Fenland Celery
Fenland Celery: The Winter Asparagus
We could all be forgiven by thinking that celery is celery, but in fact the main crop of celery in the UK stops being grown around October depending on the (currently very unseasonal) weather. The frosts would destroy a normal crop grown by normal methods. So how does Fenland Celery manage to be grown right up until the end of the year? Indeed this year it could be until mid-January. We’ve taken a look at this heritage crop, which sees its origins at Christmas time in the Victorian era, and has more recently been given PGI status from the EU, propelling it into the realms of Parma Ham, Melton Mowbray Pork Pies and Champagne – in protected status at least.
Much like other crops where the earth is banked up over the plant, Fenland celery growers adopted this method to protect the green vegetable from the frosts, which would kill it overnight without the added insulation. A …show more content…
It’s these soil conditions, combined with the special growing methods which in 2013 urged the European Union to allow Fenland celery to display the hallowed Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) logo. This logo means that the celery is now protected in EU law, and can only be grown by these methods, and on the Fens of Cambridgeshire.
The recent revival of this Victorian crop shows that people have an interest in heritage crops. Just like with purple carrots, heirloom tomatoes and Romanesco cauliflowers; a different vegetable on the plate creates new aesthetics, new flavours and great talking points between the cook and the eater. This heritage aspect is demonstrated In Fenland celery by presenting it in a with the traditional extra root attached and trimmed to a point, but also by leaving a few extra leaves on. These leaves and roots can still be cooked with, by adding them to a stock or even by adding the leaves to a
We could all be forgiven by thinking that celery is celery, but in fact the main crop of celery in the UK stops being grown around October depending on the (currently very unseasonal) weather. The frosts would destroy a normal crop grown by normal methods. So how does Fenland Celery manage to be grown right up until the end of the year? Indeed this year it could be until mid-January. We’ve taken a look at this heritage crop, which sees its origins at Christmas time in the Victorian era, and has more recently been given PGI status from the EU, propelling it into the realms of Parma Ham, Melton Mowbray Pork Pies and Champagne – in protected status at least.
Much like other crops where the earth is banked up over the plant, Fenland celery growers adopted this method to protect the green vegetable from the frosts, which would kill it overnight without the added insulation. A …show more content…
It’s these soil conditions, combined with the special growing methods which in 2013 urged the European Union to allow Fenland celery to display the hallowed Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) logo. This logo means that the celery is now protected in EU law, and can only be grown by these methods, and on the Fens of Cambridgeshire.
The recent revival of this Victorian crop shows that people have an interest in heritage crops. Just like with purple carrots, heirloom tomatoes and Romanesco cauliflowers; a different vegetable on the plate creates new aesthetics, new flavours and great talking points between the cook and the eater. This heritage aspect is demonstrated In Fenland celery by presenting it in a with the traditional extra root attached and trimmed to a point, but also by leaving a few extra leaves on. These leaves and roots can still be cooked with, by adding them to a stock or even by adding the leaves to a