I thought I'd do a little update on how my first time overwintering vegetables went.
Motivated by Summer success on my veg patch, I ended up planting rather a lot for overwintering and then wasn't as careful as I should have been about fleecing and general protection from the cold. Despite my neglectful habits, I ended up harvesting a lot more than I had expected to.
Corn Salad leaves were the big surprise - they turned out to be incredibly hardy. I'm still harvesting them and the plants are strong.
Purslane did OK but the snails were very keen on it and the chinese salad leaves that are most commonly grown over Winter didn't fair very well at all (although, I'm aware this might be because I didn't cover them properly).
Spinach, chard and kale did very well. The leaves wilted with the morning frosts but bounced back and are still producing new growth. These have been so great to throw into the juicer and I've saved quite a bit of money by growing winter greens.
I harvested the last of the beetroot this weekend - again, I'm mostly juicing with this but I also like the beetroot houmous recipe in River Cottage Veg.
I had been thinking about forcing my rhubarb this year but I was surprised to find that it's already sprouting without any help!
Mostly, I've been doing a lot of digging - adding more of my homemade compost and preparing the soil.
Our garden has so many rose bushes and we've had quite a time clearing them and pruning back - some of the stems have grown about ten feet tall and entwined themselves in a tree.
Whilst weeding and clearing ground I've been finding my Spring bulbs popping up all over the place. I'm so pleased that I took the time to plant them back in November as this time of year can be very brown in the garden, I'm looking forward to the colourful flowers. My peonies are also emerging above ground.
Seed sowing is about to commence. I do love that feeling of hope and enthusiasm that comes at the beginning of the season.
What plans do you have for your garden this year?
Oooh wow you have done so well over the winter! I didn't bother much with the garden, but I'm wishing I had, a venture out there over the weekend showed the sorry state it's now in and there is a ton of work to do, I spent a couple of hours just clearing the leaves from our Magnolia tree out of the lavender and rose bushes yesterday! Easy you might think, but I'm a squeamish gardener and run flapping if there are bugs in my hands, silly eh! I'm thinking now about what we are going to grow this year, last year we left everything a bit late and we didn't have much luck, hoping, fingers crossed, this year will be different. Your post reminds me, I want to get hold of some rhubarb to plant :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Becky. I used to be very squeamish but I'm getting a bit better about it every year. I loved the picture you posted of the buds on your magnolia tree!
DeleteMy rhubarb crown was new late last spring - advice says to not harvest in the first year but mine produced loads and is coming back great.
Swiss Chard is the one vegetable Id love to grow most but cant because its almost impossible to buy it! Well done that you can be so green fingered!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely could grow some, Mel! I'm trying out Bright Lights this year, it's the one with rainbow colours on the stems.
DeleteI didn't even try as our winters are so harsh. I don't know of anyone who plants in the winter around here unless they have a greenhouse. We have snow falling outside the window right now. :-(
ReplyDeleteThank you for the glimpse into a winter full of healthy plants. I'm glad you've enjoyed the fruits of your work.
Blessings,
Betsy
Thanks, Betsy. We're lucky that we get the seasons here but not that harshly that everything dies back.
DeleteForce your rhubarb!!! You won't regret it! It doesn't matter it's already sprouting. It won't be quite as tender as the stuff they force in sheds but an upturned bin over the top will give you beautiful sweet delicate stems you can just dip in sugar and eat. I don't understand how anyone eats unforced rhubarb, lol. I am a Yorkshire lass though ;)
ReplyDeleteHello, fellow Yorkshire lass!
DeleteI had no idea that forcing made a difference to the flavour or texture, I just thought it was a way to speed things up. I might throw a bucket over it now to see what the difference is - thanks.
I just want to be able to stay here a while so that I can actually do something more, garden-wise. We knew we'd be moving this winter in August last year, so aside from growing some summer veg, didn't do much with the (very stony and dry) garden in the last place. I was pleased when viewing this place that the garden had quite a few existing herbs and the remnants of a coop - I want to stay here a while and be able to really get stuck in in the garden (I've been clearing brambles out of the front - quite a bit to do out there). So I'm hoping to actually be able to garden more consistently this year (physical ability allowing).
ReplyDeleteI know that feeling, Nikki. As a renter, it's so difficult to know how much work to put into our property when we could technically be turfed out in six months. At our last house that stopped me from doing anything at all but here I've decided to just go for it.
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