The 6 Ultimate Vegetables to Grow for Self-Sufficiency

Self-sufficiency is a journey and one huge part of the journey is knowing how and where to start. In this video, a collaboration with Liz Zorab, we outline the 6 ultimate vegetables to grow for self-sufficiency as well as 3 great alternatives. Check out Liz's inspirational channel: / @lizzorab
Instagram: @huws_nursery
Facebook: / huwsgardennursery
Seed sponsor: www.organiccatalogue.com
Tool sponsor: www.bulldogtools.co.uk
Main Camera: amzn.to/2KCbn0k
Second Camera: amzn.to/2KkRoUA
Laptop: amzn.to/2KjT4hj
Drone: amzn.to/2tUYZy6
Microphone: amzn.to/2KvTikz
Second Microphone: amzn.to/2yXuRYJ
Tripod: amzn.to/2lQ77g1
HuwsNursery is a channel which dedicates itself to teaching you how to grow an abundance of food at your home. Videos are uploaded every week and cover a vast range of subjects including; soil health, sowing, transplanting, weeding, organic tips, permaculture, pest control, harvesting and low maintenance growing to name a few.
Subscribe here: kzbin.info...
Become a Patreon and help HuwsNursery GROW! / huwsnursery
With thanks to the support of my top tier patreons; William Shidal, Ben Porcher, Namaste Foundation, Valeria Letelier and Mike Moore
#selfsufficiency #permaculture #organicgardening

[@HuwRichards]

A huge thank you to Liz for being involved in this video and if you haven't already you should absolutely go take a look at what she's up to: kzbin.info/door/e0Ha5QljsCV5UqIkobBrcQ 🌱

[@LizZorab]

Thank you for inviting me to do this collab with you, it was good to think carefully about which veg I value the most as staples for the kitchen. The light in your garden was superb when you were filming this, much nicer than the drab grey day were having in SE Wales!

[@LarsEelke]

Maybe you could do a video together about how to start a succesfull aspergus bed? I'd be interested

[@GardensforLife]

Well done another great video! Thanks for making them.

[@gardeningwithjake3719]

Go go go

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

You don't need to blanch Bread beans, that is not a great way to store them imo. In My opinion drying is best and just simply soak dry beans in water overnight to then cook. Do the same for most types of beans.

[@deanfowles3707]

Huw. Just want to say, young man I cannot thank you enough, you are helping me out of my environmental dread relate depression. Thank you sir from the bottom of my heart.

[@HuwRichards]

You are most most welcome. Here's to a good 2022!

[@dannygooyer5926]

We really need to focus on the positive, the good things.

[@zoerowntree9285]

I bought a pack of 30 asparagus seeds and now have 29 plants; we picked a few spears at the end of summer to test them and got a second crop due to the weather. The $5 pack of seeds gave us $240 worth of plants.

[@ahmedsaiyed5604]

RIP that 1 plant 🥲

[@RoSario-vb8ge]

Beetroot: very delicious cooked in coconut milk, broth, ginger, lemongrass(oil), cardamom - can be eaten with basmati rice or by itself. Also the leaves are very tasty, prepared like spinach.

[@nomathembazwedala7704]

Thanks Ragin I never knew that you can cook beetroot in so different ways either than roasting and making salad. I have a beet patch, I will try this recipe tomorrow.

[@minnesconsinprepping7856]

LOL!!

[@mariaharding5998]

LOVE the sound of this!!!

[@TylinaVespart]

Can’t even wait until I move somewhere with a garden. Currently living vicariously and plotting what I will do

[@robertduda4234]

Surely that is play on words "plot"

[@TylinaVespart]

@@robertduda4234 Of course it is =)

[@wholeNwon]

I knew a lady who had multiple paddocks for her horses. One was about 4 acres and at the appropriate time, she would move the horses (mostly hunters and a couple of saddlebreds) to a different field. Then the asparagus would come up and fill the first field. Everyone for miles around got free , well-fertilized vegetables. Asparagus used to grow wild along the back roads in the southern part of our state but then the gov't. decided to spray herbicide along the roadsides. Damn!

