[Mrs Bee]

I have been right fed up lately, the broad beans have succumbed to the worse black fly I can remember, all bar 5 of my celeriac have gone to seed, and we have been playing catch up because of the family commitments.

But then Mr Bee came home today with loads of runners and French, gherkins, tomatoes, sack of spuds, courgettes and a 3 and a half pound red cabbage.

I have never grown red cabbage before and was worried I wouldn't get and firm head.

So I guess I won't be too fed up for a while. 

[bravemurphy]

Nice cabbage.

[snowdrops]

Looks great, as you say you win some,you lose some

[LottyLouis]

Oh, this is so true...gardening at its most surprising. Lost a few broad beans to the dreaded BF...all broccoli bolted, but...having the best carrot season ever. So far have had months of absolute crackers and still going strong. You gotta love this obsession of ours.

[tosca100]

That is a great looking cabbage Mrs bee 

Like you say, there is always something. We are having the opposite problem with a very long heatwave and my garden, which a month ago looked great, is now full of dessicated remains, despite watering. Toms are about the only things loving it, have even lost my outdoor melons.

And before anyone says how lucky we are, it is no fun living in temperatures hovering around 40C for extended periods of time unless you move to a country where this is normal, over a month and due to go well in to August. OH had to dig a hole and three feet down there is no sign of cool dampness you would hope to find. Last year many gardens got washed away multiple times. People will be going hungry for different reasons this year. You can't win!

[rosiecider]

wow you should be really proud of yourself what a specimum

[Mrs Bee]

We are quite chuffed. And there is a whole bed of them.

I feel some pickled beetroot and red cabbage about to be started and  I  have a couple of venison steaks which will go very well with some red cabbage with red wine and blackberries. the weather feels Autumny.

[jaydig]

You could win a prize in a show with that specimen. What a corker!

[Dave NE]

Home made pickled red cabbage and haddock from the chippy, what a combo, Dave

[sunshineband]

It wouldn't do if every season was the same, now, would it? 

Very nice cabbage too 

[Mrs Bee]

It wouldn't do if every season was the same, now, would it? 

Very nice cabbage too 

I suppose so.
But I was gutted like a haddock about the celeriac.  The celeriac harvest usually sees us through the winter for salads, soups and my own special celeriac bake.

I suppose I will have to see how much a sack will cost me at Spitalfields. But it goes against the grain buying it.

Not overly bothered about the broad beans but the celeriac. 

[Snoop]

it is no fun living in temperatures hovering around 40C for extended periods of time unless you move to a country where this is normal, over a month and due to go well in to August.

We're having bizarre weather too. The heat is unbelievable, and no let up. We're all of us in this household getting very fractious! Hard to credit, but in an ordinary year we'd have the wood-burning stove going for an hour a night in two months' time.

Mrs Bee, that is an absolutely gorgeous red cabbage. What variety is it?

[BumbleJo]

It wouldn't do if every season was the same, now, would it? 

Very nice cabbage too 

I suppose so.
But I was gutted like a haddock about the celeriac.  The celeriac harvest usually sees us through the winter for salads, soups and my own special celeriac bake.

I suppose I will have to see how much a sack will cost me at Spitalfields. But it goes against the grain buying it.

Not overly bothered about the broad beans but the celeriac. 

We look like having loads of celeriac but OH not keen on it.  Maybe your celeriac bake will convert him, have you posted the recipe on this site?  Keen to find recipes to use it up...


edit to clarify quote

[Mrs Bee]

It was DT Brown's red flare Snoop. It is an F1. I take no credit for it being so good.

All I did was to start it off in pots, plant out in one of our beds, the soil wasn't brilliant. The only thing I did was to push down hard to firm the roots in. Slug pellets and mesh over the top. Then I went away and left it.

OH has done most of the watering etc.

Celeriac recipes to tempt your OH BumbleJo.
Grated in a little lemon juice to stop it going brown and then mix in some grain mustard, mayo and a little crème fraiche.
Slice it thinly, mix with seasoning, garlic and crème fraiche and bake like a dauphinoise. Can also mix with sliced potato or parsnip.

Cook with equal quantity of potatoes and mash to top cottage, shepherds, pig herders or fish pie. A handful of chopped chives or spring onions goes well with that too.

Roast with a variety of other veg and seasoning and cloves of garlic mix with a little crème fraiche and cheese. Stick it in a dish and top with a crumble mix made without sugar but using grated cheese, nuts and herbs and  bake.

Our favourite accompaniment  is when I julienne it, season, mix with crème fraiche, garlic and bake until soft in the middle and crusty and golden on the top.

My OH was not keen on celeriac until I started making the baked one.

My nephew commented recently when eating with us, ' I don't know how you do it Auntie. You cook all the veg I detest and make it delicious.' My sister and I were gobsmacked at Winterval when he asked for seconds of my sprouts.

[BumbleJo]

Brilliant Mrs Bee, will definitely give those a try, they sound delicious!  Many Thanks.
Jo