Tales from the Veg Patch – Details, episodes & analysis

It might be the end of the series, but it’s not the end of the growing season. So this week, things to look forward to in the autumn veg patch, plus some jobs to get done and recipes for the coming chill.

Find the green tomato chutney recipe here:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/04/nigel-slater-green-tomato-recipes

And for the roast cauliflower soup with kale and walnut pesto which Kathy's talks through:

https://www.kathyslack.com/blog/cauliflower-soup-kale-pesto

Keep in touch with Kathy until series 2 begins:

kathyslack.com

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

twitter.com/gluts_gluttony

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unbuyables – the class of produce only a grower has access to – are especially bountiful in early Autumn and none is more exciting than the imminent winter squash harvest. So this week, pumpkins – how to go them and what to cook with them.

You can find all the recipes Kathy mentions in her cookbook, From the Veg Patch.

Find the pumpkin tikka masala recipe here: 

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/pumpkin-tikka-masala-with-flatbreads/

Keep in touch with Kathy:

kathyslack.com

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

twitter.com/gluts_gluttony

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's all go this week. Kathy deals with a problem in the only way she knows how – cooking. The weeds are getting out of hand, but never one to miss a harvest, Kathy has a recipe for that. Plus, other methods for managing weeds and the joys of RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Kathy will be scrubbing the mud from her nails and donning a frock for a veg-patched inspired lunch there by The Newt, so stay tuned to her Instagram for a blow by blow account of the menu, plus lots of snaps from the show.

You can find the spanakopita recipe Kathy talks through in her cookbook, From the Veg Patch and the weed variation on Instagram.

Keep in touch with Kathy:

kathyslack.com

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

twitter.com/gluts_gluttony

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s decision time in the veg patch this week and boy what a decision it is. The great debate of when to plant out is a heated argument, and the consequences profound, as you will hear. Plus, the elderflowers are ready and blooming in time for the Jubilee celebrations coming up, so Kathy is making her royal (ie: recycled from Harry and Meghan’s do) elderflower scones.

As ever, do let Kathy know what you think of each episode. You’ll find her busy on Instagram and Twitter or leave a review whether ever you listen to this podcast. 

You can find the Elderflower and Lemon Scones recipe Kathy talks through on her blog and her instagram:

https://www.kathyslack.com/blog/lemon-elderflower-scones

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

Keep in touch with Kathy:

kathyslack.com

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

twitter.com/gluts_gluttony

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to Tales from the Veg Patch. Join your host, Kathy Slack, for another 15 minutes of rural tranquillity as she opens the garden gate and invites you into her veg patch to explore the highs and lows of growing your own with gentle tales of goings on in the garden.

This week, wildlife. Unwelcome wildlife. Despite how much gardeners talk about working with the nature and how growing allows us to be at one with the outdoors, you’d be surprised how much time they spend battling with wildlife. If it’s not greenfly, it’s mice. If not mice, then squirrels. All want to take a bite out of the harvest. And none is more disruptive than moles. And Kathy should now, because she has a mole of her very own.

Plus, what to do with a rhubarb glut. You can find the Rhubarb, Honey and ginger flapjack recipe Kathy talks through on her blog and her instagram:

https://www.kathyslack.com/blog/rhubarb-flapjack

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

Keep in touch with Kathy:

kathyslack.com

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

twitter.com/gluts_gluttony

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, an exploration of the many perfections of lettuces – from pert, hearting ones, to lolling about leafy ones, and even the crispy bowling balls ones. Find out which to grow, how to grow them and what to cook with them: charred on a griddle and buried in parmesan, tossed in a light and lovely dressing, or braised in a springtime stew.

Find the Chilled Lettuce and Mint Soup Kathy talks through and more lettuce recipes in her cookbook, From the Veg Patch.

Keep in touch with Kathy:

kathyslack.com

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

twitter.com/gluts_gluttony

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the giddy pick-n-mix sweetshop excitement of buying soil. Plus tips on choosing compost. Then into the kitchen with the first crops to sprout through the new soil – radishes. Try radish slammers, roast radish salad and buttered radishes. 

Find the radish recipe from the podcast here:

https://www.kathyslack.com/blog/roast-radish-lentil-anchovies

And others in Kathy's cookbook, From the Veg Patch,

For more about market garden guru, Anna Greenland: https://www.annagreenland.co.uk

The compost brands Kathy mentioned are:

Dalefoot

SylvaGrow

New Horizons

6X Fertiliser

And the two camps in the dig/no dig debate are:

Double dig: https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts-mulches/double-digging

No Dig: https://charlesdowding.co.uk

Meet Kathy:

Tuesday 10th May - supper club at The Royal Oak.

Sat 30th April 10-12 - Warwick Books

Sat 30th April 2-4pm – Blackwell’s, Oxford

Keep in touch with Kathy:

kathyslack.com

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

twitter.com/gluts_gluttony

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come with Hadleigh (spaniel) on an adventure in the woods, amongst the bluebells and badgers for a spot of foraging (and accidental trespassing). Then join Kathy back in the kitchen for wild garlic frittata and more recipe ideas.

For more seasonal recipes see Kathy's cookbook, From the Veg Patch,

Find the Wild Garlic Frittata recipe from the podcast here:

https://www.kathyslack.com/blog/wild-garlic-frittata

Keep in touch with Kathy:

kathyslack.com

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

twitter.com/gluts_gluttony

See you next week!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Kathy explains why she thinks growing food is good for restoring mental health. Which means telling you the grisly tale of how she came to need restoring in the first place.

Note: there’s some stuff about depression in this episode so if that’s a trigger for you, maybe come back to it later. And if you need to talk, The Samaritans are on 116 123 24hrs a day.

For more tales about growing and cooking, see Kathy's cookbook, From the Veg Patch,

Keep in touch with Kathy:

kathyslack.com

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

twitter.com/gluts_gluttony

See you next week!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In praise of the forlorn leek languishing at the back of your fridge, the trials for leek growing, dibbling blisters and leek loving recipe ideas that come straight out of The Good Life.

For more on the leek recipes mentioned see Kathy's cookbook, From the Veg Patch,

Find the Leek, Chestnut and Cider Crumble recipe in the cookbook or on The Happy Foodie here:

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/leek-chestnut-and-cider-crumble/

Keep in touch with Kathy:

kathyslack.com

instagram.com/gluts_gluttony

twitter.com/gluts_gluttony

See you next week!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.