Kitchen Garden Forum

is there anything i could be planting now for a winter crop in the beds which are becomming available. i dont really want to plant stuff to overwinter as the allotment flooded last year. thanks

Hi Meow

Sorry to see you have had no reply so far.

Maybe like me nobody can think of much you can start now but not overwinter. You might get a few quick salad crops if the weather stays good. But otherwise, why not sow some green manure?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/t ... ure1.shtml

Meow, Like Alan, I would suggest salad crops. I sow Cos Lettuce Winter Density from mid to late August(hope you are not too late)might not grow to maturity in the timescale you have got,but you get worthwhile salad leaves at least. I also sow Corn Salad or as sometimes called Lambs Lettuce as a substitute and also get a worthwhile crop,though they are not to everyones taste JP.

There are quite a few that come under the heading of Oriental greens that should give you a crop before the worst of the winter. In addition, providing you don't get flooding before Spring, some will survive moderate frost & snow.

If you like radishes, why not try Mooli? They taste good (if you like a spicy radish) and seem to do fine in our climate. They also grow quite quickly, I'm pretty sure you'd get a crop before winter.

Radish: Black Spanish Round.
Green manure: winter tares or hungarian grazing rye or phacelia tanacetifolia.
Lettuces: winter crop or rouge d'hiver, claytonia [= winter purslane] can be sown now in the ground.
If you local market or garden centres have any spring brassicas left they can be bought and planted.

I'm not usually very good at getting things started now, so i just bung in green manures.

Another thing you could try sowing now is coriander. A bit late now, but if we get some decent sunshine you should get a crop before winter.

Chard too perhaps.

Hi Meow

Anything sown yet?

Septembers KG had an offer for broccolli and carrots (amongst others) that can be planted now for an early crop next year. How do I acheive this as looking at all the carrot and broccoli seed packets they say not to plant over thw winter. Do I need to build a cloche for each??

Thanks

Ben

thanks for all the great suggestions, i haven't planted anything yet. i'm probably going away for at least a month after christmas so i'm not really sure if theres any point putting any veg in. i think i'll have ago with some green manure, i've never done it before so i've started a new post on the subject.

I am sure that either Marshalls or other mail order companies should have some Winter Brassica Plug plants left, well worth a go to get straight in and established. Local Garden Centres and nurseries are worth ago for either established winter Brassicas such as Purple Sprouting Broccoli, January King Cabbage and similar. The garden centres might have them in bare root variety, just pop them in a hole made by a dibber and firm the ground with your heel after planting Protect from slugs and snails.

CoMpO