My Bride took this foto after we had harvested all the remaining leeks in the veggie plots. I'll tell you one thing though, it is a real bonus having city water on our allotment. There are water points along the paths, but to have one right in your garden is so convenient even though we mostly use the water from our three rain barrels. You can see the weeds happily lolling about between the paving tiles and on the side of the path. They are making the most of the neglect that has worked in their favour first the heat wave, then during the rain wave. These weeds are lucky now with the sopping-wet soil and frequent rains; but that is all going to change according to our weather stations. We will begin by cleaning up the perks and putting them to bed for the winter, but then it will be time to pull, cut, strim and dig out the interlopers. We lifted twenty-three leek plants I believe and here is where they came from. Note the broccoli on the left and the parsnips on the right side of the bare patch. There were two rows of leeks in that small patch. You can't help but notice the wetness of the soil and path tiles, right? Well it was raining off and on during the time we were there. It finally became to cool and heavy, so we packed it in and headed for the harbour. When we made it home, of course it was first a cuppa and bikkies after drying off. Our work day was not over though...oh no, we would not rest on the laurels of our accomplishments--we had to process the haul. The sooner after lifting, the better they will be when frozen-in. Here is the bag full of the leeks: The area as we work our way through the harvest: It's in the bags and then in the freezer: There were sixteen bags of the cut leeks. Well, this is not bad; however, we still have some broccoli and parsnips that will need to be harvested and processed. Where we will put them is anyone's guess. The drawers below this in-freezing space, are already full of veg. Dear, oh dear.
Those leeks are beautiful and look delicious ... yum!!! I think we have some leeks in the fridge and will have them for lunch with udon and charshu, yummy!!! It's only 9:00am and thinking of it is making me hungry!!!
Please tell your bride I really love her still life photo. That really is a good description of it. I love the multiple shades of green and the centerpiece of the white leeks in the chartreuse trug. How do I nominate this for photo of the month?
Okay you "enablers"! Between Sjoerd and Odif, I'm convinced I simply must try leeks. Wish me luck, please. Cayuga, Frank has a good eye for photos, and that one of the leeks in the trug, with all the greenery around it will certainly be in the running for photo of the month, Who could pass that up?
MG glad to hear it (re trying leeks). I have pretty much found them to be a no fail crop... At least where I live. And their flavor is subtle but really nice. So I hope @Frank sees that photo.
Thanks very much, KK-- I am particularly fond of leeks too. Chuckle...thanks a mil, CAYU--I shall tell her and let her read the posts. She made the foto because it showed a lot, she called her foto a "still life" with tongue in cheek to make it sound like a painting done by an Old Dutch Master. She is right though, there are a few things to see on the foto, like the veggies still growing, the water point, the greenhouse, corner of a bee hive some fading flowers and of course the pernicious and relentless weeds. Rrrrrrgh. You are too right that they are usually easy to grow. If the leek fly or leek moth comes by though, the crop can be severly damaged. I had that last year or the year before. So sad was that. Hang on ODIF-- spring is just around the corner. JANE--I appreciate your comments so much...the Bride, she is smiling. ...And to think, the foto was not staged or composed...I had just finished washing them to take home and in she came and...."CLICK". Do you really think she has the eye for fotos?
Cayu---you're gonna make her head swell. I'm calling the architects now to increase the lateral width of the door facings. May I send you the bill? chortle.
OK - your photos have convinced me "I" must again try leeks!! I've grown them before but never realized how to keep and store them. Are you really just chopping them up and putting them into the freezer? Are you cooking, steaming, blanching or doing anything else to them? Or just cutting them into chunks and freezing? If that is all their is I never realized it was so easy!! And, if that IS all it is NOW I'm scratching my head as to why in all these years I've never known this?
Hi Island. Yes, that is all I do-- wash, slice and bag... then directly into the freezer they go. We do blanch most other veggies, but not the leeks. It is only fair to say that when you defrost them to cook in a meal, the leeks are very small, not crispy like when they come out of the ground. What does not change is the taste, that remains delicious. **More precisely-- First you cut the leeks lengthways through the middle (they are easier to clean and deal with this way). Then you cut segments about one centimetre wide. Thanks so much, Hummer.
