14/12/25 - The Harvest Continues
This weekend, I found myself on the plot looking around from my vantage point on the bench by the polytunnel and perhaps for the first time at this time of year, really appreciating how productive the allotment is still being. Even now. When I look back at photos taken at this time in previous years, and indeed, reading posts on this blog, I can see that there still so much going on this year compared to previous. This time last year, most of the beds were all tucked in for Winter, and I was well on the way to completing construction of the large polytunnel. The small polytunnel was cleared out and being used for storage of various pots, trays and containers.
Fast forward 12 months to this weekend and the plot is a different place. I have crops growing in about 5 or 6 beds with some in mid-harvest while both polytunnels are also producing or growing. Winter has been comparatively mild so far this season, so it is allowing the under cover crops particularly to carry on growing. Over the last week, some of the broccoli in the main tunnel has really started to head up, and it's exciting to think that we will be able to harvest some for our Christmas dinner in just under 2 weeks time.
Indeed, speaking of Christmas, as well as the broccoli above, the allotment will also be providing us with potatoes, parsnip, carrots, possibly swede and I am still holding out hope that we will be able to pick a red cabbage, albeit it will be a little on the small side. And then there is also the likes of the French beans and broad beans which still fill our freezer from earlier in the year. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what it's all about!
Elsewhere on the plot today, I also did a bit more tidying up. The Swiss chard has finally succumbed to the cooler weather and was very droopy, so I cleared and covered the half bed that it was occupying.
I also harvested the end of season beetroot that I had planted. They never came to any significant size, but that was always the possibility. SO, I've kept around half of them, and will be boiling them up for a meal or two this week. Once they were out, I gave the bed a quick hoe and it will now stay put until the Spring. The other half of the bed has some late leaks in place, and they will over-winter there, hopefully producing something edible early on in the new year before I need to put the next crop in.
In the mini-polytunnel, the last few pak choi plants were looking worse for wear, with slugs now starting to feast on them, so I cleared out the remaining plants that were left. They have done us well over the last weeks especially and have truly been a great late season crop. Also in the mini tunnel, the Chinese cabbage is starting to look a bit tatty, but it's fairing a little better that the pack choi was. One of the plants had bolted, so I took that out, but also harvested 2 other plants
Joining the Chinese cabbage and beetroot in this weeks harvest box were more carrots from the bathtub, and another lift of parsnips, both destined for the plate as part of Sunday dinner.
That's this weeks update done and dusted. Time is flying by so quick this year. I can't believe that I will be starting my 2026 onion sowings in only around 3 or 4 weeks time! It seems crazy, but I am so pleased that the allotment is producing so much. It looks like there's very little chance of there being any sort of quiet period where there is nothing growing as we head feet first into 2026!
