Michelle over at Veg Plotting suggested on twitter the other day a challenge to grow or forage some salad every week of the year. It’s a great idea and so I’m joining in. I thought it would be fun to see what was available at this time of the year. We’ve had a very mild (if very windy) winter here so far so there are some surprising candidates for eating still around. The picture gallery shows what I could find around the house without too much effort. Click on the pictures for a better look.
Nasturtium leaves have survived the winter so far
Flat leaved parsley is a useful addition
Bittercress ‘volunteer’, one of many. It’s not really bitter, just a hot cress taste
Calendula flower. So called because it’s meant to flower in all months of the calender
This globe artichoke could be grilled and added to a salad
Celery leaves on plants that we’ve left in the ground to see what happens
Some florence fennel that went to seed gives tasty fronds and flowers
Baby chard leaves give us colour and crunch, the ribs can be saved or lightly steamed to add to the salad
Bittercress and red kale, baby kale leaves are tasty raw
More kale and beetrrot tops
Baby turnip tops are good for salad
We cut a cross in the stump of cabbages when we harvest. The baby leaves are crunchy
We’ve allowed radishes to produce leaves and seed pods, mustardy crunch
Lettuce cocarde
Prostrate rosemary, primrose flowers and thyme can all be used now
Hop shoots, a salad ingredient to come
Chickweed, so bountiful and free to forage
These tomatoes have survived into the new year in the polytunnel
This wild rocket is doing well in the polytunnel
I’ve written a couple of recipes using chickweed. Enjoy!
that is inspiring! I never get on with radish leaves, a bit bristly, but maybe I am growing the wrong sort? just got my seeds from the Real Seed company, thanks to your recommendation. Really looking forward to growing new things and all the excitement that goes with it. X joanna
Carl
Hi Joanna
I loved the mental image of you dancing round your garden finding salads this morning. The radish leaves can be a bit furry. The Real Seeds people are brilliant and your excitement is infectious 🙂
Great idea, and I’m sure it will inspire others. If you’re “in the know” you can’t really go wrong with this one and it will be a wonderful way to follow the seasons.
Carl
Welcome back Mo, this’ll be a good one for the year 🙂
Debra
Great away to start the new year…..I am going to try seeding some micro-greens on the window ledge. location Vancouver ,BC, Canada.
Carl
Hi Debra
Love to see how you get on with that, we just planted some ‘spare’ mixed seeds for micro-greens. Good luck with yours 🙂
Looks like not so much of a challenge as a walk in the park for you! Really inspiring collection… I would never have imagined such greenery in mid-Winter.
Carl
Hi Nicola
It’s one of the advantages of not being too tidy with things and letting them take their course. I did a post on Emma’s blog about allowing things to shoot
And the chickweed and bittercress are a boon this time of year 🙂
Comments
14 responses to “52 Week Salad Challenge – January pickings”
I forgot that primrose flowers were edible. Now I have eaten my radicchio, this will bring some welcome colour to my salads – thank you
Hi Mel
Thanks for popping by, glad to be of some help. Radicchio such a rich colour for winter:)
Inspiring Carl but have just looked around my garden and found some chillies still clinging to a rather sad plane and that’s it!!
Oh Thane that sounds a bit sad 🙁
Are you being very tidy in the garden? We get some of the bonuses by not clearing up 🙂
that is inspiring! I never get on with radish leaves, a bit bristly, but maybe I am growing the wrong sort? just got my seeds from the Real Seed company, thanks to your recommendation. Really looking forward to growing new things and all the excitement that goes with it. X joanna
Hi Joanna
I loved the mental image of you dancing round your garden finding salads this morning. The radish leaves can be a bit furry. The Real Seeds people are brilliant and your excitement is infectious 🙂
Great idea, and I’m sure it will inspire others. If you’re “in the know” you can’t really go wrong with this one and it will be a wonderful way to follow the seasons.
Welcome back Mo, this’ll be a good one for the year 🙂
Great away to start the new year…..I am going to try seeding some micro-greens on the window ledge. location Vancouver ,BC, Canada.
Hi Debra
Love to see how you get on with that, we just planted some ‘spare’ mixed seeds for micro-greens. Good luck with yours 🙂
Carl, that is such an inspiration, thank you 🙂
Why have just 3 kinds of leaves in your bagged salad when you can have more than 10 from your own plot in January?
I’m pretty sure I’ll find Nasturtiums up at the allotment tomorrow…
Hi Michelle
So glad you started this challenge, we’re going to have so much fun 🙂
Looks like not so much of a challenge as a walk in the park for you! Really inspiring collection… I would never have imagined such greenery in mid-Winter.
Hi Nicola
It’s one of the advantages of not being too tidy with things and letting them take their course. I did a post on Emma’s blog about allowing things to shoot
And the chickweed and bittercress are a boon this time of year 🙂