[smellykipper]

Hi faulks we have just taken over a much bigger plot and would like an area just for our veg for Christmas dinner but dont realy know how to go about planning it, please help

spuds,carrots,brussels,parsnips 

many thanks
Daz

[New shoot]

Spuds - you are looking at maincrop, so they will take up ground from March until September, then you would lift them for storage in a cool, dark place.

Brussels - again they would be planted out March/April, then stand through the winter.  You'll need to net these to keep the birds off.  You could do a few winter cabbage as well if you build a brassica cage (easy to do with cheap/scrounged timber and some netting)

Parsnips and carrots - parsnips are usually planted around March/April as well and stand through the winter.  Carrots for main crop you can sow June/July, so you could grow a catch crop of turnips or beetroots in this ground beforehand.  Most folk lift main crop carrots and store them to prevent slug damage, but this depends on your soil. Some get away with leaving them in, but they will need some frost protection to keep the roots in good condition.

Remember root crops 'fork' or distort and grow multiple roots if they hit lumps, so no manure and get the big stones out of this piece of land.

I'd also suggest you get some leeks in if you have room, as they are a lovely addition to have and will stand all winter as well.

Growing all this together will confuse any crop rotation plans you have, but you could always use this patch for courgettes and squash next year and break up the rotation that way 

[smellykipper]

thanks new shoot, we also have a pollytunnel in our back yard if that will help in any way ?

Daz

[sunshineband]

We also have roast beetroot with our Christmas lunch, and a short row sown about May would be about right.

(and frozen runner beans  )

It is lovely planning ahead for a special meal 

[Steveharford]

Beetroot and runner beans with Christmas dinner ? It just don't seem right ! 😉

[New shoot]

thanks new shoot, we also have a pollytunnel in our back yard if that will help in any way ?

Daz

The traditional winter veg is tough enough to stand outside, but you could use that polytunnel to extend the season and grow some hardy salad leaves for Boxing Day or some oriental greens for the stir-frying with the leftover turkey   

Beetroot and runner beans with Christmas dinner ? It just don't seem right !

I'd happily eat roast beetroot with any meal - its luuurrrverly 

[peedee555]

if you can fit some kale in as well cavelo nero nice strong green nearly black lovely flavour stands forever

[peedee555]

could prob dothe whole veg bit re do some first early pots ,kale ,brussels,autumn king carrots parsnips and ifyou protect the curds some cauli and some leeks

[smellykipper]

thankyou all, the plan is to go up the allotment Christmas eve and dig our veg up, its the timing when to plant the veg im struggling with  not sure if i can even leave spuds in the ground until then ?
many thanks
Daz

[sunshineband]

Beetroot and runner beans with Christmas dinner ? It just don't seem right ! 😉

In our family it is de rigeur 

[New shoot]

You would risk a lot of slug damage leaving spuds in that late Daz, but you could pick the sprouts and lift the parsnips Christmas Eve.

Winter veg does all its growing during the summer and early autumn and just sits there waiting over the winter, so you are looking spring planting for most of it. 

If you wanted more variety to go and actually harvest Christmas Eve (rather than pull out of storage), you could expand your selection a bit and sow more stuff 

March/April - winter cabbage, sprouts, leeks, parsnips
April/May - swede, kale
May/June - beetroot, main crop carrots

If you have a good storage place (cool, dark, frost free), you could be also bringing out onions, your spuds, carrots and winter squash.

Your polytunnel could give you salad, fresh parsley and other leafy greens.

Have a scroll back through daily harvest and see what everyone else was bringing home in December.  Might give you some more ideas