[@1s1lee]

Also egyptian onions (walking onion) is fun to grow. You can eat the whole thing and it creeps spreading around. It also survives through winter here (by here I mean Germany).

[@groundedapproach]

I agree. They’re magic for me in qld. Planted once, take from them frequently and they just reappear without taking over my yard.

[@buckaroobonzai2909]

I'm always amazed at the differences in culture and how it differs from region to region. I'm in PA here and American gardens are so different. This guy probably knows at least 12 wizards... just like as friends. I learned in American public schools that England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and those other places over in NotAmerica can do things like growing magic beans, enchanted potatoes, and mystical turnips, or summoning dragons and pursuing agriculturally relevant quests that would take an American 8 years of college education to understand and achieve.

[@Foxkitten86]

That was hilarious! We live near Yeovil, in Somerset, UK. My daughter has a glorious garden, backed up with goats, ducks and chickens, plus foraging. She has quite a nice relationship with the fairies that live at the bottom of the garden. She keeps the troll under the bridge in Saturday evening beer too.

[@judithbellamy4430]

Thanks to you both, I'm returning to gardening after three years serious illness. The plot was terribly overgrown and the greenhouse was very sorry for itself and needed one pane replaced. Well greenhouse totally full of tomatoes (8 different varieties) cucumbers mini two plants, 4 types of beans , I've also got a huge range of summer bedding but I'm putting rainbow leaf beet, parsley and bush toms in the flower beds and hanging baskets. You can include a range of Chinese veg, kale, salad leaves in two types, peppers sweet in two types and peas including snow, mange tout, sugar snap and ordinary. Not bad for a start, plus I've planted my potatoes (first early, early and salad) and renewed and revitalised my strawberries, well about half anyway. I will be saving runners to replace the other half. I'm extremely proud of the giant trugs my hubby built me they're about waist height and 5' long X 4' wide and I have two. You're an inspiration to me so keep filming.

[@lindaliriel]

Hi, I know this post is old, but I just bought a house with a garden. The garden has not been tended to for at least 6 years, closer to 10. It's completely ovegrown with bittersweet nightshade, pokeweed, virginia creeper and other agressive weeds. What did you do to takle it? I would really rather not use a herbicide

[@EMSpdx]

1) I would swap out beets for turnips- like beets, you can eat both the tops and greens, and turnips turn sweeter in the winter. 2) I would also consider Asian greens like mizuna, tatsoi and chrysanthemum (yes, the flowering plant) into a mix if you have a relatively mild-ish winter. They overwinter well, are delicious and very versatile in dishes. 3) Sweet potatoes! Again, a great source of calories from carbs AND has good health benefits, plus you can eat the leaves as well!

[@SteadfastTrailFarm]

Tatsoi is the best! Mine lasted from late summer through winter last year!

[@christygarcia4843]

You say turnips, they say swedes. Same thing, but Americans call them turnips, while the British call them swedes. And I just a few months ago read about eating sweet potato greens. They are excellent!

[@ciarfah]

I wouldn't say that brits call turnips swedes. Swedes are a very specific type of turnip, but the type you mean varies by region

[@TM.BECK14]

​@@christygarcia4843 What the UK calls swedes are actually what the US calls rutabagas, not turnips. They're a bit similar but not the same vegetable. Different regional common names can definitely get confusing, tho!

[@sleeplessinthecarolinas8118]

Brilliant collaboration! Thank you!

[@ritamccartt-kordon283]

Wonderful presentation! We live in the State of Tennessee, USA. We grow very similar crops here. We are in zone 6b. We grow several types of beans. Mostly those that are dual purpose. Fresh eating, canned and dried beans. We grow beets. Onions, garlic, but haven't grow leeks, yet! We have always grown greens. I just found you both today! I have subscribed to both of you. GOD bless

[@dugchris2009]

Thanks Huw and Liz! Great information as always. God bless you both!

