This is the journal of my endeavours to grow a range of fruit, veg and flowers from seed, grow organically, and my attempts to create a personal paradise with 1/2 acre of maintained gardens and 1/2 acre wild meadows. Northern Ireland's average daily high temperatures are 18 °C (64 °F) in July and 6 °C (43 °F) in January. Soil type: Clay

Monday, 2 February 2015

My veggies are looking a bit sad

I have one remaining veg area with plants in it. Over the weekend I did a bit of tidying and some clearing. I managed to make a little salad from two young lettuces 'arctic king', tatsoi leaves and a mizuna that was hiding under the parsley.

I pulled up about 6 beetroot that are likely to be inedible, however, I'm tempted to give it a go and see. 

Left: these were planted quite late (mid August) and I thought they were spinach but looking at the photo they look like chard. Something is nibbling on them, but I predict they'll keep producing green leaves well into Spring.
Parsley (plain leaf) is taking over this area and needs harvested - suppose there's only so much parsley I can eat!
Above: Kale 'nero di toscana' with tatsoi (a baby leaf salad),  and lettuce 'arctic king' growing slowing in the background.
The seed pack from what are described as 'cool weather' croppers. I always keep my seed packs and I try to write the date seeds are sown on the back of the pack as an attempt to record what I've sown.

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.
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8 comments:

  1. ann2 February 2015 at 17:05

    The good news: Spring is on its way and you can start all over.

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  2. elaine 3 February 2015 at 00:18

    Mine are looking a bit sad too - I still have kale and spinach but I think they will be a bit tough by now. I look forward to starting again - not long now.

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  3. Jo@awholeplotoflove3 February 2015 at 02:48

    Good idea keeping the seed packets with dates added. I'm rather looking forward to spring so I can start. x

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  4. Sue Garrett3 February 2015 at 03:23

    It's getting to a sad time of year crop wise but we;ll soon be starting all over again

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  5. David Shinn3 February 2015 at 04:13

    I grow my chard under wire netting hoops to stop the birds pecking at the leaves.Apart from this they seem to be fairly trouble free and very productive veg to grow.I've already cleared mine out this year as part of a plot rejig ,but usually cut the leaves and stems right round down in late winter for a final flush in spring.

    Like yours my cavolo nero kale have done well, but are starting to go to seed having had a bit of winter sun on them.

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  6. Jo3 February 2015 at 04:46

    Nothing left on my plot so I'm looking forward to getting some seeds sown.

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  7. Mark Willis3 February 2015 at 04:58

    I think that top photo is of Perpetual Spinach (aka Leaf Beet). It is closely related to both Chard and Beetroot. I use tiny leaves raw in salads, and bigger leaves are cooked like traditional spinach.

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  8. Mal3 February 2015 at 12:59

    So jealous of your parsley. Well done! Try Lebanese parsley salad - Tabouleh (other spellings are available). Stuffed in a bit of pitta bread with some humous and Zataar it is wonderful. We just can't grow enough parsley!

    Just jerusalem artechokes, scorzonera, and brassicas (kale brussels cabbage) left. Purple Sprouting Brocolli still to come.

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