Thursday 8 October 2015

October on the allotment: parsnips, beetroot and more weeding

I blogged a few weeks ago about looking forward to eating our first ever homegrown parsnips. I planted some tiny plug plants back in May. We've been watering our parsnips & watching the root vegetables grow bigger. I really wanted to eat them on Christmas Day, but impatient as ever, I pulled one up the other day. Well, it's not going to win any prizes in a beauty contest...but then homegrown veg is about taste over aesthetics. Or that's what I'm telling myself anyway...
allotment, beetroot, fun, growing, harvest, homegrown, organic, parsnips, recipe, soil, vegetable
parsnips, allotment, root vegetable, vegetable, growing
Magoo has worked her socks off helping out with watering over the Summer. Her favourite thing is to harvest the veg she has been lovingly pouring water over. We have had tons of beetroot this year. One of our favourite meals is 'pink mash'. You basically boil the beetroot with the skin on for about 20-25 minutes. You also boil some potatoes. Once the beetroot has cooked & cooled, you can easily pull the skin off. Then you grate the beetroot. Finally mash the beetroot into the potatoes with loads of creme fraiche, butter & seasoning. Magoo loves 'purple mash' with sausages from our local butcher & oodles of gravy.


The Russians call beetroot 'blood builder' and it is packed with amazing nutrients. I find the 'purple mash' recipe is a great way to get Magoo to eat beetroot. I also like to mix raw grated beetroot & carrot with a little oil, seasoning & some sesame seeds to make a simple dish to have with salad. Raw beetroot packs even more of a nutritional punch.
We've had a mild Autumn this year, so we've managed to spend quite a bit of time at the allotment. But it is getting to the time when the crops have been harvested and the beds are getting empty...and that's when the weeds take over! We've got to have a major Autumn tidy-up & then cover the soil for the Winter months. We have toyed with the idea of planting a green manure crop, but we haven't been organised enough this year.
That's the good thing about gardening & allotments - there's always next year to plan for.
This week I'm linking up with:
"How Does Your Garden Grow" over on the beautiful mammasaurus.co.uk

Mammsaurus HDYGG
"Whatever the Weather" over on www.lifeunexpected.co.uk and monkeyandmouse.co.uk
"Let Kids be Kids" over on letkidsbekids.co.uk
Country Kids over on the Coombemill Blog
Image of the Week over on www.trulymadlykids.co.uk













12 comments:

Unknown said...

so wonderful. and this post just made me so hungry. my belly is grumbling!

Amanda said...

The parsnip looks crazy amazing, love the unique characteristics of homegrown veg!

Happy Homebird said...

Beetroot is one of my favourites - roasted with tomatoes and blasted in the food processor with a little seasoning and creme fraiche, very nice on a burger or with a salad. Funny home grown veg is great :)

Unknown said...

I love your parsnip! I find it fascinating the shapes they can come out as and a great talking point with the kids as to why they look like that and not straight like shop bought. A great sized beetroot your little one has pulled out too, I must try your beetroot mash, it sounds delicious! I must confess I've only used ours for cakes... I really want to try making beetroot crisps next year, should be easy enough drying in the oven on low heat I think. Jealous of your allotment, Still waiting to hear about one for us, just got our little garden just now.
Thanks for linking up to #Whatevertheweather :) x

Stephanie 139a said...

Pink mash sounds perfect. And that parsnip it's just giving itself a hug :) #hdygg

chickenruby said...

Beetroot mash sounds great, i was watching a program the other day where they used Beetroot in a chocolate cake

Jibberjabberuk said...

I'm very impressed with your parsnip. I tried growing carrots last year and they turned out like shrimps!

Amy Johnson said...

That is one groovy parsnip! I am very envious of your skills, veg growing eludes me but I am determined to grow SOMETHING one day! Perhaps next year... :-) Lovely to discover your blog via #HDYGG xx Amy

Unknown said...

That parsnip is so impressive!!! We're going to plant some things for the first time soon. I'd love to have an allotment, but we're going to try and put a patch in the garden I think. Beetroot/purple mash sounds so yummy, I really must try this, beetroot really is so good for you.Thank you so much for sharing this on #whatevertheweather, Chloe - Life Unexpected x

Unknown said...

That is a funny looking parsnip! I love beetroot and love the sound of your beetroot mash. It sounds like your daughter did really well looking after the veg this summer.
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids

Coombe Mill - Fiona said...

I do love root vegetables and all the better when they are home grown from your allotment. I love how your allotment has become a family activity and I love watching the changes through the seasons with you. Pealing that parsnip will be a challenge and I love the Russian description for beetroot! Thank you for sharing with me on Country Kids.

A Green and Rosie Life said...

I am so glad you have parsnips, what-ever their shape. I really struggled to get my seeds to germinate this year due to cold spring weather but I have a cunning plan for next year that involves me collecting loo roll middles ;)

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