[@junethejoonebug3880]

Hi Huw! You and Charles are my most watched videos because you are both so helpful and thorough. I'm 78, have had cancer, and will be growing organically in containers. Your hacks are great and very helpful. I live on the Eastern Shore of Virginia ( mid Atlantic) and in zone 7, bordering on 8. Look forward to getting your book . Thanks!

[@ladyjrider666]

What a great video and cross over of favourites. Thanks Liz and Huw

[@rowinggranny5216]

Thank you both so much for this. I had a huge success with leeks last year in a small garden they are in amongst flowers and any space i could find, growing even more this year. Broad beans were also amazing so they are going to be there too. All thanks to your first book Huw.

[@howitworksforme]

Thank you! Both! I really really enjoyed yout collab!

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Absolutely inspiring! Thanks guys!!!

[@giojared]

Great video! Stay safe, stay healthy, and grow on!

[@thomasfuchs9451]

I love the idea planting into old tires as mini raised beds/pots. Will do this for shrubs and and new fruit trees now! Thank you

[@petrastuder7981]

Love your collabs with Liz!! Thank you for another informative video!!

[@jhamptonjr]

I love our Kentucky cabbage dish: a square of aluminum foil, place a half head of cabbage in the middle with a Tbsp of butter, a tsp of sugar, then season to taste. Wrap the sides of foil and seal with foil wrap. Bake in a 300 degree oven for an hour. Best summer dish!

[@Tinyteacher1111]

Yum!!!

[@kiwiworldview318]

John Hampton thanks for this tip John, will have to try it.

[@bethanskitchengarden]

Great video Huw and Liz, loads of helpful advice and a great selection of veg, I love and grow them all 😊

[@Mrbfgray]

Love the ideas here. LOVE leeks! For me in California trees and bushes offer the most for the effort, citrus and avocados can provide yr. around (given enough variety) and as much as I enjoy messing in the dirt, trees don't require much time after established.

[@michaelmcclafferty3346]

A very enjoyable and informative video. Thank you both. You make a great team! I'm looking forward to your joint new channel.

[@captnodge]

Such a great little programme Thank you lovely people

[@piacharlotteteien3802]

A Jerusalem artichoke is also a very very good vegetable. It is perrenial and also very heathy😃

[@mikeharrington5593]

Gotta eat in moderation because they induce bloating & painful flatulence if you overdo it. You can't eat them in the same sized portion as say potatoes - though some say over time you can condition your gut to them so that you can eat larger portions.

[@jonpittman4692]

its leaves were used for animal fodder; mules, horses, and goats especially

[@Ed19601]

They are great but indeed can cause some flatulence

[@lorraineg8134]

New book is brill. Well done you two. God bless.

[@zeospike]

Great Collab! I never knew you could leave runner beans in the ground, want to give that a try now. Also the kale flowers, i cut some of these yesterday after I discovered they could be eaten - great to know they keep coming back!

[@rebellionpointfarms6140]

Love it. Thank you Both. I agree with you on the kale flowers. they are great. i can grow kale year round in my zone.

[@roybrookton7938]

Thank you Huw and Liz for sharing this video, well put together, happy gardening from Roy of WESTERN Australia

[@GregTMann]

I’m with Liz, maple and parsnip cake is amazing!

[@nicholasdriscoll5704]

Liz I like how you hung a plant tray in the hoop how creative! Thanks Huw Richards excellent video!

[@danielarichter2453]

I also did… such a nice and obviously well- working idea

[@mamaduck6845]

Lots of nice info, thank you. I was surprised you didn't include garlic, shallots & brussel sprouts.

[@emmajukes1]

Awesome video Huw and Liz! I would say one of my favourites to grow is dwarf french beans, they produce huge amounts of crops, and require no supporting structure so perfect for beginners. I also love growing beetroot, and can never seem to grow enough of it each year!

[@davidthescottishvegan]

Excellent gardening video and tips. I started my broadbeans in February in the ground but have also started some in a seed tray in March at home and the March ones seem to be doing better than the ones sown directly. The ones in the ground are slowly germinating so hopefully I will have a crop of Sutton broadbeans this year and I will be planting the broadbean plants either this month or next.

