Yorkshire Kitchen Garden

Brrr. It's still cold here, and some areas have had a lot of snow. Fortunately, we are quite low down, so we missed it, but not the freezing wind, and icy rain. Earlier this week, I decided to have a sort through my freezer, and get it organised. I do have a system, but over time everyone moves things around, so it's useful to take some time to rearrange it, and find those items that get shoved to the back. One thing I found was a bag early carrots, they are going on the menu for lunch today (Sunday) I must admit, carrots are one of my favourite vegetables, and my family love them too. Although, when my 15 year old son was about 3 or 4 he was dead set against them, and once even told us that he couldn't eat them because they were poisonous. Over time, he has come to appreciate them as much as the rest of us. If you haven't grown carrots before, this is a good time to prepare the ground for some. Digging over a patch of ground now, will give it chance to break down over the winter into the fine, well draining soil carrots need. Read on for a quick guide to the humble, but versatile carrot . . .

Carrots (daucus carota)

The humble carrot is a surprisingly versatile vegetable, Not only is it a tasty addition to a Sunday lunch, it is delicious when add raw to a salad, and it can even be used to make cakes. The carrot originated in Europe, making it a good vegetable to grow in cooler parts of the world.

How to Grow: Seed is sown from spring to late summer, in a warm sunny situation. Before sowing, ensure your soil is fine and stone free, any obstructions will result in forked or mis-shapen carrots. If you want to grow your carrots in containers, either use very deep pots, or try a dwarf variety of carrot. Sow your seed in rows about 6 inches apart.

Once your seedlings have reached the two leaf stage, thin them out, to about one plant every 4 inches, choosing the healthiest looking seedlings. Avoid over-watering because this can cause the roots (ie your crop) to swell and crack.

One of the biggest problems you may face is the dreaded carrot root fly. This can be deterred through companion planting. Because these flys find the carrots by scent, grow your carrots next to onions, chives, leeks or garlic, and you should find that the strong aromas keep the carrot fly at bay. Also, avoid thinning your seedlings on warm, windy days, to prevent the smell of the carrots being broadcast over a large area.

Harvesting: You can harvest your carrots approximately 12 to 16 weeks after sowing depending on whether you want sweet baby carrots or larger mature ones. Successive sowings will mean you can have a mixture of both for a prolonged period. Harvest by digging up with a garden fork, insert the prongs away from the actual plant, so that you are lifting it out of the ground, not digging into it.

Freezing: Carrots freeze well, and will keep for up to six months. Simply wash well, and slice. Blanch in boiling water for a few minutes, then plunge into cold. Dry off and place in freezer bags.

Propagation: Carrots will produce seeds which can be stored and used the following year. You must use the seed within one year because it won’t keep any longer than that. To collect carrots seed, wait until it has turned brown, then snip of the flower head, and place into a paper bag. It is best to use a bag because the seed is very fine. Hang the bag somewhere warm and dry for a few days, and the seed will drop away from the flower. Store your seed in a envelope inside an airtight container some cool and dry.

One Last Tip: Jazz up plain old boiled carrots with a sprinkling of fresh thyme and a knob of butter. If you are watching your fat intake, substitute olive oil for butter.

Posted by Kate at 02:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My recent post about growing an indoor herb garden attracted a great comment about using organic seeds. I thought I would take this opportunity to explain why this is a good idea.

Before I begin, please let me make it clear, I am not against the use of non-organic seeds. If that is what you choose to use, then so be it. It's not up to me to tell you what you should put in your garden. We all have choices, and I believe it is important to respect the choices other people make. In addition, the following comments are only my personal opinions.

Why Use Organic Seeds?

There are a few reasons why I would choose to use organic seeds. The first is that I tend to grow species which are native to my area. This means organic seeds do indeed produce better plants because they are growing in their ideal condition.. Even, when I grow plants which come from other parts of the world, they are well established species, and the seeds have been developed over many decades which means they have evolved into plants which grow well in my climate. Therefore, they need little in the way of extra help. After all, if something grew perfectly well in a Victorian garden, it really doesn't need assistance to help it grow in a 21st century one.

The next reason is a little more controversial. The problem with non-organic seeds is that a growing number have been genetically modified, which has rendered them infertile. This means that you won't be able to save seed from them to use the following year because they won't produce any. This practice is good for seed producers because they can 'copyright' their product. In other words, you will have to buy new seed each time you wish to grow a particular plant. Now, I don't know about you but I find this a rather sad indication of the world we live in. For generations gardeners have traded seeds, cuttings and so on. And also used their existing plants to create new varieties. With increasing reliance on genetic modification this tradition will come to an end. I personally think this would be a tragedy.

It is true, that not all non-organic seed is infertile, but there does seem to be an ever increasing amount which is GM and which is unable to reproduce itself.. Furthermore, the necessity for these modifications are not always as black and white as they are claimed to be. Producers will say that making these alterations results in stronger, healthier seed. However, if gardeners used varieties which were native to their part of the world, or which were heirloom/heritage varieties, these modifications would not be necessary because they would have plants which were perfectly adapted to their environment.

