar to make a few rows of deep conical holes in late March, back fill with multi-purpose compost and sow a few Galdiator or Javelin parsnip seeds on top, thinning out to one strong plant. The parsnips will grow slowly and can be taken at the first frosts. (Pic: Tundra F1 Winter cabbage - Dec 23rd 2017).
Growing Winter veg does take some forethought and preparation, nevertheless, the space such veg takes on the allotment is worth it. Not only does it give you tasty fresh veg for Christmas and beyond but, it gives you the opportunity to be an 'all year around' allotment holder. If you haven't done so already, why not plan 2018's Christmas lunch and think about your seed list for next year (here's mine) and don't be an April to September allotment gardener.
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