[@monicaraney5649]

This is a fantastic video. I appreciate tyne useful growing and cooking information provided with each.

[@dorothyhopkins5460]

Love this video well done both of you. I am going to grow the Greek Gigantes beans after seeing them on Liz’s site. Have also ordered some asparagus but know I will have to wait a couple of years. I just hope it will grow OK here in Scotland.

[@donnacrawford5087]

I love the realism of this production from both of you. A heartfelt thanks for your important information. x

[@charleyfolkes]

Thanks for the great videos and for having Liz and Charles on your channel as well ! I love the ‘Swede’ as you say, ‘Rutabaga’ in the USA, and l like the idea of the crops that are happy staying in the ground also. I expected to see potatoes on the list and wonder why not since they are so easy and common.

[@lilcricket4379]

This is exciting! Salsify has a nice oyster nuance. Such a Perfect selection for our house. I would like to try mushrooms too.

[@hbrws813]

Here in the U.S., this info is more important now than it was last year, it seems. Thanks for your thoughts, sharing your experience, and your encouragement.

[@T_B1]

I watch gardening vids from around the world. They all have useful tips and you can adapt the conditions they grow in to yours. 😁

[@dstcfsg9043]

We just purchased 20 acres in Missouri. I can’t wait to get my garden going next year (hopefully). These are so informative. Thanks!

[@katewhitehouse4836]

Spinach, ramps, rhubarb, butternut winter squash, garlic. Potatoes, winter cabbage, Brussels sprouts. Snow peas , mache, miners lettuce, fiddleheads, baby lettuce and other greens...

[@greeneyedlady5580]

What are ramps and fiddleheads? Also swedes?

[@gimpbubba]

Love the collaborative Videos Huw!

[@hawkeye9382]

I love leeks also! Great mild flavor. Very versatile.

[@jenniferbailey44]

For sharing Huw. Useful to know which vegetables to start with and can be relied upon.

[@babochon]

Thanks for your suggestion. I am going to grow leeks this year. Yup~!

[@SafetyHandles]

Great information Huw and Liz. Off to check out Liz's "which seeds to plant in Spring" next. Also, like the tip given below about multiple harvests of leeks and onions by leaving the root in when harvesting (Gravefri below).

[@BaltimoresBerzerker]

Giant "red" (actually purple) mustard greens are very resilient! Grows through all seasons, all soils even pure wood chips, and when it goes to seed the babies will even grow in sidewalk cracks! Easily transplanted. If you fail to grow this plant, something is very wrong lol. Also, if allowed to go to seed, the small flower branches dry to a perfect straw. One of the finest mulches I've ever used.

[@avlifeguard92]

I completely agree with this. Grew it for the first time two years ago, they just keep appearing everywhere, which is a plus because we love eating them. Plus I find them incredibly beautiful to look at too!

[@s.leemccauley7302]

I will have to try it.

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Great collaboration 👌 I'm in Windermere, Florida zone 9b. I've been Gardening for over 50 years and I am still learning. I started a KZbin channel 6 months ago to help all the new gardeners out there. But I am still learning and enjoy your no-nonsense channel. I also enjoy Liz's channel. Well done to you both. 👩‍🌾🌿👍

[@paolomaggi8188]

I think your videos are the best! This is due to the fact that you add other interesting videos. So, watching your videos is like consulting an encyclopedia of the garden

[@jajphotog77]

I like the 1 to 2 ratio of onions to leeks. I have a horrible time storing onions so this will be a great fresh alternative. And the bit about keeping bean plants thru the winter is awesome! Thank you Huw and Liz!

[@joinmeinthedirt5186]

We are enjoying our Broad beans (Fava) right now. We plant ours in November zone 9B for a cover crop and enjoy eating them in March.

