Veg Talk – January 2026

Beetroot need regular watering whilst growing then it should be able to stay in the ground until needed and not get woody. If ground freezes could go soft so cover with fleece. Still can be eaten if not bolted, or gone soft – good roasted with garlic.

Sprouts – current crop are small but tasty, some folk have reported the sprouts smelt strong, sulphurous but were fine when cooked not sure if weather has affected the smell. Make ground firm when plant seedlings and stake – should then get a decent crop of good sized sprouts. Don’t forget to eat the sprout tops – protect with netting from pigeons, crop once sprouts harvested, delicious steamed with butter.

Parsnips – have had their freeze and are tasting good.

Purple sprouting broccoli – if growing too large will need staking. Usually crops March onwards but is cropping earlier as climate warms.

Celery – JS has tried growing celery for the first time and that the plants are tall enough but the stalks are thin. AK said that amazing still alive as usually go over once cold. Shop bought celery is grown in Lincolnshire’s moist soil, homegrown celery rarely gets to the proportions of supermarket stock. It can be used to make a delicious soup. LB reported that his celery grew well and tasted good. Celeriac is a good alternative to celery – swede shaped, not a looker, has a mild celery flavour. AK is will be trying red celery this new growing year.

Pruning – time to prune your currant bushes – take out old black branches to encourage new green growth. Raspberries – cut out all canes that have fruited, they are usually brown, tie in the new green
canes. Autumn raspberries pruned differently – cut out fruited canes, leave green shoots which will grow into new canes. Good time to prune apple and pear trees.

Broad beans – time to plant, though they may need to be protected.