Pak Choi Ahoy

Harvests Continue into December

Ellie showing off our pak choi

We might have been experiencing proper wintry weather of late, but despite the rain, frosts and freezes we are harvesting more at this time of year than ever before. Outdoors we still have plenty of radicchio to pick for the salad bags — bringing a welcome bitterness to the mix along with its striking deep purply reds. We still have rocket to harvest outside too — a really hardy salad leaf, this one. Our outdoor kohlrabi and fennel have now finished, but the chard and kales should keep us well supplied until the end of the year.

For the rest of the harvest we head into the cover of the polytunnels. On a sunny day it can really feel like summer in there, and the crops love it as much as we do. There is a plentiful supply of mixed salad leaves growing across the three polytunnels, but our pride and joy this week is the pak choi — proudly displayed by Ellie (top). It’s a wonderfully versatile winter green that brings a fresh, crunchy lift to any dish. Its juicy stems and leaves cook in minutes, making it perfect for stir-fries, broths and noodle dishes — or simply sliced raw into a salad for a mild, peppery crunch. Despite its delicate flavour, pak choi is hardy and reliable in cooler weather, happily thriving in our tunnels while many other crops slow down.

Unfortunately, we haven’t got quite enough for all the veg bags — perhaps you’ll be one of the lucky ones!

Spot the gardener!