Blog

04
Aug, 2017 By Sally Osgerby

Keep Soil on Stored Vegetables – Do Not Wash!

Do not wash root vegetables before putting them into store, keep the soil on!  This applies to all root vegetables, including potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips & swedes. Researchers, working on behalf of ASDA, looking into the shelf-life of vegetables have found those covered in soil lasted twice as long as those that had been washed. They believe mud acts as a preservative because it blocks
Learn more
03
Aug, 2017 By Sally Osgerby

How to Grow Parsnips

The traditional time for sowing parsnips is February, but parsnip seed can be sown from March to early May.  In our vegetable garden the parsnip seeds grow better when the soil has warmed up, & canker is not such a problem with late sown parsnips. Parsnip – Latin name Pastinaca sativa We grow the parsnip variety – Avonresister because: good canker resistance. The disease Canker
Learn more
02
Aug, 2017 By Sally Osgerby

3 Main Shapes of Parsnip – Bulbous, Wedge or Bayonet

There are 3 main shapes of Parsnip – (Latin name – Pastinaca sativa ssp. sativa) bulbous types with rounded shoulders wedge types which are broad and long bayonet types which are long and narrow John has grown these magnificent bayonet shaped parsnips on his allotment in Yorkshire.   The bayonet parsnip above is 10″ or 26 cm long! John boasts that these parsnips are
Learn more
01
Aug, 2017 By Sally Osgerby

Parsnip Canker

Parsnip Canker is the most serious problem with parsnips. Latin name – Itersonilia pastinaceae Brown or black patches appear on the shoulder of the root which then become soft and rotten. The secondary rotting which follows the initial discolouration is caused by fungi or bacteria. The Cause of Parsnip Canker seems to be root damage, which allows the fungal canker to enter the broken skin
Learn more
31
Jul, 2017 By Sally Osgerby

Second Hand Garden Tools – Parsnip Digger

Good quality garden tools are expensive, so buying second hand is worth considering.  If a tool is well made, of good material, and has been looked after, it will last for years.  So a well maintained, quality second-hand tool is probably much more useful than a cheap, new item.   This parsnip digger is about one hundred years old, and we still use it!
Learn more
29
Jul, 2017 By Sally Osgerby

The Difference between Swedes and Turnips

The difference between swedes & turnips is evident when you see the two side by side. The turnip is smaller, smoother & rounder than the swede. Swedes have a whiter flesh than swedes. Swedes came from Sweden and were known as the Swedish turnip- & this name was shortened to Swede.  Swedes are frost proof, but turnips are not – so swedes can stay
Learn more
28
Jul, 2017 By Sally Osgerby

Community Vegetable Garden Created out of Recycled Items

A community on the Holly Estate, Oldham, Lancashire, have created a vegetable garden using an interesting variety of recycled items. Oldham News reports: “RECYCLING residents in Royton have come up with some inventive ideas to create a unique community fruit and vegetable garden. The group from the Holly Estate have got peas growing in a baby bath, broad beans in a laundry basket and
Learn more
27
Jul, 2017 By Sally Osgerby

How to Freeze Broad Beans

There are two schools of thought on how to freeze broad beans – some people blanch the beans before freezing and some don’t. Blanching involves plunging the beans into boiling water to stop all enzyme activity in the beans, so the beans stay exactly as they are without any deterioration.  Therefore, the healthy vitamins and minerals will remain in the beans.  After a couple of minutes
Learn more
Load More