Seedy intentions

Celery, if allowed to flower, provides a great source of interest for smaller flying insects. Later, when it sets seed, these can be harvested for the kitchen or left to self seed in the surrounding soil.

Floral celery

      Last year's celery left to flower and seed attracts many insects.

Green time

Greens - whites and purples - in abundance now, thanks to regular net inspection: The snow weighed down some of the protective nets, allowing pigeons to peck at the exposed growth.

Souped up

Unearthed a few potatoes and a beetroot from last season to accompany some leeks and celery in a soup.

Winter greens

Apium graveolens

    Celery still producing enough stems and leaves to flavour a stew.

Late veg box

                A final colourful harvest before the frosts arrive.

Embarrassment of riches

Cropping

Windfall

                  Last of the broad beans, first windfall apples.

Self-sufficientish

Some like it swampy

Torrential rain for most of the day; not so good for insects and delicate blooms but the celery can't get enough of it.

Easy pickings

Good gourds

Plants which I'd hoped were butternut squash turned out to be inedible gourds: perhaps they'll look good on the xmas tree!?

More blighters

Along with all the usual stuff, harvested some celery today, some of which was showing signs of celery leaf blight (a virus that hangs around in the soil and makes the leaves wilt and die) and needed removing. The rest is fine and although the stalks are thin, they're full of flavour and good for cooking with. Spending more time in the kitchen than at the allotment now, cooking or preserving all the goodness.

Slim Shady

Celery's quite happy growing in the shade, but although the leaves and thinned plants are good for salads and stews, the stems won't be ready to harvest until November.

Starter module