Is there anything I can sow now? (Newbie after help/advice)

[Piglet6]

Hi,

I have managed to persuade my hubby to allow a coldframe in the garden - you don't know what a battle that was!

Being completely new to this I need all the help & advice I can find. Is there anything that can be sown this side of Christmas and wintered in the coldframe for planting out (mostly in pots) next spring after the frosts?

Some of the things I'm interested in growing are:- sweet peppers, chilli peppers, radishes, lettuces, pumpkins, tomatoes, parsnips, beetroot.

Also, I'd be truly grateful if you could point out anything that is tricky to grow so I can avoid it for my first foray into vege growing.

I've sown some spring onion seeds in a pot and will hopefully be fitting these into the coldframe when it is purchased and in place.

May also sow some flower seeds to 'pretty up' the garden to keep hubby sweet.

Thanks in advance.

[alan refail]

Hi Piglet6

You are one persistent lady Well done.


As for what you are interested in growing
sweet peppers, chilli peppers, radishes, lettuces, pumpkins, tomatoes, parsnips, beetroot
forget all but lettuce for the moment, and that would have to be a winter variety.

As an early birthday present from me here's a useful website to start learning from
http://www.allotment.org.uk/container-g ... ainers.php

If it will help you to work out what to sow before autumn, here is what I shall be sowing for polytunnel growing over winter (no a polytunnel is not warmer than outside in winter, just more sheltered:

This coming Wednesday (26 August):

Winter lettuce
Endives
Chocories
Parsley
Wild Rocket
Japanese Spring onions

Early September (about the ninth):

Corn Salad
Coriander
Pak Choi
Japanese Mustard
Spring Cabbage
Kale

Best of luck - but don't be put off getting started.

By the way, I understand that a Mini Cooper with sunroof makes a great Mini greenhouse for tomatoes and peppers

[Piglet6]

Thanks. I also managed to find the Veg Year Month by Month on this site, and that is very helpful.

I'll have a root around the allotment site too - thanks.

Damn - the old Cooper doesn't have a sunroof. Hubby must know more than he's letting on!

[alan refail]

Damn - the old Cooper doesn't have a sunroof. Hubby must know more than he's letting on!

That's easily arranged

[Piglet6]

PMSL. Think he'd divorce me if I did that - LOL.

A neighbour told me yesterday that he mentioned something about getting a car trailer! AHEM!!!! Er NO, NO, NO, and NO!!!!! That's what he said to me about having a greenhouse, so it's only fair that it works both ways.......isn't it?

I very much doubt he'd even dare mention getting a trailer! LOL

[Snip]

slightly different question on what to plant now......I have been successful with peas, cauliflower and broccoli, now that my crop has finished can I replant more seeds now for a further crop pre Christmas?

I have ordered my potatoes for a second sowing so I am already geared up for them but just wanted to boost my menu choice by planting some more.

cheers

[Snip]

I also forgot to add beetroot, turbips and any other suggestions
ta

[Mike Vogel]

There's a similar thread somewhere else. My suggestions are the same: winter radish Black Spanish Round, winter lettuces, Claytonia [Miner's lettuce or Winter Purslane], Lamb's lettuce. You could also get an early crop of peas next year by sowing some later on in the year [Sept/Oct], and also some cauliflowers [e.g. All the Year Round or another variety specifically for autumn sowing and spring cropping] and maybe some variety of calabrese. I've ended up with more ideas here than last time.

Best of luck Piglet

[alan refail]

Hi Snip

If by "a further crop before Christmas" you mean something that will produce and you can eat before Christmas, the answer is probably no to most of the things you mention. Peas, for instance are in the ground four months from a spring sowing, so they won't crop for you at the end of November. Having said that, I planted out some peas in the polytunnel which I sowed 2 August, but these are part of my ongoing experiment with growing for eating the shoots - see this thread
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6338&start=0

As Mike suggests there are things to sow this time of the year. And if you look at my post which is the second in this thread you'll see what I shall be sowing soon.

I assume you will be growing outside - so you will need to provide some protection for some of your crops.

Best of luck

Alan

[Pumpkin Patch]

Hello Piglet
There is a seed company I use who send out a monthly newsletter which often includes a list of what you can sow each month. for August their list goes like this

"August veggies... you can start some calabrese varieties, chinese cabbage, choy sum, celery leaf, sugar loaf chicory, corn salad, endives, fennel, komatsuna, land cress, leaf beet, lettuce, mibuna, mizuna, mustard leaf, pak choi, salad rocket, senposai & purslane in seed trays or modules for transplanting under protection for autumn and winter use.

Spring cabbages are fabulous – we have Advantage, Durham Elf, Flower of Spring, Pixie, Spring Hero and Wintergreen for you to choose between or try them all!

You can also sow and grow red Russian kale, winter lettuce, spring onions, radish, leaf beet, spinach, texel greens and turnips (for tops or for small roots). Sow beetroots and carrots if you are able to cover them later in the autumn

Cut-and-come-again salad leaves can be sown now and on into September (just right for a spell of late warmth), mix the seeds you choose together and sow in short rows. Any of the following can be grown in this way: Amaranth, Beetroot Bulls Blood, Celery Leaf, Chicory Palla Rosa, Chinese Cabbage Granat, Corn Salad, Endive Cornet de Bordeaux or Panaclieri, Kale Red Russian, Perpetual Spinach, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mitsuba, Namenia, Mustard Leaf, Orach, Pak Choi, Summer Purslane, Rocket, Senposai, Shungiku & Texel Greens

"

I know it is nearly September now but if you go to the site you will find the latest nws and a huge range of seeds too. Dont know how to put website links on here but the address is http://www.moreveg.co.uk