Merry Christmas

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Christmas

Merry Christmas

I think Santa Claus will need a James Bond style sled tonight – one which converts into an amphibious vehicle to cope with all this rain and flooding. The weather is proving to be most unseasonable, but the mince pies are baked and the house smells deliciously of cinnamon, cloves, star anise and ginger from the spiced biscuits and braised red cabbage. The presents are all wrapped and spilling out from under the tree and the first round in the Welly household Christmas board game challenge has commenced.

I’m just about to mull some cider and settle down with my seed catalogues and start the agonising process of deciding what I want to grow next year, followed by the slightly tortuous stage of working out what I can actually fit into my growing space. Still, it’s fun poring over all those glorious images and dreaming of summer. And if I start now I might be ready to put in my orders at some point in January.

Whatever Christmas means to you and however you choose to celebrate I wish you a happy, peaceful time, and for those of us in the northern hemisphere there’s the knowledge that spring is creeping ever closer.

Wellywoman x

 

 

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In the Gloomy Mid-Winter

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Christmas, Chrysanthemums, flowering, light levels, winter

Dreaming of blue skies and sunshine

It was Boxing Day when it hit me. The lack of light is really starting to get to me. It happens every year, I’m fine up until Christmas and then with January looming, the short days and the lack of sun begins to feel oppressive. The weather so far this winter has been particularly dull with this corner of Wales swathed under a thick layer of cloud. I can’t remember when we last had some sunshine.

We were out walking the other day and I was looking up at the sky wondering how much light was actually getting through the cloud. Light levels are measured in lux. On a sunny summer’s day light will measure around 100,000 lux compared with only 5,000 on a dull winter’s day but worse still is that minimum lux levels for general office work is only 500 lux rising to 1,000 if more detailed work is being carried out. Is it any wonder people feel so gloomy in winter or when cooped up in offices?

Plants need sunlight to produce their own food but most need only around 10,000 lux to photsynthesise and reach saturation point at 12,000 lux. This sounds very low when compared to the 100,000 lux of a sunny day in June but then again is probably just as well bearing in mind the sort of summers we get here in Britain.

It’s not just the amount of light that plants receive that is important for growth but also the amount of time during the day that they are exposed to the light. Different plants have different points, known as the ‘critical period’ when the change in exposure to light triggers flowering. For some plants it is when the days start to shorten and there are longer nights, such as Chrysanthemums these are known as ‘short day plants’, for others it is when the days start to lengthen and nights get shorter such as Calendula, these are known as ‘long day plants’. There are also plants such as roses which don’t appear to be affected by these changes and they are known as ‘day neutral plants’.

Commercial plant growers can exploit the way plants respond to light in several ways. Some growers will artificially create short days when it is summer by excluding light for a specified time using blackout screens and likewise long days can be achieved by using artificial lighting that simulates actual daylight. These methods can be used to produce flowers when they would not ordinarily be available and also hold back plants so they don’t flower until required, for instance Poinsettias for Christmas.

Some growers use ‘supplementary lighting’ adding to the natural light levels to boost plant growth and crop production. This is mainly used at the end of winter and start of summer for seedlings and young plants.

Bedding plants such as Begonias and Tagetes are often germinated in ‘growing rooms’. These are spaces where all natural light is excluded allowing the grower complete control. Often the seedlings are exposed to light for 24 hours  a day until germination has taken place.

Knowing how plants respond to light is not just important for commercial growers though. We’ve all experienced how young plants bend towards the light. This is because the plant’s stem contains a growth hormone called auxin. Auxin collects mainly on the side of the stem that is in the shade and the bending towards the light is in fact the shady side of the stem growing more quickly that the other side. As growers we know to turn our plants and seed trays to allow even light exposure.

I find it fascinating how plants respond to light and that it is so complex and how humans have discovered how to exploit it. Although I do find it a bit depressing that some plants are pampered in glasshouses receiving the perfect amount of light when millions of humans are stuck in poorly light offices and spending a lot of their lives not getting the exposure to daylight they need to be happy and healthy.

If I was a plant I would definitely be a long day plant ready and waiting for those long summers’ days to start flowering.

For more information  http://www.biology-online.org/ is a very good website.

Merry Christmas

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Christmas

Last year's snowman

This will be my last post before Christmas, so I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

The weather has turned unseasonably mild again and I couldn’t find anything that was suitably festive to photograph. So I plumped for a photo of the snowman we made last Christmas, whilst staying with family. This time last year we were driving on the M5 doing 30mph because the motorway was sheet ice. We were snowed in for a couple of days at family in the north east and had no idea whether we would make it to our next destination, family in the Pennines. Fortunately we did, but how different the weather is this year.

