The joy of popping to the plot to harvest vegetables on Christmas Eve, it has to be one of the most rewarding visits us allotment gardeners do and one I know I really look forward to. Sometimes though it doesn’t all go to plan despite our best efforts, but what we do harvest we cherish even more because each crop started as a tiny seed that was nurtured, and that’s what makes allotment-grown veg even more special.
Luckily for me I’ve had another good growing year, particularly with the brassica. I do believe these are the best sprouts I’ve grown to date, not perfect by any means but they will be tasty which is the most important thing.
January King cabbage makes the menu this year thanks to a late summer planting timed just right for a Christmas harvest, this frilly winter savoy not only tastes good but look good too with pink frost-kissed leaves. I will grow these again for sure.
As usual my go-to main crop carrot Autumn King didn’t let me down, sitting perfectly well in the soil all winter long, delicious and reliable.
I’ve grown some stonking parsnips this year, again a trusted variety called Gladiator which as you can probably tell get to enormous sizes. And homegrown wouldn’t be the same without a ‘tripod parsnip’ or wonky carrot in the mix!
At home in the store cupboard are King Edward potatoes lifted mid September, they’re still good to eat and will be used up for roast potatoes. In the freezer are peas and broad beans. We will eat well this Christmas, I couldn’t be more thankful for my allotment.
I’ve been a bit naughty and opened one of my presents a day early, this lovely handmade vegetable trug (@loldeantimber on Instagram if you’d like one too) personalised with a painting of my allotment shed – I love it! Of course I had to take it to the allotment today to collect the Christmas dinner.
I wish you all a safe and happy Christmas.
Allotment Haven 
Your parsnips certainly look much better than mine, and that cabbage is gorgeous!
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It’s so pretty isn’t it?! Shame the pink turns green when cooked.
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We dug all our carrots to store in boxes at home in the greenhouse, When we leave them in the ground the slugs move in!
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My carrots get the odd bit of slug damage, but on the whole pretty good considering.
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Beautiful vegetables! We recently saw -13f at night so it’s nice to see healthy crops being picked somewhere in the world. That carrier is pretty neat!
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Gosh that’s cold! The coldest areas of the UK tend to be North and into Scotland, I’m in SE England, much milder! We complain at -1 ha ha!
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