[janeheritage]

Perhaps the forum already has one of these, but if not, I'll start one!

My entry in the category "Best value plant" goes to my spinach beet.

I planted 2 lines of it, far too close together, 2 years ago when I started growing veg. Cost of seeds £1.95 and I used less than half the packet. All the care they have had has been (desultory) weeding and picking, plus a sprinkle of poultry manure and slug pellets a few times in the summer. Say £3 in total.

Since then it has been providing me with delicious leaf spinach substitute for all my cooking needs at a rate of 3 supermarket bags a week in the summer and 1 a week in the winter - 1 a fortnight in darkest January. Spinach is £1.40 a bag in Sainsbury's this week and I compute that at an average of 2 bags a week over 2 years these fabulous plants have saved me in the region of £140.

Ladies and gentlement, let's hear it for Spinach Beet!

Any other entries?

[Elcie]

I'm with you on the spinach beet.  Especially as I also use it when the leaves are small in salads so I have saved lots on lettuce and bags of salad leaves too!

[farmersue]

I have to agree, although it's not my favourite tasting veg. I think the humble beetroot should get a mention. It's so easy to grow and has a really long season, which can be extended by pickling it (although i prefer it hot with lots of butter - yummy). 

[Bombers]

Yep, I agree.. It's really good value. I've only got a 4ft row, as nobody else likes it!
But.. I think these will give it a run for the money....

 

[Ice]

You beat me to it Bombers.  It's the gift that keeps on giving.

[mumofstig]

Talking about a run for the money...........let's here it for the runner bean......just a huge yield for the space it takes up, and i think (as long as you wait to allow frosts to pass) foolproof.
And yes i am the sad sap that pays£!..how much!  .. to buy them in the winter as a treat when my frozen ones have run out. Of course have planted more this year

[janeheritage]

Curcurbits, hah! Don't even get me started.

When my neighbours saw me coming last summer they would run and hide in case I was trying to palm off more Early Prolific Straightneck Squash on them  .

There's just so much more you can do with spinach beet!

[Parsnip]

Yep, I agree.. It's really good value. I've only got a 4ft row, as nobody else likes it!
But.. I think these will give it a run for the money....

 

snigger snigger...

[mumofstig]

Norty..do you want your coat it's cold on the norty step tonight

[janeheritage]

Fnaa fnaa yik yik. Don't know how I missed that one earlier...

[Bombers]

Norty..do you want your coat it's cold on the norty step tonight

Steady Girls.... Or I'll post the wierd Carrot Pic!

[titch]

i nearly choked on me ice cream when i saw them ............................. ahem 

now that would have been a contender for 'thats life' (got to be arund 35 - 40 or over to get it!!!)

ooh wierd carrots - go on go on go on........................ you know you wnat to

i will go sit with snippy

[Bombers]

i nearly choked on me ice cream when i saw them ............................. ahem 

now that would have been a contender for 'thats life' (got to be arund 35 - 40 or over to get it!!!)

ooh wierd carrots - go on go on go on........................ you know you wnat to

i will go sit with snippy

D'ya really dare me?

[mumofstig]

O go on then...if it makes them happy but it's cold out there girls

[Bombers]

hehehehehe.......