My garden is looking more forlorn now. There are still a few flowers hanging on, some heleniums, primroses and a pelargonium. I’ve even got stocks flowering still at the allotment. We have had only 2 frosts and a little bit of sleet so far. It’s the Winter Solstice today and I spotted my first bulbs pushing through the other day, so although January can be a long, hard month to get through we are at least heading in the right direction. Not long now till we’re chitting those potatoes and ordering seeds.

Whatever you’re doing and wherever you’ll be this Christmas have a lovely time. Best wishes, Wellywoman x

The Holly and The Ivy

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Christmas, decorative foliage, holly, ivy

The Holly and the Ivy

Even with the mild Autumn we’ve had my garden is still entering its winter slumber. It is this time of year when evergreen plants such as holly and ivy come into their own and not only do we appreciate them in the garden but we also use them to decorate our homes.

For thousands of years humans have used plants to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Plants that were important to our ancestors have rich histories of folklore and superstition. Evergreen plants which live through the winter were believed to possess special properties and were held in high regard.

Holly and ivy have been linked with winter celebrations for thousands of years and as a result a mass of folklore has built up around the 2 plants.

It was believed that prickly holly represented the male and smooth holly the female. It was believed that holly had the power to ward off evil spirits which is why it was placed around doors and windows. The prickles would snag evil spirits before they had a chance to enter the home. It was also believed that holly could protect from lightning which is why holly was often planted near buildings. According to the website treesforlife.org.uk it has since been discovered that the spikes of holly do actually act as miniature lightning conductors.

It was believed that holly had an affinity with control, especially of horses and holly wood was used to make whips for coachmen.

According to Richard Mabey in Flora Britannica there was a widespread belief that misfortune would befall anyone who cut down an entire holly tree. He says this belief continued into the latter part of the 20th century. Apparently, in 1861, the Duke of Argyll had a planned new road rerouted to avoid having to cut down an old holly tree.(treesforlife.org.uk)

Before Christmas trees were introduced to Britain, during the reign of Queen Victoria, holly trees were actually known as Christmas trees.

Some believed it was unlucky to bring holly into the house before Christmas Eve. It was also thought that picking on Christmas Day would enhance its medicinal properties of treating gout and rheumatism.

The story that intrigued me most though is that of ‘Holming Day’ on 26th December, otherwise known as St. Stephen’s Day. Apparently in Wales it was the practice for young men to hit young women on their bare arms with holly branches until they bled. Ouch!!!! In some areas it was legs that were beaten and in other places it was the last person out of bed on that day. I can’t find any explanation for this but the practice continued until the end of the 19th century.

Ivy has been important since Greek and Roman times as a symbol of fertility and love. According to Richard Mabey goblets were often made from ivy wood in the belief that it would neutralise bad or poisoned wines. Ivy had strong associations with the Roman god Bacchus, the god of wine and drinking. This association is thought to explain why ivy was not held in such high regard as holly. Whilst popular with pagans, it was not brought into churches because of its link with drinking. Although, in Victorian times in came back into favour because of its beautifully, decorative foliage and came to symbolise marriage and fidelity.

I’d love to hear if anyone knows any other folklore surrounding the holly and the ivy.

 

Still no frost

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Christmas, Clematis, frost, Hellebores, Mother nature, Primroses, Spring, winter

November flowering Geranium

They said we’d have a frost on Tuesday. It was saying 4 degrees C when we got back from swimming at 9.30pm and it was a beautifully clear night. We were convinced that on Wednesday morning there would be the final act of winter decline in the garden. But no, there was no sign of a frost and there are still Verbenas flowering and Heleniums and Geraniums. It’s December next week. A part of me wants the frost to come to allow the garden its seasonal sleep. It’s just unnatural to have these plants flowering now. What will happen to them in the Spring? Will they have the energy to put on a show then or will they be too exhausted by this strange autumn we’ve had? A Spring without Primroses, well that would be unthinkable.

The other part of me however, the part that doesn’t really like Winter, wants this mild spell to last as long as possible. Cheaper heating bills, washing drying on the line and tasty lettuce growing on the allotment.

I love a snow covered scene, the chance to make a snowman and the beauty of a frost covered countryside. But the snow never stays looking crisp and even for very long, we rarely have enough snow (the past 2 winters being the exception) or the right snow to make a snowman and living in Wales there seems to be less frost covered countryside and more soggy foliage and muddy paths.

