The Kitchen Garden in Winter
As winter approaches and starts to get it’s icy grip on me so does it on the Goldeneye River Cottage Experiment …
This is really an update for all our regular readers who have followed my virginal foray into the world of growing your own vegetables.
How did it go then …
Well, considering the late start in the season and being entirely ignorant as to what I’m doing, never stopped me doing anything before, it went really rather well I thought.
I suspect much of the success was due to fabulous soil though I feel I can claim a little credit for diligence, pest control and nurturing.
I have the final batch of photos here, once again you’ll note the quality of them, both technically and artistically, this means only one thing - my brother took them ( for more of the same and a great site visit MilesCollins.com )
Plum Tomato
Absolutely Delicious
The tomatoes have been a revelation, the best I have ever tasted !
Once again I don’t claim personal credit for this, yes they did turn out well but the real killer is harvesting and cooking-eating within minutes.
Cherry Tomatoes
Roasted with olive oil - superb !
The best crop came from the courgettes which were, once again, laden with taste.
A late contender for the most prolific crop comes from the French Beans, a real surprise as they came from nowhere !
Leeks
Still got plenty and superb eating
The leeks proved, and continue to do so, a great success as well. The onions did not fair so well, due to position planted I believe. I have planted a late crop of spring onions though, yet to taste them but they have done very well and look about ready.
Green Peppers
I only had one small pepper plant but it has done well and still looks like giving me a little more.
A Bona Fide Kitchen Gardener !
The final shot shows me tending my beetroot, who said life begins at 40 !
Joking aside, the whole project has given me a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction - not to mention some great feeds !
I found the whole thing far more enjoyable than I could have imagined, never once a chore.
I heartily recommend anyone with the opportunity to give it a go even in a small way.
Eating something you have grown yourself from seed is simply fabulous, really it is !
I won’t bore you with anymore from my Kitchen Garden but would just like to thank those that helped, especially the person who kick-started me (and who is enjoying some of the French Beans probably as I type this)
Also my brother who was a stalwart with raw materials and experienced advice, not to mention the great lens work.
The first post and pictures can be seen Here
The intermediate is Here
Regards
Rod
Little Brother said,
October 4, 2007 @ 10:18 pm
Rod,
Good work fella! The garden is a credit to you. Look forward to seeing what you do with it next year.
LB
the dinosaur said,
October 5, 2007 @ 8:02 am
The French Beans came from nowhere! Rod and the beanstalk, look out for giants, its the pantomime season already
Femme Fatale said,
October 5, 2007 @ 10:08 am
Rod,
What a great success your veg plot is, I am very impressed.
It is hard to imagine the satisfaction you must get from eating the crop that you have harvested yourself.
I take my hat off to you.
FF
xx
Rod said,
October 5, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Thanks to all - much appreciated, I’ve also enjoyed sharing the experience on the site !
Jordan said,
October 8, 2007 @ 9:07 am
Suberb Mr C, Superb!
Very envious
Jordan
Rod said,
October 8, 2007 @ 9:50 am
Hi Jordan
thanks for that, much appreciated. It fed me again last night !
Watch this space next year !
Best
Rod
Jordan said,
October 8, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
RC
I think that you shouldn’t dismiss the Kitchen Garden in the Winter, there are plenty of vegetables that grow during this time.
And you do own a variety of scalves to wear to make sure one doesn’t catch a chill. And should one catch a chill there is always the ‘medicinal brandy’ to sip.
Go to www.gardenersworld.com for winter vegetable tips.
It would be a shame not to have this post until next Summer.
Jordan
Rod said,
October 8, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
Jordan
I do hope to keep things going a bit, I still have carrots, parsnips etc to come, and start preparing for next year, just didn’t want to bore others with it really.
Off to check out the site now, many thanks
Rod
Little Brother said,
October 8, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
Rod,
Re Gardeners world-at least I spam my own site!
LB
Rod said,
October 8, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
LB
indeed you do !
Jordan would make a good spammer I think.
Sadly for Gardners World the link is rel=nofollow so other than traffic it’ll do them no good
Rod
Witches of Eastwick said,
October 8, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
LB,
You’re lucky, the Witches seem to get edited a lot these days, in fact it’s doubtful that this text wil lll ll gett ttt throug ggggg ggh … we’re breaking up, it’s Rod he’s interferring with our transmissionn nn n
Wo
Little Brother said,
October 9, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
WoE,
Now that’s funny.
LB (for the Right to Freedom of Speech Campaign)