Growing your own - is it worth it?

[doversoul1]

We had the last runner beans of the year tonight. They have done well but it was a short season. The leeks were almost bloated last year and looked very unappetising but they look nice and lean this year. The carrots and beetroots did not grow beyond the size of thinnings which was puzzling and disappointing but the broad beans and peas were excellent.

Now it’s time to start winter vegetables. Has anyone had the first Brussels sprouts?

The biggest puzzle this year: something stripped my Swiss Chard. What eats spinach?

[gradus]

Rabbits and/or deer could be the culprits. I've had kale, celeriac tops and sprout plants eaten by these critters in the last four weeks and lost count of the times that chard has been gnawed away.
Re runners, ours have been going well perhaps because the bunnies ate the early growth forcing them to send out many more shoots and the resultant crop has been bumper.
If you haven't tried over-wintered peas I'd strongly recommend Douce de Provence, they gave excellent quality and stood without damage through the worst of last (admittedly not harsh) Winter.

[umslopogaas]

These names are confusing, Swiss Chard is actually related to beetroot, not spinach. The question should be, rather, what eats beetroot? According to my books, nothing specific. Rabbits would, but they would be unlikely to stop just at the chard, unless something scared them off. If they are fenced out, it might have been squirrels. The little b******s destroyed my strawberries this year: they arent known to love chard, but seem to eat almost anything.

[doversoul1]

Ah. Of course. I was thinking about leaf beet / perpetual spinach.

It must be rabbits then. This is the first time I lost Swiss chard in this way and the first time we had rabbits in the garden. I have a nasty feeling that we’ll have a family of them next year. I wonder what has happened to the local foxes.

gradus
I have long given up any overwintering crop. My back garden is too exposed to the wind and besides, there are just too many creatures that feast on peas and broad beans in the ground. I start them in the greenhouse and plan them out as soon as the ground id ready; usually from late March onwards.

[umslopogaas]

I also start off the peas in the greenhouse, it is pointless starting them in the ground around here, if the mice dont get them, something else will.

The local foxes arent hungry enough, I suspect. Nail down your dustbin lids and they will soon start going for the local rabbits.

[Lat-Literal]

I also start off the peas in the greenhouse, it is pointless starting them in the ground around here, if the mice dont get them, something else will.

The local foxes arent hungry enough, I suspect. Nail down your dustbin lids and they will soon start going for the local rabbits.

I try to grow my own things and will be planting spring bulbs soon but I'm not very successful at it. It doesn't matter to me hugely as I'm very welcoming of all the animals - foxes, badgers, dogs, cats, squirrels - and I like them to be in my garden which I prefer to see as the countryside. I'm not at all for manicured. This is probably simplistic but it suits me.

[ardcarp]

I have long given up any overwintering crop.

Can't go far wrong with leeks, though. They must be about the most foolproof, easy and tasty crop that can be harvested continuously right through autumn, winter and early spring.

[Globaltruth]

Can't go far wrong with leeks, though. They must be about the most foolproof, easy and tasty crop that can be harvested continuously right through autumn, winter and early spring.

Totally agree - a most useful crop - great to harvest when fat pencil sized. Musselburgh is a reliable variety (apologies - that's a dull recommendation, I've tried others and ended up with the old traditional one)

Sweet corn (a variety called Seville which allegedly performs well in colder temps!) has been problematic again this year - too little rain (not that they need much), not enough sun.
Result was loads of cobs of varying maturity on dying plants which have now been converted into a tasty relish using this recipe.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12807/corn-relish

Not sure how long it will keep - and I think the coriander (also fresh) plus extra chili is mandatory not optional, otherwise it's a little bland, however if you do want it a little milder then substitute bell pepper for chili.

[umslopogaas]

I'm all for wildlife, but some of it isnt compatible with fruit and vegetables! Down here in rural Devon, I have to fence to keep out deer and rabbits, it would be pointless trying to grow vegetables otherwise. Grey squirrels cant be kept out of the garden, but have to be excluded from strawberries: job for the winter, I must make some proper wooden frames for the wire netting. Plastic nets are useless, they bite straight through them. And field mice love peas, I set traps in season and catch dozens.

Leeks would be a good crop for winter, but unfortunately I dont much like them.

[gurnemanz]

I remember growing leeks years ago when our daughter was just learning to speak. I went in the garden with her and pointed at them saying helpfully: Leeks! She proceeded to go round the garden pointing at everything growing there and saying: Leaks! Apart from being highly amusing it was a good practical insight into the process of children's language acquisition.

[gradus]

I had expected mice to eat my over-wintered peas but for some reason they neglected to. Unfortunately the entire fauna of Suffolk is in residence in or near our allotments and as the right hand didn't get me, the left one did and everything else was ravaged. Must get the fencing up this year!

[ardcarp]

Leeks would be a good crop for winter, but unfortunately I don't much like them.

Chacun, etc. But the things you can do with them! Firstly you can slice them finely and fry gently in butter as a less-powerful-than-onions basis for countless meals.
Secondly, they are brilliant boiled or steamed and served with a white sauce..maybe with cheese too...as a meal in their own right, or as an accompaniment to roast lamb. Thirdly (I could go on for ever) they can be par-cooked then have sliced ham rolled round them, cheese grated on top then baked. IMO they are are excellent with white fish of all sorts.

In short, I couldn't contemplate life without a leek. I hope your dislike doesn't stem from being given big old things as a child. As someone said earlier, pull 'em up before they get too big. I can never understand why prizes are related to sizes at horticultural shows. Who wants a ten ton marrow???

[umslopogaas]

I must have another try at leeks, in truth its decades since I last tried them. I've left it too late to get a crop this winter, unless the local nursery has some plants for sale. I shall go and check. Mind you, I think I ought to buy some from the local supermarket first, in case I still dont like them ... but that recipe with cheese and ham sounds good.

[umslopogaas]

Out of luck, he didnt have any leeks, so I shall sow some of my own in a couple of months, to have some next winter.

[ardcarp]

I'm sure you know about growing leeks. If sowing from seed, sow them in a tray or pots in May or June and wait until they are the size of blades of tall grass. Then get out yer dibber (!) and poke holes into the open ground (well prepared with compost or whatever beforehand) about 6" deep. This is best done in July IMO. Drop an individual leek plant into each hole. It may be that only the top of each seedling is showing above ground. Do not fill the holes with soil, just fill them with water so some soil washes in. Nothing to do after that but wait. They more or less look after themselves.