[@renatehaeckler9843]

Great video! It's so interesting seeing how different gardening is in your country. In the US I don't know anyone who grows leeks but they all say onions and garlic are super easy. But then again there's a supplier in Texas that starts onions from seeds and sells the young plants in bundles of 50-100 for pretty cheap across the country, so they're pretty easy to grow that way, you just plunk them in the ground. I'd add spinach. The variety 'Bloomsdale Longstanding' will last through the winter and then when the weather warms up in February-March they grow like crazy making leaves 13 inches across that are mild and tender.

[@marilynheinrichs7287]

I just got your new book! I love it. keep making great videos!

[@bernardpare2509]

I really like your approach . Merci !

[@patriciahill1101]

Huw, I am such a fan! You are so generous and collaborative. Such an inspiration in all regards...

[@lilolmecj]

Such great advice to take your cue from nature! Every year I will be worrying about when to plant my potatoes, then one I missed the previous year pops up a plant, and I know it is time. Same with moving my tomatoes to the garden. When the volunteer tomatoes are 4” tall my greenhouse grown can be moved.

[@fionaanderson5796]

Broad beans can be allowed to dry and be stored on a shelf. They are then soaked oveernight and can be added to casseroles or ground up with parsley and a few other ingredients to make falafels. I'm sure other beans would also work. I've only done falafels with broad beans or chickpeas. They are nicer if you take the skins off the beans after soaking (no need with chickpeas), but that's time consuming. Beetroot is versatile as the leaves are also edible. Use them like chard - baby greens in salad, wilted as a side dish, chopped into soups and stews. I do like the roots roasted. I love leeks. Leek and bacon quiche is amazing. Leek, bacon and roast pumpkin makes a great topping on pasta.

[@lilolmecj]

Fiona Anderson I grew the broad beans as an experiment and because they have an attractive plant. They are way to labor intensive. Give me a Lima bean any day.

[@jackstone4291]

Like your leek/onion comparison and agree good to swap between the two and mix them together too in dishes. Lovely

[@JafoolyPorchers]

Oddly only the other day was suggested the video u made with liz! Great work guys!

[@SteadfastTrailFarm]

I've learned I am not a fan of runner beans for fresh eating but they are great as dried beans for soups and chili! Thanks for the great collaboration video!

[@thefarmtrepreneur-building6539]

I agree with the lady. Stringless vine beans are amazing and produce a LOT of green beans or white beans. Absolutely love their versatility

[@MrNordulf]

My list 1. Tomatoes 2. Gherkins 3. Beets 4. Carrots 5. Beans all type 6. Peas

[@TeachThem729]

I love that bean slicer! :0)

[@arichards4272]

My family is from Wales, and ( same last name ) just found your amazing channel ! We now live in western Canada, but the temperature and climate is very similar!

[@clairespace3371]

Great programme. Also the one on using Grass. Am harvesting weed leaves to put back in the veg patch. Thank you!!!

[@sarahebart]

Well done, Huw. Such a good video. I'm so glad you're putting this great info out there in a time such as this.

[@yukey2587]

I agree with the planning. You can plan to put quick growing companion crops between your slow grow in crops in succession, and get more food from the same area. Radishes for instance: radish leaf soup, fresh radish in a salad, roast radish then pickled or kimchi for winter.

[@leladoksa]

I am new in growing.well, anything. An urban woman moved to a very rural foresty area. Love watching your videos. Thank you, ver helpful and motivational

[@elainewoosey8352]

I like growing swede too, but the woodlice also love them. Two swede I have just harvested had large deep holes with woodlice still inside. Thanks for the tips, you've both given me some great ideas.

[@HuwRichards]

Oh I haven't come across that yet - thanks for sharing your experience!

[@ThatGardener]

I think pumpkin and cassava are also super useful to grow and versatile for many dishes and hardy for any weather. We enjoy eating their leaves and roots and it’s a loving plant that keeps on giving!

