Fresh crops in cupboards

Keep those crops coming in the dark days ahead, as Bob rounds up a host of winter treats to grow and eat

- Bob Flowerdew

YOU may imagine that in deepest darkest winter there’s not much you can grow fresh. Well, some real gourmet treats are to be had, such as rhubarb, seakale, chicons, turnip and beet sprouts, and, with planning, even asparagus.

These are the fresh shoots forced early from the roots of plants set in spent compost in tubs. All you need is somewhere that is dark, warm with a fairly constant temperature, and a little ventilation – maybe under a sink, the bottom of an airing cupboard, any cupboard or just a spare wardrobe (do adapt it to catch drips), or possibly behind the sofa (within perforated black bin bags).

Now, ideally, you would first grow many of these yourself just to force, though for some you can buy plants already grown in pots that are large enough for small crops.