But the weather is one thing we can’t control, even though as gardeners we want to. So there is nothing else to do but wait and see what Mother Nature gives us. Who knows maybe I’ll still be picking stocks from the allotment at Christmas.

Having read this post I’ve realised it sounds a bit melancholic so to leave on a more cheerful note. I was reading through my gardening diary last night and was heartened by my entry on Tuesday 11th January 2011. It reads:’ I do get so excited when I see new life appearing in the garden. Snowdrops at the back are appearing and big fat hellebore buds. Scraped back some grit on the bulb pan and there’s a bud there too. So the baby irises should come up. Loads of buds on the Clematis. I don’t know why but I always worry the garden won’t actually regenerate in Spring. So I go around poking and pushing back the soil in the hope I will find signs of new life. I also found big fat Dicentras buds. Yey!’

Book Review – Home-grown Harvest

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allotment, Christmas, Home-grown Harvest, recipes, vegetarian cookbook

I’m always interested in finding new recipes, especially now that I have an allotment. Sometimes I just run out of ideas as to what to do with my produce. So I was particularly interested in this book, Home-grown Harvest when it arrived from the publishers.

The book is a collection of recipes designed to inspire people to use their home-grown fruit and veg in new and imaginative ways.

I liked how the book was divided up into sections which included ‘Root Vegetables’, ‘Fruiting Vegetables’ and ‘Tree Fruits’. Within each section there are several recipes for each of the fruit and vegetables mentioned. If, for instance you had too many courgettes (and who hasn’t been there!!) you could just go to that section and all the recipes would be together, rather than having to find the various recipes scattered throughout the book.

The book covers a good selection of ideas from main dishes and accompaniments to desserts and pickles. I particularly like the sound of the ricotta and cherry strudel, the apple and carrot bread with walnuts and a parsnip, chorizo and chestnut soup. The photography is gorgeous and everything looks yummy.

There are a few recipes that felt a bit like fillers. Most people who enjoy cooking have probably tried roast potatoes with some garlic and rosemary or roasted tomatoes. However, there are only a few of these and there are more than enough new ideas to interest the experienced cook. There are a good selection of completely veggie meals but it is by no means purely a vegetarian cookbook so will keep meat-eaters happy too. My main gripe was the sweetcorn, asparagus and goats cheese frittata. For a book promoting seasonal produce it seemed odd to include this recipe as it would be quite a feet to get asparagus and sweetcorn cropping at the same time!

I have yet to cook anything from the book but I am thinking of ideas for Christmas and I’m sure I’ll use some recipes from this book.

Thanks to Sarah at Ryland Peters and Small.

Available now from your local bookshop or on Amazon.

Microgreens – Update

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Christmas, microgreens, radish, salad cress, salads

Seed trays filled with microgreens

I posted a couple of weeks ago about growing microgreens for the first time. Well I just thought I would post an update on how they’ve done.

Despite the decreasing light levels I was surprised to see they germinated quickly and a week after sowing all the seeds had germinated. They grew quickly and less than 2 weeks after sowing I cut my first microgreens. You can cut them when they are about 5cms tall. I have found that the shorter days combined with a lot of dull weather has meant the seedlings have become very leggy. This isn’t really a problem though because I’m not growing them on to become proper plants.

So what do they taste like? Well they have a surprisingly strong taste. I didn’t expect things so small to pack such a punch. The radish in particular had a really good radish flavour and a good amount of heat and a kick that you would expect if eating a fully grown radish. It was quite strange. I used them just sprinkled on a salad.

Would I recommend trying them? Well I think its worth giving them a go, even if it’s just because you are able to grow something at this time of year. If you like salad cress then I think growing these are better because you are getting more variety of flavour and they all look a little different which looks more interesting. It does seem a little strange cutting these plants off before they get to make proper size plants but at this time of year they wouldn’t really grow much more anyway. So as a winter project they are ideal. At any other time of the year I think it would be a bit of a waste of seed though. You don’t need a lot because they have a lot of flavour which is just as well really if you wanted to feed a lot of people you would need quite a bit of space. I have 2 half seed trays on my kitchen window sill which will provide us with about 5-6 servings or should I say sprinkles.

I think they would be nice to do if you had a dinner party or maybe people round for Christmas and used them sprinkled over a starter or canapes.

I plan to try some more, maybe even mixing my own blends. I definitely like the idea of beetroot and herbs such as purple basil and coriander.

If anyone else gives them a go I would love to hear how you get on and what plants you’ve tried.