Late Salad Trials

This year I'm trying to keep a supply of salad leaves going through early Winter. I've sown a few different varieties. However, one salad veg has caused me confusion over the months - Radicchio 'Palla Rossa'. The seed pack photo (see seed pack below) looks more like a cabbage. 

Left: my Radicchio, 5 months into growth, looks more like a lettuce; pretty but it tastes very bitter and inedible. (I kept waiting for it to look like the photo below before harvesting.)

Above: The seed pack description of Radicchio 'Palla Rossa'. I sowed seed again in late July and they too look to be developing the same way as my top photo. Every year I try to grow some new veg, some a success and some not a success. I suppose I would have to say my Radicchio looked pretty, but was disappointing.

Above and Below: On a more positive note, in early August I sowed seeds called 'Winter Blend' and they seem to be a mix of mizuna, mustard, kale and rocket to make up salads. They're doing well and hoping they'll keep me going a bit longer in salads.

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

Winter Veg

My winter veg consists of three types of kale, Spring cabbage, chard, winter lettuces, leek, broccoli spring onion and bits and pieces still holding on from the Summer. 

Left: Grown from seed: Kale Dwarf Green Curled and Cabbage January King

Above: Kale Nero di Toscana with Kale Dwarf Green Curled.

Cabbage January King - I think I finally got all the caterpillars picked off; now watching out for slugs.

Above: Broccoli I've been told will grow over the winter. Not sure of its name.

Above: A few beetroot grown from seed at the end of June. 

Chard 'White Silver 2' has been a staple diet for caterpillars all summer. 

Amongst the Autumn leaves are a selection of late summer salad leaves 'Winter Blend' which are slow to grow but looking hopeful.

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

Pumpkin Time

Halloween is upon us, a well liked American holiday growing in popularity in Ireland. For me, its time to clear leaves in the garden, relax by the fire at night, and sip warm drinks such as hot chocolate or mulled wine.

Growing pumpkins has not been an achievement of mine. Instead I visit a pumpkin 'farm' (don't think they're grown locally) and choose one or two to carve for a bit of night time Halloween atmosphere. 

Can't believe its almost November and I've still loads of weeding and tidying to do in the garden. I'm thinking it may be Christmas before I take a break from all the outdoor chores. When do you take time off from the garden and hibernate a bit over the winter? 

Happy Halloween!

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