[DebF_EONNext]

Morning 👋

A bit of a random one today but does anyone have an allotment or do you grow your own in your garden?

I used to have an allotment when we lived in our old place however the council closed it down as they wanted the land for something else (the land is still unused 🙄) now I just have a patch in the garden where I grow my own fruit and veg.

We usually grow:

• Potatoes 🥔
• Carrots 🥕
• Leeks
• Shallots
• Apples 🍎
• Pears 🍐
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Herbs 🌿

I would like to try other things but I'm not the greatest gardener (plants seem to wilt around me with just a glance) so I need something that is relatively easy to grow!

I have previously tried cauliflowers but they came up far too quickly and we did have rhubarb but it went rogue and took over the garden so I won't be doing that again!

Our front garden is sunny all day it's practically south facing however the back garden is pretty shaded. I don't have a green house and it rains a LOT in my part of Scotland 😆

Does anyone have any advice for me? What would you recommend I try next? What is best to sow at this time of year?

[WizzyWigg]

I'm not the greatest gardener but I would suggest possibly looking at the RHS (https://www.rhs.org.uk). You don't have to be a member to get some useful tips. Also Beechgrove on the BBC is very good. All progs are on iPlayer. Gardeners World for Scotland. 😊
I do have good success with beetroot in the north west. Seems to like most weather conditions.

[DebF_EONNext]

Originally Posted by WizzyWigg

I'm not the greatest gardener but I would suggest possibly looking at the RHS (https://www.rhs.org.uk). You don't have to be a member to get some useful tips. Also Beechgrove on the BBC is very good. All progs are on iPlayer. Gardeners World for Scotland. 😊
I do have good success with beetroot in the north west. Seems to like most weather conditions.

Good shout @WizzyWigg! I've never tried growing beets before but I had heard they are pretty easy to do so I might give it a go, it makes fantastic chocolate cake too 🍫

[WizzyWigg]

@DebF_EONNext
Great chocolate cake and beetroot cake. Add carrot cake and these are my absolute faves. 🍰🤗 . A great versatile veg as well.
I tried an experiment last year and did a late planting. The plants survived winter outdoors (rain frost snow the works) and are now growing to maturity. No problems.

[DebF_EONNext]

Oooh @WizzyWigg carrot cake yes please 😋 I make my carrot cake with pistachio, lime and blueberry's it's delicious!

[WizzyWigg]

Your recipe sounds absolutely fantastic. 😋
That's it. You've done it. 😀 Off to the kitchen. Time for tea and cake. 🤗.

[retrotecchie]

@WizzyWigg

And if you parboil the beetroot, then cut it into chunks, it freezes really well too. Great for roast veg on a Sunday with the joint👍

[Tommysgirl]

@retrotecchie

Up here in the North East, pickled beetroot is the traditional method, but boiled or roasted is also popular.
Beetroot is also supposed to be good for our health such as lowering blood pressure etc. .

I haven't tried using it in baking a cake yet though, but I might give it a go some time.

[WizzyWigg]

@Tommysgirl
Don't forget the pickle beetroot with Lancashire Hotpot 😊. And not to forget pickle red cabbage.

[Tommysgirl]

@WizzyWigg

I like Hotpot, but use beef rather than lamb and cook mine in the slow cooker. Home pickled beetroot is really good but takes quite a bit of time to make, so I sometimes buy the jars and they're fine.