Topic: Planting in November, advice needed

[hellohelenhere]

I've ordered vegetable plants from http://www.vegetableplantsdirect.co.uk , to start me off in my new garden. (Chard, spinach, etc.) But I'm also accumulating seeds - peas and beans for example. Can I plant these indoors (in a bright but unheated lean-to) as late as November, or will they simply get off to a bad start with the short day length? Should I wait until the spring?

[ceres]

I doubt that any variety not specifically for autumn sowing will do much at this time of year.  I don't know of an over-wintering bean but there are certainly over-wintering peas.  I've just sown Meteor for over-wintering.  You can also sow some caulis now - All Year Round is one.  And there is garlic, onions (sets and seeds) and shallots.

[kt.]

You'll possibly get away with beans, but I do not know of overwintering peas.  Have you sown some over wintering lettuce such as Artic King.  3 types here:
http://www.kingsseeds.com/kolist/1/VEGETABLES/V-L/LETTUCE

or winter hardy White Lisbon spring onions
http://www.kingsseeds.com/kolist/1/2/13219.htm

[Tee Gee]

Should I wait until the spring?

Sounds like we have a girl who is raring to go :o

Personally I would say that even in Reading, I would wait until spring!

You could do worse and click on this link for cultural notes and planners and do a bit of planning in preparation for next year..

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Indexes/index.htm

[norfolklass]

and there are over-wintering broad beans, too: "Aquadulce Claudia"
I grew them for the first time 2007-2008 and they did brilliantly - sown in root trainers in Oct/Nov and planted out in Nov/Dec (I think, I can't remember exactly when!)

[hellohelenhere]

Sounds like we have a girl who is raring to go Shocked

Haha, yes! I suppose I should just calm down. I'll have my work cut out, digging beds, making raised beds & cloches, improving the soil, getting my compost started, etc etc - I suppose I should be glad of the winter pause before the mayhem really breaks loose!

The order of plug plants will give me enough to be going on with, so perhaps I'll just forget about seeds till the spring. After all, there is the whole rest of the house to sort out as well - I've got so garden-focussed that I keep forgetting about that... :)

[hellohelenhere]

Oops, the smiley came out funny in the quotes...
Thanks for all the suggestions, everybody.

[caroline7758]

Ceres, do you sow your peas direct at this time of year, or inside?

[ceres]

Ceres, do you sow your peas direct at this time of year, or inside?

I'm experimenting because I get a lot of losses before germination from pesky rodents.  So I'm germinating indoors on damp kitchen paper.

[Tee Gee]

I'm experimenting because I get a lot of losses before germination from pesky rodents

Have you tried growing this way;

[Flighty]

Helen move, get settled in and sorted out first.
Over the winter spend time getting your garden all ready for the spring and then you'll be off to a flying start!  xx

[ceres]

Are they in a greenhouse Tee Gee?

[hellohelenhere]

I think you're right, Flighty. :)
It's just as well we're moving in November and not March, isn't it? The poor house wouldn't get a look in.
I measured the garden today, on GoogleEarth - how cool is that? It's 65ft long by 11ft wide. Which gives me room for loooooots of veg!

[Bean_Queen]

It's nice to have something green growing over the winter.
Aquedulce Claudia broad bean does really well for me. 
Meteor pea is an over-wintering variety.

I don't sow direct in the soil though, or the slugs and mice get them.  Start them off in loo rolls, and plant out when a few inches tall.

You can sow some Mizuna now, and this company is promoting over-wintering carrot seed: http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/vegetable_seeds/carrot_seed_all_year_round_blend/

[caroline7758]

I notice it says they can stay in the ground over winter but then says to sow in March!

[Lauren S]

I notice it says they can stay in the ground over winter but then says to sow in March!

Then the bottom line says.......

How To Grow Carrots
Sow March (under protection) or April to June outside in the open.
Sow thinly in rows 12" apart. Sow in ½" deep drills.
Thin out to 2"-3" apart when large enough to handle.
Also sow October to November under protection for young Easter carrots.

[lottie lou]

whilst I have put in my winter onions and garlic, I didn't know that you could plant shallots at this time of the year.  Do they survive all right?

[hellohelenhere]

If I sow mizuna now, how quickly will it grow to edible size?
I've ordered some mizuna plantlets, and a bunch of other stuff, from vegetableplantsdirect.co.uk - very helpful outfit in Cornwall - and that'll get me started, but I don't know how much growth to expect from the plants over winter, can anybody enlighten me?

I'm going to start them all off in growbags, under cloches, if I can, and take Flighty's advice - I need to do a lot of work on the garden over winter, preparing beds, and so I'll try not to get tooooo sidetracked into seeds till the spring. But I could make exceptions!

I'm trying to think of some crafty way to raise the growbags off the ground, away from slugs and mice. Anybody got a cunning plan? Perhaps I could find some pallets, put those on wooden blocks, and stand the blocks in trays of water? Too complicated? :D

[manicscousers]

our mizuna doesn't seem to be affected by slugs as much as other things
they grow very fast, too, we use them all winter, as salad or stir fry, and to nibble on while working  ;D
we grow them with red mustard, pak choi and mibuna, plus chicory and winter lettuce, you should do well under cloches, wouldn't stand them in water, they might go mouldy  ;D

[hellohelenhere]

I will look forward to my first mizuna stir-fry then! I also have chard, turnip greens, cabbage and I forget what else.
The plants wouldn't be in water, only the 'legs' of the 'table' on which I put the growbags. It's a trick to drown slugs... :d