Winter Veg left in the ground

[Sue]

I've been doing my very best to live off my allotment produce through the winter, it's a diet heavily accented with cabbage but I'm learning to love brassicas - all except brussel sprouts.
What veg can be left in the ground over winter? I can do fleece to cover them up if necc
I have carrots in pots and am eating those up. Got leeks, kale, spinach, cabbage, spanish radish, chard and landcress.
I can't get on with parsnips but any other suggestions would be most welcome.

And main crop potatoes grown in big tubs, how long can they stay in their tubs, would they keep better than being stored in sacks?

Sue

[Snadger]

And main crop potatoes grown in big tubs, how long can they stay in their tubs, would they keep better than being stored in sacks?

Sue

Not a bad idea that! I would imagine the compost in the tubs won't be as prone to slugs so you could let the tops die down and just empty out a tub when you needed some spuds!

[vicky]

When the brassicas flower you can eat the buds like brocolli

[Two_Sheds]

What veg can be left in the ground over winter?

I've had Pak Choi, Red Mustard (v.hot and tasty) and Chinese Cabbage outside all winter, no fleece at all (sown October), and they have thrived. Now bolting. I didn't eat much of it all, don't really like the tastes, even smothered in soy sauce. So they became a green manure

[heebiejeebie]

I had leaf beet and leeks throughout winter although the leaf beet got a bit of rust.

[momol]

Hi Sue,

You can add some extra veggies such as: Collards, Mustards (Japanese red giant, tat soi, southern giant curled, etc), Mache/ lambs lettuce, Chicory (both for forcing chicon or harvest as it is), Early purple sprouting broccoli, water cress (I still harvest mine, it need some protections during winter) plus some winter squashes from earlier harvest.

[Cutecumber]

Sue - you must try some purple sprouting broccoli - it's glorious. You could be harvesting from late Autumn until May if you choose the right varieties.

What about lettuce? I am sure that Valdor, with a little protection, would be worth a shot.

[Sue]

Two Sheds
Now that made me laugh... I'm the same with all the Sutherland Kale I grew but luckily the hens like it so that saves me buying extra cabbage in for them at the moment.

I must have another go at the Asian veg, tried in the first year and wasn't very successful - thanks for the reminders folks.

I've got Valdor lettuce which is wonderful for early May but would love some lettuce to eat over the winter months, I did find a variety that should grow under glass (Real Seeds) so will be adding that to the list for this autumn.

I did have some cut and come again lettuce under enviromesh and I noticed that only really gave up the ghost in January so that would be worth resowing in September.

Sue

[Birdie Wife]

White sprouting broccoli is supposed to be less hardy than purple but it stood well in my plot (till the chickens got a taste for it ). Add jerusalem (f)artichokes to the list too

[Sue]

BirdieWife
Am going to have to try harder with sprouting broccoli, it got too big for my cloches and then the pigeons got at it. Will have to devise a big netted space for them (more expense!)
Will all this should keep me fed this winter, not done too badly this winter but improvement still needed!
best wishes
Sue

[Paulottie]

Netting PSB need not be that expensive. Get some of you bean canes and make holes in some old tennis balls, pop them on the canes, put pairs of canes up the row drape over your net and weight down a bit at the bottom.

Cut down your chard or spinach beet (i prefer it) down cloche/fleece it up and it should re-sprout some tender leaves. Sow some more now.

Most things are wanting to sprout or flower by now and anyway the pests are just as hungry as you. I'd suggest that you would be better to store some veg earlier while its is good and before the slugs/pigeons get into it.

You can store carrots in sand. potatoes in a clamp (need enough obviously)

I suggest you invest in a small chest freezer. We freeze runners (sliced like spaggetti with gadget, blanched and dried...can't stand slimey diamonds). Broad beans, mange toute, french beans (can also be done as dried haricots) They are not quite as good as fresh but a change from leeks and brassicas.

Cauli cheese, Glazed carrots( in orange honey butter and thyme), Dauphinoise spuds, Shepards pie, mashed spuds with celeriac, ratatouille and garlic and parsley butter.... are just a few we make in bulk and freeze. Pickled beetroot. (yuk-but my Mrs loves it) I make tons of chutney and jam etc.

Celeriac is another crop that stands well into the winter.

Start an asparagus bed, really welcome to see those popping up at this time.

[Birdie Wife]

That's a great idea about netting Paulottie - I was going to get a pile of alkathene and make some big cloches covered in net but I think your ways sounds much easier and cheaper! See, that's why I love the Vine

[Sue]

Paulottie
Thanks for the netting tip. But one further question, where can you buy a heavier net that drapes well? After a first foray into netting and finding it flimsy and awful to use haven't tried again.
I do have freezers (3) and have these full to bursting by autumn, I dry stuff as well like beans, celery, apples and preserve for pickles, jams, chutneys. But I'm still not taking full advantage of filling up the garden with overwintering veg to supplement. I'm getting better at it, it was the successional sowing that threw me at first and trying to keep on top of dealing with winter veg when you're fully occupied with keeping up with everything else.
Been some really useful ideas on here though so this autumn....
Sue

[Paulottie]

Sue - re netting I guess you get what you pay for (as ever!) I have an old cricket net(with baler twine repairs!) but you must remember it gets quite heavy if you don't have a decent framework. I do have a contact for netting I'll try and look it out for you....mmm, desk and filing a bit wild at the moment! tax papers everywhere!

I think the better quality stuff in the garden centres is ok for this though. A couple of tips. with brussels and sprouting Pigeons attack from above for the crowns...(unlike blackbirds on strawberries that will get through the smallest gap). you can just weight the bottom down with rocks, buckets of water or by tying on a couple of planks. Make sure that the flimsy net is far enough above the plant if sprouting grows through you can ruin the net and the plant. I have quite a few nets of varying dimentions (i tag them with the rough dimensions)

When you put your nets away gather then tie a knot in one end make a loop, and pull a loop through, tighten then put your hand through that loop and pull the next loop through tighten -like a series of slip knots. carry on till the end and it should look a bit like plaited hair. Does not take long and saves hours untangling compost bags full of nets