Roots that rock: The vegetables best suited to Ireland
identifies the veggie varieties best suited to our climate.
Last week we explored what leafy veg was most suitable to grow in Ireland and this week we continue the theme but with root crops.
Being mostly temperate (storm Ophelia and storm Emma-type scenarios notwithstanding) we are uniquely placed to be able to grow a broad spectrum of crops and the majority of the various varieties and cultivars within those species.
We don’t get too hot to send everything into stress and on into bolting to seed, and we don’t get so cold that growth is checked and bitterness incurred in the flavour of the crop. We do get soggy sometimes and that does have an impact on growth and on flavour.
So what we need are varieties that thrive under our conditions, many British AGM rated plants (Award of Garden Merit), do fine in Lancashire subzero, but won’t do so well in soft Leitrim sludge or Dunmore downpours.
Here are some of the best candidates that I have grown over the years or have come highly recommended. It is by no means a definitive list and there are extra gems to be found at the Irish seed savers shop and the GIY store (both with online ordering).
Gardening is often trial and error and as most gardens (never mind regions) have their own microclimate, it can take a season or two to get the perfect fit.
One of Irelands biggest sellers is ‘Boltardy’, because it is a good hardy and low bolt variety but also it packs good flavour and fine pigmentation — and that’s where all the health benefits lie — the betacyanin that makes it red having good impact upon muscles and circulation and has been trialed in the past and found to slow the growth of prostate and breast cancer tumours by 12%. I like the leaves in salads and soups too, so I tend to succession sow from now until June.
I also fancy the round ‘Robushka’ and the varying-shaped ‘Detroit’ types — all strong growers with great tastes and good storage potential. In recent years I have been leaning to ‘Bulls Blood’ as much as a salad leaf crop, as for early harvest of small sweetish globes, maturing globes get more bitter as they progress.
I have no problem with the non-reds — the like of the whites and yellows, but if you want to show off or are looking for plants that will inspire children to GIY, then the bulls-eye inner rings of pink and white of ‘Barbabietola di Chioggia’ will do the trick — and it is much easier to cook than it is to say.
There was a time when carrots came in all colours and shapes, but to honour William of Orange in some conquest or other, the Dutch growers and traders began to
concentrate solely on orange-coloured varieties and like the good loyalist that a lot of the landed gentry were in Ireland at the time, the orange carrot took root.
We still see some of the politics in names such as ‘Early Nantes’ and ‘Nantes 2’ , ‘Autumn King’ — and for the conspiracy theorists I will extend to ‘Amsterdam Forcing’ — all tasty, all sturdy growers and great storers.
All best grown in sandy rows.
In recent years, to the delight of unrepentant Fenians like myself, there is the option to go pre-king Billy and grow some disloyal purples, yellows and whites.
Look out for ‘Purple Dragon’, ‘Atomic Red’, ‘Yellowstone’ and my own personal favourite ‘Purple Haze’.
Irish seed savers also do a lovely yellow variety known as ‘The Limburg’ which by all accounts seems to be less susceptible to carrot root fly than most carrots.
While I am a fan of seed swaps and trying new varieties with parsnips I usually have ‘Gladiator F1’ on the go. I favour the nutty flavour and the resistance to canker and other problems.
I’m lifting them this week (have been since before Christmas), and expect the recent Siberian cold blast to really have brought out the sweetness. I won’t figure parsnips into this year’s crop rotation until May but you can sow from April, just keep an eye on late frost protection.
Other strong growers and good storers include ‘White Gem’, ‘Tender and True’. If you are on a brand new allotment or haven’t had time to work your soil then ‘Avon-resister’ performs on poor and shallow soil — the tradeoff is small roots but sweet ones.
There is an Irish variety called ‘Best Of All’ that I grow from time to time, it overwinters very well — some varieties of turnip/swede do go woody too quick — it has a deep yellow flesh, a smooth texture and great flavour.
Other times I grow ‘Ruby’ which has a lovely dark purple skin and creamy flesh within, fine sweetness to it and good overwintering. Ruby tends to go in when the crop rotation places turnips on the shader side of the garden — it is quite mildew-resistant. Other varieties include ‘Invitation’, ‘Marian’ “Purple Top Millan”, ‘Tokyo Cross’, and ‘Snowball’.
There is always the option to stray beyond the staples and venture into unusual crops. Once upon a time oca, dahlia yams, salsify, scorzonera and Hamburg parsley root were the lure of gardening magazines doing a ‘wow’ piece. Now they are in your local garden centre and DIY stores. All are technically hardy to Ireland and interesting flavour-wise.
