How to grow carrots in the vegetable garden:
fresh-carrots
- carrots like a sunny spot
- dig soil in autumn & break soil down to fine, crumbly seedbed before sowing
carrot-bed
- sow outdoors from March to August – if in March cover with cloche
- sow every 3 weeks for a continuous suppy
- sow thinly – mix seed with sand to make it easier
- sow in rows 1.5cm deep with 30cm between rows
thinning-carrot-row
- thin seedlings, when large enough to handle, so 6 cm apart
pulling-carrot-seedlings-out
- keep well watered
- pull weeds as they appear
- pull carrots when they are large enough, as required
nandor-carrot
Checking the planted shallots revealed that some had jumped out of their bed.
shallots-feb2010
This often happens, particularly just after planting the shallots, before they have had time to push out some roots which will anchor them down.
shallot-out-of-bed
Shallots tend to jump out of bed because either:
- worms in the soil push them out from below
- or, birds pull them out.
We always blamed the sparrows who investigate anything new in the vegetable garden. But these shallots have been covered with a cloche to protect them from the frost, so birds would not get to the shallots easily. So fingers seem to be pointing at the worms for displacing the shallots.
pushing-shallot-in-ground
We just push the shallots back into the bed, and will continue checking them until they are rooted firmly into the ground.
How to harvest leeks depends on which end of the season they are at.
Early season leeks are lifted by placing a fork under the roots. The roots hold
on tightly and the stem easily snaps off, if a fork is not used to loosen the roots.
Late leeks have a stronger stem and can be pulled, giving a slight twist to break the roots, so most of the root clump & soil stay in the ground.
leek-patch-February
We have an abundance of leeks in the vegetable garden, so this leek soup recipe is being much enjoyed!
Ingredients
- 2 leeks – washed & sliced (about 10oz)
- 2 potatoes – peeled & sliced (about 10oz)
- 3 rashers lean & chopped bacon (about 5oz)
- 1 pint stock
- 1/2 pint milk
- freshly ground pepper
cooking-leek-soup
Method:
- gently cook the bacon, leeks and potatoes until the leeks are soft, but not coloured
- add the stock and simmer until the potatoes are tender
- liquidise
- return to the pan and add the milk
- serve when hot
Click the links below to buy the recipe books which show you how to cook what you grow:
Whilst trawling the net for inspiration of how to cook leeks, with recipes, the British Leek Association popped up! They have lots of new recipes for cooking leeks.
Leeks are a truly versatile vegetable:
- milder, sweeter flavour than onions
- smooth texture similar to asparagus
prizewinner-leeks
Our leeks will see us through the winter- we have several months supply left in the ground. They seem particularly delicious this year, and the hard, frosty weather has not hurt them at all.
close-spaced-leeks
A recipe for leek soup:
Ingredients
- 2 leeks – washed & sliced (about 10oz)
- 2 potatoes – peeled & sliced (about 10oz)
- 3 rashers lean & chopped bacon (about 5oz)
- 1 pint stock
- 1/2 pint milk
- freshly ground pepper
cooking-leek-soup
Method:
- gently cook the bacon, leeks and potatoes until the leeks are soft, but not coloured
- add the stock and simmer until the potatoes are tender
- liquidise
- return to the pan and add the milk
- serve when hot
Click this link for recipes showing how to cook leeks.
Leeks-February
This year we spaced the leeks 20cm apart in the row – quite close – and they look well.
close-spaced-leeks
Growing leeks closer together produces something like a mini-leek.
leeks---prizewinner
The leeks do not grow huge, and they are better to eat. We prefer a medium sized leek to a coarse giant one.
prizewinner-leeks
.There are several advantages of narrow spacing for leeks:
- increases production per square meter
- produces a smaller leek
- ideal for small families
- fresh leeks every meal – instead of eating half one day & eating the other half after storing in the fridge
Planting leeks with narrow spacing has been well worthwhile.
Carrots---Nairobi
Carrots are hardy enough to start sowing the seed right now.
- the soil must be dry
- if it is wet, cover the soil for a week or two to keep the rain off
- carrot seed can be sown directly into the ground outside & does not need any protection
Click this link to buy carrot seed to sow now.
SweetheartCarrots
After harvest, store garlic bulbs:
- in well aerated bags or baskets
- at relative humidity around 30-50% – if too high germination will start.
- at temperatures a little below 15 degrees
- well away from the fridge!
garlic-harvest
Once the garlic cloves begin to shrivel inside the wrapper, or begin to sprout, they are past their best.
clove-of-garlic
Garlic bulbs will keep for several months (depending on the variety) if stored correctly after harvest.
Click this link to buy a book about storing garden produce:
We have grown the Carrot variety : Créme de Lite F1 Hybrid in a raised bed.
This carrot prefers:
- well-drained
- moist
- rich
- cool conditions.
yellow-carrots
The carrots were:
- sown at 4 weekly intervals
- in May and June
- harvested since July
- also pulled on Christmas Day, as shown in the photo
Carrot variety: Créme de Lite is:
- delicious
- creamy skinned
- with long tapering roots
- juicy & sweet
- good cooked, remaining firm
- full of nutrients and vitamins, including vitamins C, E, K and folate as well as lutein, an antioxidant
carrots-for-Christmas
Click the link to buy some Carrot Créme de Lite seed.
The Carrot variety: Créme de Lite F1 Hybrid is an exceptional carrot, well worth growing. What carrot varieties have you grown?
Babbington’s leeks (Latin name - Allium ampeloprasum babbingtonii ) are an interesting perennial vegetable.
The leek leaves grow from bulbs in January until the leaves die down in late summer. The bulbs multiply, causing the clump to spread. The bulbs come up year after year making this a perennial vegetable which needs a permanent site.
BulbsBabingtonLeeks
But the peculiarity of Babbington’s leeks is that when they push up a flower stalk in late summer, bulbils develop on the flower head. These bulbils drop off onto the ground and grow into bulbs.
BabingtonLeeks
The photo of the flower head shows the light green bulbils.
Babbington’s leeks are useful in the kitchen because the green leaves can be cut in January.
The leaves may be eaten:
- raw when young – in salads
- boiled (long & slow) when mature – as they become quite fibrous
The bulbs & bulbils:
- are eaten as a substitute for garlic
- may be eaten raw or cooked
- the bulbs are hotter
Kevin in Cornwall has kindly sent us both bulbs and bulbils of Babbington’s leeks. We have planted some out into well drained soil in a sunny spot. But have also planted some in pots and will plant these out when conditions allow in the spring.
He says “It may be a couple of seasons before the Babbington’s Leeks produce flower heads, when bulbs will be big enough for garlic, and bulbils to start again”.