There is a longer term danger. Just suppose that one day, all plants are grown from GM seed. Imagine the effect this could have on our environment. Species would be unable to cross pollinate, leading to a decline in plant life, and also insect and animal species which rely on those plants for food. Your garden may seem as though it just your personal bit of green space, but trust me it is more than that. To an endless number of creatures it is both home and a jolly good restaurant. Remove that food supply and you remove an important part of the food chain. The logical conclusion would be a very barren world indeed.

As I said at the beginning of this piece, these comments are only my personal opinions, but they are shared by a growing number of people. As a gardener you can do your bit to preserve our natural heritage, by choosing organic seed, and gardening organically. Try to grow local varieties, or if they are not available choose heirloom or heritage seeds and plants. These are traditional varieties which have proved themselves through decades of use in normal gardens. To paraphrase an Irish saying, we don’t own the earth, we are just keeping it safe for future generations. Organic seeds may be small, but they are a big part of this.

Further Reading:

Garden Organic
The Organic Gardening Catalogue

Posted by Kate at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

First of all my apologies for my absence recently. I somehow managed to get a nasty virus on my pc, which resulted in the whole system needing to be reformatted. I'm not sure how it happened because I use a range of up to date security software, but I suppose there is always something that can slip through.

On the kitchen garden front, it is safe to say winter has well and truly arrived in Yorkshire. This week we have had a succession of thick frosts, which do make everywhere look delightful, rather like a scene from a Christmas card. On the downside, it is also extremely cold, and gardening is difficult because the ground is so hard. I'm waiting for a warmer spell before I venture out to do any work.

Well, the weather may not be suitable for gardening, but there is plenty to do indoors. You could follow the advice in my previous post, and start an indoor herb garden. This is a great way to have access to your favourite herbs all winter long. Alternatively, spend a comfy evening by the fire, armed with a notebook and a selection of your favourite gardening catalogues, and make some plans for next years crops. Begin by detailing what you grew this year, how it worked out, and so on. Now, plan next years harvest. List all the 'regulars', in other words crops you grow from year to year. Then, choose a few new varieties. They say variety is the spice of life, and this applies in the garden too. If you are feeling artistic, why not draw up a plan, detailing what you will grow and where. You can do this with a pencil and paper, or try a purpose made garden design software package. Type garden design software into your favourite search engine and see what comes up. You may even be lucky enough to find a good quality freebie, there are some out there.

I'll leave you with a kitchen tip. Cabbage is one of my favourite winter vegetables, but it's not always that popular with children. There are two ways I have found to get my kiddiwinks to eat cabbage. The first is to use a firm white cabbage, chopped up finely and made into coleslaw. The second is for cooked cabbage, try adding a teaspoon of mint and a sprinkling of black pepper to the cooking water. It reduces the cabbage taste which many children find overpowering.

And if you would like a recipe for coleslaw, this is mine:

1 white cabbage (chopped finely)
2 apples (sliced)
2 carrots (grated)
6 tbs mayonnaise (add more if you require a moister texture)
1 tbs vinegar
sprinkling of black pepper

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, and chill in the fridge for approximately 30 minutes or until needed.

Posted by Kate at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you live in the northern hemisphere, then it is likely that your garden is
tucked up for the winter. However, this doesn't mean you can't enjoy freshly
picked herbs. Many varieties will grow quite happily indoors on a sunny
windowledge or porch. In addition to providing a source of fresh herbs, an
indoor garden can look extremely attractive, and they are a wonderful
introduction to gardening for children.

Herbs which will grow indoors:

- Basil
- Oregano
- Mint
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
- Angelica
- Chamomile
- Dill
- Fennel
- Lavender
- Geranium
- Chives

You will need to find a sunny, well lit spot to grow your indoor herb garden.
Ideally, it should be south facing, but if this isn't possible choose a situation
that will receive plenty of light through out the day. Try to avoid a north
facing place because it is unlikely the plants will receive enough light to
grow properly.

What you will need:

- Herbs, either plants or seeds
- Good quality compost
- Suitable containers

Buy your herbs from reputable suppliers, don't buy seed packets which
are out of date, and avoid any straggly or unhealthy looking plants. The
same is true for compost, choose a good all purpose compost, your
herbs will be relying on it for nutrition for some time.

The containers are easier to select. You will find a wide range at garden
centers and nurseries. Alternatively, you can use ones you already have,
or adapt other objects. I grow my geraniums in a old mop bucket, and my
lemon mint is growing in a teapot with a broken handle.

If your children are helping with your indoor garden, a nice idea is to take
some plain plant pots, and let the kids decorate them with paint, paper
etc. to produce their own unique pots.

Once you have planted your garden, it will need some care. Remember,
indoor plants rely on you totally. Water regularly, but be careful not to
over-water, this is the main cause of death for most indoor plants. No more
than once a week should be sufficient, I water once every two weeks. Check
the compost before watering, if it still feels moist wait and check again the
next day. If you have used a good compost, and your winter is relatively
short you will probably only need to feed your plants once. However, often
you need to feed your herbs, bear in mind that if you plan to eat them, it is
a good idea to use an organic plant food.

Copyright Kate Gilby All Rights Reserved

Posted by Kate at 03:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)