Hassle-free harvests

While veg-plot activities slow down in winter, there is still plenty to do, from planting fruit trees, and harvesting sprouts and salads to taking stock of your growing year so you can plan next year's crops, says Jack Wallington

- Jack Wallington

Non-gardeners often assume that winter is a quiet time, but for the avid veg grower there is plenty to do. That said, winter isn't as busy as the rest of the year, because there is less need to weed, sow and water. I use this time to dream about the next year and enjoy researching new cultivars to grow on the plot for different flavours and less hassle.

Recently, I discovered an unexpected winter crop - a funny-looking brown fungus growing on the dead stems of an old elder tree. It's called jelly ear fungus (Auricularia auricula-judae) and really does look as the name suggests, but don't let the appearance put you off! They're used a lot in Asian meals, and can be foraged, cleaned, chopped then cooked.

As with all wild plants, only eat fungi you can properly identify, though the jelly ear fungus is an easy one because in midwinter there isn't much else like it around. Foraged food is the ultimate in hassle-free because all you have to do is pick and enjoy!

Harvest 

Our Brussels sprouts look beautiful and are ready to eat right now, just in time for the festive season. I mainly grow the regular green sprouts - this year Groninger - and a few token purple stems of Rubine for fun. If we have a number of frosts the sprouts taste particularly sweet as a result.