In November the world can look dark and unappealing when we gaze outside from the cosy indoors, but once outside it is surprising how light the day really is. Just spending half an hour or so outside during the winter can make a great difference to one’s mental and physical health, so I try to get out on the plot every day. It also helps to burn off some of those yummy winter puddings.
Almost everything that needs storing before the weather turns very cold has been harvested, including squashes, celeriac and sweet potatoes. I check them carefully, putting any damaged ones in the kitchen vegetable basket to eat first, because damage is likely to make them rot. The sweet potato vines are delicious to eat – try cooking them rather than composting. Some sweet potatoes are put aside, in a box marked ‘seed potatoes’ so no one eats them, to make slips in the spring for next year’s crop.
SQUASH
Squash are one of my favourite over winter vegetables; so sweet, nutty and versatile. I keep them on top of shelves and book cases, brightening the rooms with their rich colours. The seeds are edible and very nutritious.
I either eat or compost the squash seeds, and do not save for growing seed. All cucurbits (squash, pumpkins, courgettes, melons, cucumbers, inedible gourds) cross pollinate with enthusiasm, so unless you have followed a careful procedure of isolating flowers from all insects and hand pollinating yourself, it is likely that your squash will have cross pollinated with something else in your garden, or your neighbours’ gardens. (This is the same for shop bought squash, you can not be sure that they won’t have cross pollinated.)
This story is from the November 2020 edition of Kitchen Garden.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2020 edition of Kitchen Garden.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
EASY DOES IT!
As the growing season gathers pace there's one thing often in short supply: time! Ever feel like you're chasing your tail? Benedict Vanheems offers some tips to save valuable time and effort
A NEW Kitchen garden!
It's time for sowing and planting in the new garden and while Martin is busy with that, Jill is making a tasty asparagus soup
OUR PLOTTER OF THE MONTH
Kitchen Garden readers rose to the challenge when we asked for pictures of their plots to appear in the magazine this year. It's time to meet another of our talented competition winners
MANAGING WEEDS, NATURALLY
Weeds are never far away but you can keep them at bay without recourse to weedkillers
Meet the apple doctor
KG editor Steve Ott chats to Glyn Smith, head gardener for the National Trust's Erddig estate in Wrexham, about his career and love of the garden he has tended for 38 years
A CORNUCOPIA OF COURGETTES
It's time to sow a first batch of tender crops such as courgettes for picking through the summer months. KG editor Steve Ott has some tips for a super harvest
FLAVOURSOME FRUIT CURRANTS
you If I want to plant some soft fruit that is easy to grow and will give you plenty of flavour, how about trying currants?
TRY AMARANTH! The dual-purpose veg
Garden Organic's research manager Anton Rosenfeld extols the virtues of amaranth and how to grow it
A SPACE APART
Instagrammer James Martin shares his love of gardening and how much it has helped him and his family both mentally and physically under very difficult circumstances
HITTING THE SWEET SPOT
Welcome to the wonderful world of sweetcorn as Rob Smith takes a look at both old and newer varieties, with some growing advice too