Oca I can take or leave, it adds texture to a potato gratin but I wouldn’t be making a mash for my quorn sausages. The dahlia yam is more like a sweet potato and hits my sweet tooth and is as handy to grow as any dahlia.
Salsify and scorzonera are often referred to as oyster plants as they have a slight shellfish note to their flavour — a set of old root crops that fell out of fashion with the introduction of the potato.
As for the Hamburg parsley, it has interesting texture and taste and fits well with celeriac and other relatively new introductions to the allotment or kitchen garden.
GARDEN NOTES
- Down Syndrome Cork, Field of Dreams presents ‘An Evening with Diarmuid Gavin’ in Rochestown Park on April 7, from 8pm to 10pm. Diarmuid will take us on a humorous romp through his wonderful adventures in gardening. Priced at €25, the event includes a drinks reception, a raffle and a Q&A session. All proceeds raised will directly benefit the Field of Dreams, built in 2017. This is a pioneering training facility in Curraheen where adults with Down syndrome are acquiring skills and experience to help them access employment. Tickets will be available from March 8 at the following stores: Atkins Garden World, Griffins Garden Centre, Bandon Garden Centre, Botanic Home & Garden and from Down Syndrome Cork, Kilnap Business Park, Blackpool.
- Youghal Flower and Garden Club will hold a teaching work night with Ann Cooney AOIFA in the Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal at 8pm on March 14.
- Ballincollig Flower and Garden Club will meet on March 12 in the Oriel House Hotel, Main Street, Ballincollig for a demonstration ‘Earth Awakens’ by Bernadette Scanlon, AOIFA demonstrator from Co Limerick. All welcome.
- Ardfield Rathbarry Gardening Club will host Margaret Ahern (AOIFA) on March 15 at 8pm in the Parish Hall, Rathbarry for Easter flower demonstrations. There will be refreshments and a raffle. All are welcome.
- Bandon Flower and Garden Club are hosting a work night in The Munster Arms Hotel, Bandon on March 12 at 8pm. Work on ‘A Table Arrangement’ or ‘A Spring Landscape’.
- Castlelyons Home and Garden Club presents a night of flower arranging with well-known floral artist Eileen O’Brien. The theme for the evening is ‘Spring Glory’ with flower arrangements for St Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Easter in the Community Centre Castlelyons, March 15 at 8pm. Everyone Welcome; details from Gunny 086-867 0385.
- Kanturk Flower and Garden Club will meet on March 14 in The Temperance Hall, Strand St at 8pm with guest speakers Helen and Eleanor Stone from Deep Route Gardening, Georges Quay Cork, who will speak on: ‘Growing and Using Medicinal Herbs’.Plants for sale on the night — everyone welcome; €5, refreshments served.
- Cork Nature Network is delighted to be working with Cork City Council’s Parks’ Department to plant trees in Clashduv Park on March 9 at 1pm. This is a great opportunity to promote the importance of urban trees and to find our more about Cork Nature Network and our work. For further information please email events@corknaturenetwork.ie
- Due to the very bad weather, East Cork Flower Club has cancelled its March meeting, which will now take place on March 19 at 8pm in St John the Baptist National School, Midleton. On the night, Rose Hickey AOIFA will give a teaching demonstration.
- The Daffodil Show will also take place on the night. On March 12 there will be an AOIFA fund-raising event with Malcolm Kitt at the Commodore Hotel, Cobh at 8pm. This is in aid of funds for Bloom 2018.
- Carrigtwohill Flower & Garden Club will host Madeline McKeever of Brown Envelope Seeds on the topic ‘How to save your own seeds & Growing from seeds’. Carrigtwohill Community Hall on March 13 at 8pm. Refreshments, chat, raffle. Cost €5; seeds and gift packs for sale on the night. All welcome.
Fiann’s tips
- The recent cold spell may have knocked the swagger out of the normally emerging pest populations and also halted some seasonal diseases in their tracks, but rest not on laurels too long.
- Think of growing chamomile and also garlic to make a liquid feed of both that will boost your plants’ immune system and can be used as a spray for all pests and diseases.
- Now is a good time to apply mulches/ top dressing, especially to fruiting bushes and trees to suppress weeds and add biodegradable matter.
- Trench preparation can start for rhubarb, asparagus and potato planting this month, but also for runner bean, perennial spinach, cardoon, globe artichoke and celery planting in coming months.
- It is not too late to chit early and main crop potatoes. Consider feeders and nest boxes for birds you wish to attract, but remember some birds will eat your seedlings. So be judicious and follow the next step.
- Garden ready your plot for the arrival of birds that may pick more seedlings than grubs. Nets ahoy.
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