[@lindahipple4817]

Hi Huw and Liz, great video, thankyou. I'd add a hard neck and/or soft neck garlic to the list. Soft neck is a better keeper so if space is a premium chose a variety that matchs your taste. I love the mixed early leafy greens like the mustard family, and Kales, easy to grow and save seeds. Pole beans, and Potatoes, I grow 6 varieties of potatoes for the kitchen and gifts. Sunflowers help bring in pollenators and song birds, then reseed themselves. Woody herbs are a must for great cooking flavors too. All above you can either dehydrate or freeze-dry for off season storage. God bless.

[@Sukerkin]

So good to have the two of you together on this :). Two sensible and authoritative voices guiding us towards a better grasp on growing things

[@karenb221]

You and Liz are a real inspiration. We are starting our first raised veg patch in the garden. It's been a few years since I had an allotment and it's wonderful to get back to growing our own veg, spending time in the garden and connecting with nature Thank you 🙂

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much Karen and I hope you have an excellent growing season :)

[@Kkffoo]

I really enjoyed this video, thank you for the ideas and inspiration.

[@izzzzzz6]

This has been a great sucsession of videos (the order i just got them in and the tie in with the corona.) I have a crap load of kale in this year after failing to keep up last year. I need that hungry gap filled 24/7 Kale chips here we come! Oh. for me, the hungry gap is constantly between meals.

[@edw8889]

I’ve been watching your videos since u were a kid. Great info

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

Great, thanks. The 'humble ' beetroot is magnificent for health and well being... and beautiful straight from the garden.

[@ThatGardener]

I agree it’s one of our favorite also to grow

[@jeanque04]

Amazing thank you so much for sharing 😊 greetings from Belgium

[@KenHJones]

Great Video. Really useful content. I love the way the two of you agree to disagree in such an amicable manner. The only one you missed for me is Courgette. So easy in the summer, and a great encouragement for people just starting out.

[@tarren452]

Sometimes too abundant! My parents were quite poor when they got their first home and so my mother tried growing more of their own veg - nothing grew except the courgettes which produced a huge glut. They ate courgette soup, cake, you name it they had the courgette version as they had to work with what they had! To this day neither of them will touch a courgette since then 😂

[@deniseyounger6004]

I love leeks chop and freeze them and it always helps to add flavour

[@lindasands1433]

Liz is the 1st person I've heard of who leaves the runner bean plants in. I learned this by accident! Great accident! 😁 Thanks for this video. I thought you would mention the good old 'spud' for self sufficiency

[@anneirenej]

Oh so glad you put in beets. I find them to be a huge crop. i eat the greens and the roots. I put little plantings of them all over the garden. I wanted to also add... grow what you love... and with kale be sure to try all the different kinds because they are all a bit different but kale is sooo wonderful. There are more kinds than the dino kale.

[@marilyncloud6067]

I'm new to your channel and enjoying and learning a lot. One thing we are doing is dehydrating our veggies and with many things powdering and putting in capsules. That way you get more nutrition in a small capsule and ingest foods you may not like to eat. Thank you for all the knowledge you are sharing.

[@RobertsBulgaria]

Would definitely include Cabbages and Potatoes in my Growing List for Self Sufficiency at my Bulgarian Smallholding. .

[@jeffreymorris9776]

Huw, thanks so much for always putting out such well produced, informative videos. You're awesome.

[@lindapenney5207]

Awesome Huw will try some later today to sow lovely update

[@ienekevanhouten4559]

Great video! Broad beans can be a challenge in a different climate. They like that long cool spring of a maritime climate. When it gets too warm, over 20C they will grow and bloom but not set a lot of fruit. I love them but am often disappointed, especially in years when the snow leaves late and then a few weeks later it is hot

[@Thorn99855]

I agree about the beans. Also love carrots. They are so easy. And Swiss chard is so darn tasty. I greatly prefer it over kale.

[@rosiabbott253]

Did field beans this year...very abundant, smaller but high producing and winter hardy. Nice early crop too...eat the tops, as spinach, then the beans

[@cretialaisure6804]

Nicely made video! Informative and visually appealing. Yet I feel the best advice for self sufficiency is to grow what you and your family will eat. Things that will stay good in cool storage for a good period of time, potatoes, winter squash, bulb onions. Things that add flavor like garlic and herbs. Maybe 6 was to low of a number to include such things, but I think they are important to help prevent food fatigue.

