Allotments 4 All

Hi everyone

I love this forum! I have been lurking for a while and getting loads of tips from you all, so thanks to everyone!  :)

First a bit about me.

My 'real' name is Jayne - my husband and I have a successful courier franchise with Fastway and we work loads of hours. We've had an allotment for a year now - last year we didn't get much planted because we were getting on top of the mess left by the last owner.

This year we have been so busy working we were too slow off the mark. I managed to get some salad leaves and strawberries on the go, some courgettes and a few herbs. And of course in the greenhouse we have tomatoes and cucumbers. I read about growing sprouting broccoli late in the year so I've just planted some out now.

The soil is quite heavy and clayish. Any ideas what we can grow this late in the year? It seems a shame to miss out on the rest of the year with nothing much growing.

hej Jayne, welcome to A4A - I'm in my first year too.  I believe August is when overwintering onions (Japanese sets I think they are called) and garlic are planted.  My neighbour has just put some black kale plants in.

hmm..you'll get some knowledgable advice any minute now..but til then-my twopennorth-you can still sow lettuce succesionally-bit difficult in this heat wave but when its over-and then cloche it for autumn....our overwintered onions are still going strong and are lovely....

and you can amuse yourselves by getting the lottie ready for next spring!
welcome to a4a!
kitty
x

And carrots, & chinese greens? And chard? And parsley?

see?
told you!
tim is a hexpert so listen up when he speaks-the knowledge of centuries packed into one human head! ;D

;)hi tim!
kitty
x

And check out this thread for more ideas:

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,26/topic,22503.msg223879

And what the HDRA says you can sow in July (page down a bit...):

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/veg_gard_now.php

Another option is to buy baby plants, eg from here:

http://www.organicplants.co.uk/acatalog/Catalogue____Original_Selection_Packs_41.html

I've been going through my seeds for exactly the same reason, Chicory and Winter radish seem to have slipped through the net so far. Don't forget green manure soil that isn't planted. Phacalia looks lovely, doesn't mess up any rotations but we use more ryegrass and vetch... be careful though as some retard seed germination after digging in... start stuff in cells and plant out next Spring!
;D

I started my allotment at this time of year, I sowed.

Spring Cabbages
Spring Cauliflowers
Rapini
Turnips
Beetroot
Chard
Carrots
Leeks
Japanese onions
Christmas potatoes
Radishes
Spinach
Rocket
Lettuce
Oriental greens

My tip is to be cheeky, go round your allotment site and ask if any one has grown from seed too many, and can you have their surplus.

We will be planting a variety of peas called Kelvedon Wonder from Johnsons this weekend.The first sowing has been fantastic and it says on the packet outdoor planting until early July for an October harvest. With the weather as it is,we thought it's worth a bash. They only grew 2ft high and were very sweet.Not really into peas, but these were lovely! No idea if you can plant other varieties now??

Peas can become susceptible to powdery mildew by September so it's worth using a resistant variety like Ambassador for late sowings.

Welcome Jayne
found all these ideas really useful - thanks all

Kohl-Rabi is another I think - I've just gone in with a load of Rocket, Some Peas, Carrots and some beetroot.
Given the hot summer I'd think we're in for a warm autumn (a la last year) I planted beetroot in May and harvested in July so planted more in July and expect to harvest late September - possible October but I also hope it'll be warm enough for them then.
Lambs Lettuce. You may also get Dwarf French Beans to work - a bit touch and go but I've had some grow from nothing to full production in 8 weeks. My advice - try different things - you'll be amazed what can actually grow - particularly now we're getting lots of sunshine and overnight rain - ideal gorwing conditions - I can't keep up!!

Now is a good time to prepare a bed for winter spinach, which I will be planting next month ...

Snap curry, what variety? Mine is Matador - tasty, versatile and beautiful :)

Ah, I love winter planting. I am so smug when I go and get my veg in the dead of winter! This year, we've got chard, beetroot, turnips, purple sprouting broccoli and brussel sprouts. Also cavalo nero (black italian cabbage) and broccoli raab (turnip family italian thingy, used to eat it in NY).
In October, it's time for onion and garlic sets and the broad beans. Also, if you chuck a courgette or two and some runner beans in now, you'll get some veg before the end of the summer. Christmas new potatoes are worth a punt too. Good luck!

SS ... Giant Winter here, available from Kings Seeds. I had problems with conventional varieties, so chose a variety specifically suited to winter growing.

thanks curry-forgot about me spinach-i think-as someone said-its such a weird year that just about anythings worth a try-and its all grist to the lottie learning mill!
kitty

WOW! Thanks everyone for the great welcome and for so many ideas! I will definately print the thread out for reference.

I'll have to get sowing quickly - we're nearly into to August eeeek!