Pretending to jump on the turnip bandwagon       .
How do you prep, cook, eat yours ?

I’ve only ever roasted mine. It’s also a vegetable I’ve never brought. If I don’t grow it, I don’t eat it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64729317

I expect most of you have heard that supermarkets are struggling to source tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and more because of extreme weather in Spain & Morocco. For example, Asda, has restricted sales of lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflowers and raspberry punnets to three per customer, along with tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. 

The UK also gets some produce at this time of year from domestic growers and the Netherlands. But farmers in both countries have cut back on their use of greenhouses to grow winter crops due to higher electricity prices.

Tim O'Malley, managing director of Nationwide Produce, one of the UK's largest fresh food producers, said British carrots, parsnips, cabbages and cauliflower had been affected by the poor weather. He said on Tuesday that there may be price rises as a result of the shortages in the coming weeks.


When I read this news, it makes me all the more determined to grow more of my own food and only eat seasonally. 

Like Bren, I have plenty of lettuce and "salad bags", and raspberries in the freezer. However, I must try harder on the winter veg production for next year.

Not especially familiar with the author, but thought some may recognise themselves here (in more or less fanciful language)...




https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...ll-of-hope

OK so I used spent compost  for sowing this years toms and should expect the odd rogue seedling. I'm used to weeds and tomatoes popping up everywhere,  but I've got a rogue something coming up alongside some tomato seedlings and it looks strange/familiar/interesting, but I've no idea what.  Its unlikely to be floral considering the compost was old tomato pots.
For size you'll see an emerging tomato, not yet reached proper leaf stage. What is it?........ Inspiration just hit me, could it be a cucumber, although I'm damned as if I can figure how it got into outdoor tomato compost.

   

       

At the Seed Swap I picked up some anonymous beans. All they could tell me about them was, that they were not Broad Beans and they thought they might be too old to germinate. Now I'm a sucker for orphan seeds so I picked up a handful and brought them home. 
I've had a bit of a DuckDuck and found something similar but, before I say what I think they are, I'm going to ask the Panel for your thoughts.
Thank you. 

I've been experimenting with a Mess of Greens recently - basically a handful of whatever (edible) green leaves I can find, cooked quickly together in a little oil or hot water. Normal ingredients are kale leaves from a couple of different plants,  lovage, oriental veg of whatever is in the GH and chard plus some Three-cornered leek or spring onions.
Most of my food is messy food - bowls of fresh salad leaves, or stirfries or mixed up in soup. 
I suppose its my nature.

Having sown some 9 Star perennial broccoli/cauliflowers and 1000 headed kale I wondered how many other plants have a number in their name? 
Any suggestions?

Advice please.
Planting out my autumn sown sweet peas this week .
What else can I put out now??
I’ve got about half a dozen sturdy daucus, same number of larkspur and just four ammi visnaga.
I know that these are hardy - but seeing as I’ve lost absolutely loads of seedlings through the winter, do you think it’s a  bit soon?

So I generally split my tubers in the Spring to make more, some just wiggle apart, if they dont I will often cut throught the stem or cut off one of the "legs" if it has some eyes.

I took cuttings a few years back - loved the process, but found my strike luck wasnt as successful as it could have been, had lots just not taking due to "misting" either too wet or not keeping hydrated enough... I also got a little overwhelmed with space issues

Anyway, last September I decided I wanted more varieties that were suitable for cutting. I had already ditched a few of the big Decoratives in favour of the balls or poms. Gluton for punishment - Im having another go

My order has arrived and been set in trays - I have some eyes already. Wish me luck.

       

I love trying new things and have a friend who always buys presents - Im pretty useless at that  hate spending money just because of a certain date. So over the years we've come to a compromise - we do a day out instead. Last year we booked jekka herbs, Kew Gardens and David Austin roses.

Friday we went on a basket making course - a guy local to me. We had a fabulous day. Pretty chuffed with my basket - Im sure it will come in handy