Hello there
I was just wondering what I could plant now and be ready to be cropped in winter..??
Thanks
Dave
There's a few ideas here (http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,68850.0.html) to get you started. Hopefully there will be a few more suggestions along in a bit.
There's not a lot to sow in September but it is the right time to sow winter lettuces such as Arctic King for the spring. Also have a go at winter hardy spring onion (White Lisbon) but check it's the winter hardy type.
Have a look on this site http://www.vegetableplantsdirect.co.uk/
They've got veg that can be planted in September and even October. Most of the really late plantings are for overwintering, so you won't get a crop until the spring.
I'd be inclined to go for purple sprouting broccoli and leeks myself, bought as plants (it's too late to sow).
You could still sow cabbage, but perhaps better to sow some and buy some as plants if you want to harvest before Easter!
Veg Plants Direct happens to be the supplier that we use, but there are plenty of others.
You can still grow some winter radishes..although you need to lift and store them before the winter really sets in.
Good time to start some spinach..again..use and store before heavy frosts kills the plant.
Turnip..again..needs storing for winter.
There is no awful lot you can grow as true winter veg..cabbages, brussels and like..those would have been started earlier on the year.
So now is really time for last of the salad crops and odd quick growing roots that needs protection from worst of the weather.
Quote from: Melbourne12 on September 05, 2011, 08:20:55
I'd be inclined to go for purple sprouting broccoli and leeks myself, bought as plants (it's too late to sow).
Did i read that right that its too late for leeks? Or too late for broccoli???
Quote from: Hector on September 05, 2011, 08:59:51
Quote from: Melbourne12 on September 05, 2011, 08:20:55
I'd be inclined to go for purple sprouting broccoli and leeks myself, bought as plants (it's too late to sow).
Did i read that right that its too late for leeks? Or too late for broccoli???
Oops, sorry if I didn't make myself clear. It's too late to sow seeds, but not too late to plant out ready-grown young plants.
Ah :( Blast...I was going to sow seeds in a cold greenhouse.) When should I have done it and is there a window later on to sow them?
pps it's not you not being clear...its me being a bit lacking :)
I am an eejit. I am mixing up onions and leeks. I am planting my leeks in February....brain like swiss cheese :)
I've had a quick riffle through our seed collection, and the earliest that I can find to sow leeks under glass or indoors is January. If you plant them earlier, you'll have the problem of nursing the young plants through the cold weather and short days, and you'll gain no advantage over a later sowing after all your efforts. End of March/early April is probably about the earliest that you could plant them out.
I must admit that in recent years we've tended to buy our leeks as seedlings, since you get so many so cheaply that the seeds hardly merit the space on the propagation shelves!
Broccoli, whether PSB or calabrese, is sown in the spring. The plants grow relatively slowly, so you might get a small advantage from an early sowing under glass, but even so, not until the late winter.
Quote from: Hector on September 05, 2011, 09:29:42
Ah :( Blast...I was going to sow seeds in a cold greenhouse.) When should I have done it and is there a window later on to sow them?
You need to sow sprouting broc in May/June to harvest in late winter/early spring.
You could try sowing:
spring cabbages somewhere warm and planting out later (bit late but worth a go).
over-wintering (Japanese) onions, start them off in modules for early onions next year (Senshu Yellow or HiKeeper) they'll be ready in May/June/July.
Pak choi - you can always harvest them small for salad if the weather starts to look nasty
Autumn Carrots (for early spring harvest) - little bit hit and miss, but they've worked some years for me (use one specifically for autumn sowing).
winter lettuce - I like winter gem
cauliflower such as all-the-year-round for early spring harvest (needs a bit of fleece protection or a cold frame)
winter spring onions
plants-wise (bought in, trays are about 2.99 in our local garden centre for 12 brassicas, or begged from allotment spares :)):
PSB, calabrese, brussels sprouts, savoy / winter cabbage, chinese cabbage, leeks
Is it too late to get hold of some potato plants too and grow them in my green house in a planter??
Many thanks
Dave
Quote from: David P on September 05, 2011, 22:56:39
Is it too late to get hold of some potato plants too and grow them in my green house in a planter??
Many thanks
Dave
They need at least 3 months of growing weather for the earliest varieties. If you can keep the greenhouse frost-free into December and as bright as possible, there might be an outside chance. Low light levels will be a problem in December.