[@georginacrowe4943]

I heavily munched my broad beans when they were at the end of their productive period instead of lifting them and most of them regrew the following spring. I live in South East Australia.

[@georginacrowe4943]

Mulched not munched, hahahaha.

[@cek7940]

That made me lol! Thank you ;)

[@georginacrowe4943]

Damn auto correct, hahaha!

[@Heliotropka]

I have left undergrown and dead fennel in the ground for a winter (simply run out of time to clear all the beds) and it sprouted this year from the old roots. (I am based in Scotland, Fife) Also the spring onions I planted late last year, never managedto grow large enough but right now in May they are ready to eat! As for self sustainability which I am aiming at at least with vegetables, for me an absolute must are Potatoes. You can store them overwinter if you have good crop, amd as a Polish I could not live without them hahah. But I agree with you Huw Swede is great too and it is really good for your gut healt, it is anti-candida food, good alternative to balance your gut bugs when you might be eting a lot carbs. I am also growing asparagus, and trying more other perennials (mostly fruits such black;red;white & pink currants, honeyberry, blueberries, raspberries, jostaberry, goospberry and fruit trees such apples, cherries, pljm and pears) as lowering amounts of work is always welcomed.

[@RobinL4715]

I figured the 6 would be tomatoes, potatoes, beans, cabbage, carrots and onions. Here in Florida, we have 2 opportunities to get crops and sweet potatoes and peppers grow in the heat of summer (Zone 10a). Enjoyed the collaboration with Liz- just found your channel and am binge watching to catch up!

[@jeanettegoodier3495]

A great big thank you Huw. Bought hubby your recent book for his birthday last month, a perfect gift, and gratefully received as he managed to get half an allotment plot two months ago. Take care, stay safe 😊 April 4 2020

[@HuwRichards]

Awh thank you so much and I hope he really enjoys his allotment! :)

[@elizabethflynn8455]

All great choices,Huw. 🙂

[@owenwhitman6616]

My family uses a lot of carrots during winter and spring here in zone 5. Use a tall marker (to find them in deep snow) and leave a long, narrow shovel in the garden and you'll be harvesting all winter long. Mix it up a bit with a few different colors and your dark winter soups will be full of the colors and flavors of summer.

[@davidford694]

Swiss chard is cold hardy, full of nutrients, and very productive per square foot. Winter hardy in temperate climates, particularly if you use a plastic cloche to cover it.

[@meridianx9020]

Thanks for the tip about the cloche. I've just started veggie growing and have planted Swiss chard for winter use, so a very timely piece of info!

[@wiremyear8989]

I inherited a plot a few years ago with a couple of chard plants which I let go to seed. It self-seeded all over the place and I've had more than I can eat ever since - the only work has been harvesting it. I eat the young leaves raw. It's there all year and just gives and gives. I'm in SE England and it goes through the winter fine. Brilliant!

[@lizpalmer5804]

Swiss chard is virtually the only veg I'm harvesting now. Brassicas fed the pigeons & magpies, polytunnel cover blew away, & oriental veg went straight from mini seedling to flowering overnight. Got my revenge by eating flower heads of mizuna & mustards - v tasty 😋

[@Katie-sx5kf]

One lovely thing about swiss chard is that, if it re=seeds itself all over the place (which I encourage and actively assist), you can dehydrate and grind the leaves to make a wonderful "green powder" with any other excess greens (e.g. spinach, mustard, kale, turnip, beet greens) that can be added to all kinds of soups, stews and smoothies year round.

[@philomenamills3272]

I agree with you about the swede, Liz, I've never been able to grow a decent sized swede…parsnips all day long!😊

[@farmerchick3040]

I've only grown big ones when I direct sow in early spring and don't pick them untill the fall. I will say they are not as sweet when they get very big.