Cut air miles and eat our own growers’ produce
I don’t miss courgettes and lettuce in February. However, it appears that imported vegetable shortages from Spain and Italy due to bad weather are causing consternation among the chattering classes.
I’m all for DT Brown’s advice to rely more on seasonal produce and stored home-grown vegetables. Give me neeps and tatties or pan haggerty (Northumbrian casserole with meat or cheese, potatoes, and root veg – many variations) over a salad any winter day. Try these cheap soup recipes too for filling meals for the family.
Smart shopping and growing to cut vegetable shortages
Rachel Cole, of mail order seedsman DT Brown, believes in the maxim ‘that to every vegetable there is a season’. There is a wealth of natural winter croppers such as savoy cabbage, leeks, Brussels sprouts, parsnip and kale to eat.
Rachel said: “Most people know crops such as broad, runner and French beans are great for freezing. Do you know courgettes, spinach, asparagus, summer broccoli (calabrese), carrots and spring onions can also be frozen successfully for future use?
Vegetable shortages – Store grow-your-own winter crops
“In addition, onions, pumpkins, beetroot, and potatoes can be stored cool and dry for many weeks. In this way, you can keep families supplied with delicious and inexpensive fresh vegetables. Savvy vegetable growers know that, with a little planning, they can have fresh vegetables for much of the year at very little cost.
For more information, visit www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk.
