The weekend weather forecast made me rethink what I was going to do today and instead I went into the polytunnel to pull up, well cut off an inch above the soil, some of the celery. If we do get the promised frost I want to be sure that I am at least in the process of using up the things that could be frost damaged, and the celery is on the edge of the polytunnel and so could possibly be affected.
I cut off two of the big bunches, and realising what was on my mind to do with it I pulled up some carrots to go with the celery. What I got was the fabulously shaped carrots you see in the photo above. Each one I pulled up had grown in it's own weird and wonderful way.
The carrots I was supposed to plant in this bed were short and stubby like these two, but obviously I had transplanted some that were meant to be long and narrow into the same shallow bed .... ooops!!
In their efforts to grow they had taken off in every direction, I must say I felt guilty ... like a Mum who has left her child in shoes a size or two too small. The poor things, determined to grow they had gone this way and that and even joined forces to grow in the small space allowed them.
It shows I don't always get it right .....
... and two bolted lettuces just go to show that I don't always harvest on time either!!
Still I know exactly what I will be doing with the celery, carrots and the lettuces so nothing will be going to waste. After all, wonky ugly veg and bolted lettuces are still food and homegrown food no matter what it's shape or persuasion is always tasty and nutritious.
Sue xx
what is a bolted lettuce for us that dont grow things ? carrots look lovely
ReplyDeletet
A 'bolted' lettuce is one that is about to go to seed because it has not been harvested when at it's best.
DeleteI had a little grin re: your feelings of guilt about the carrots, we are daft (in a nice way), I always feel the same when I pull up flower and shrub seedlings that are growing in the paths or in tubs that are housing other things, they have made such a concerted effort to grow and thrive and I come along and kill them!
ReplyDeleteSomething tasty you wouldn't get in a supermarket! Lovely stuff.
ReplyDeleteThose carrots would be challenge to peel - if you felt the need to, that is!
ReplyDeleteLuckily I never peel carrots, just a good scrub (once they were snapped into pieces so I could get into all the nooks and crevices), and they are good to go.
DeleteOnce the frost has knocked back the foilage of the Oca they will be ready to harvest
ReplyDeleteI know ... I've itching to harvest them, but up to now no frost. The plants are still looking remarkably healthy and bushy. Soon I hope .....
DeleteAll Supermarket Mangers have just fainted!!! I didn't realise bolted lettuce were still edible!!! I usually compost mine, I won't next year!!!!
ReplyDeleteCan I be cheeky? I see a comment from Marigold Jam, I used to so enjoy her 'travel reports' but can't seem to read her blog anymore, has she given up blogging?
They can be bitter, but are great added to soups.
DeleteI couldn't get Marigold Jam's link to work but on Googling found her here - http://marigoldjam.blogspot.co.uk/ Hope that helps :-)
Thank you!!
DeleteI always find bolted lettuce are bitter so I don't eat them.
ReplyDeleteIn soups they can be okay. Don't season until the end though as I find they sometimes make the soup taste more salty than usual, I have no idea why!!
DeleteI am thinking you might be able to blanch the lettuce leaves to remove the bitterness and cook them as you would spinach. Or add to soups, etc. Love all the different shaped carrots!
ReplyDeleteWho cares if they are rather wonky...they will make good soup. Have you tried Lettuce Soup?
ReplyDeleteYes I love it. There's a recipe in the 'Recipes I Use Regularly' page at the top of the blog.
DeleteOh, definitely Turner Prize carrots!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the wonky carrots. Having seen the "War on Waste" videos, you won't be able to sell them to a supermarket, which I know you don't They are "artistic" carrots.
ReplyDeleteLove the windy carrots. Ours have been like that and have been a challenge when its come to pealing them. Tasty though.
ReplyDeleteX x
I never peel them, the skins on homegrown carrots are so delicate they really don't need it. I just snap where there are joints and wonky bits so I can give them a good wash, and then top and tail and chop to size.
DeleteLove the look of the carrots - personally I would give them a good wash then roast them in a tin foil bag with shallots, thyme and a little white wine with a knob of butter..... I wish I was still harvesting - all I have left now is celeriac :(
ReplyDeleteNow I will just have to go and pull up some more carrots. Your mini recipe sounds delicious, and with homegrown carrots being sweeter and fresher would be divine :-)
DeleteDon't be afraid of leaving carrots in the ground until you need them. I harvest them as I need them throughout the Winter and always have, even before my polytunnel days. They are not too affected by frost, and like Leeks can be pulled from the ground as long as it's not frozen solid.
I've been known to pour boiling water round a Leek to thaw the soil out when I've been desperate to make soup and the ground is rock hard ;-)
I've found that carrots left in the ground get massacred by keel slugs. Am thinking of trying the slug remedy of nematodes next year. Does it work do you know? We are on heavy clay
DeleteThose carrots look like they are alive, pulsating, growing...looking to feed!
ReplyDelete