Anything to plant now?

[wheelysneakycat]

Are there any veg plants which can be planted out now? I'm new, and it seems to me that this is too late for summer stuff and too early for anything else - is that right?

This is the second year I've had my plot and I've really struggled.

Last year I had patchy success but came to the conclusion that there was no point growing anything unless it was covered, because of birds and I don't know what other pests. I have raised beds and am a blind wheelchair user so paid someone to make some kind of construction of netting to cover the raised beds. Because of the money I spent on that, I then couldn't afford plug plants, nothing I sowed directly worked and things I planted out after starting at home disappeared, I suspect because of birds because still not everywhere is covered.

A step forwards is that another allotmenteer is going to share the plot with me now and will cut the grass. It's possible they'll help me cover with netting in a cheaper way too. But still I'm wondering if there's anything I can buy to plant out now to at least show my neighbours and the council that I'm making an effort as they obviously don't know the struggle I'm having behind the scenes and perhaps I'll lose the plot if it's not at least 50 percent productive.

[Peppermint]

Hello wheelysneakycat and welcome :-)

I'm no expert (just an enthusiastic grower) and there will be someone along shortly with loads of knowledge about this.

I moved into my house a few years back in June and didn't get a veg bed dug until July. I still managed to grow some crops from seed e.g. radishes, little turnips, carrots, some cabbage plants I'd been given. The best time to sow oriental salad is now. I put some in four weeks ago and they are healthy plants now and I'm picking them for salads and stir fries. Maybe you could try growing some brassicas as young leaves to pick? You might get the chance of a crop of baby kale.

I bought some Lisbon spring onions onion seeds last month and the instructions tell me that they shouldn't be sown until late summer as they need cooler weather.

For cheap seeds I always look at the ones for sale in Lidl when they come into the shops in February. They start at 29p a packet and there is a good range. I always buy their radishes and leeks as they are very reliable and seem to like our odd weather in Orkney.

I had a disaster with my peas this year and had to sow again three weeks ago. I've crossed my fingers that they will provide a crop this summer, but if not I will get the pea tops to put into meals. I also make soups from the green tops of radishes and turnips - so even if they don't develop underground you could get a good crop of leaves before the autumn.

[wheelysneakycat]

The best time to sow oriental salad is now. I put some in four weeks ago and they are healthy plants now and I'm picking them for salads and stir fries. Maybe you could try growing some brassicas as young leaves to pick? You might get the chance of a crop of baby kale.

I bought some Lisbon spring onions onion seeds last month and the instructions tell me that they shouldn't be sown until late summer as they need cooler weather.

For cheap seeds I always look at the ones for sale in Lidl when they come into the shops in February. They start at 29p a packet and there is a good range. I always buy their radishes and leeks as they are very reliable and seem to like our odd weather in Orkney.

I had a disaster with my peas this year and had to sow again three weeks ago. I've crossed my fingers that they will provide a crop this summer, but if not I will get the pea tops to put into meals. I also make soups from the green tops of radishes and turnips - so even if they don't develop underground you could get a good crop of leaves before the autumn.

Thanks Peppermint, so there is some hope :-) I have some radish and various salad seeds which according to the packet I can sow now. I was just a bit put off when someone came up to me at the allotment and said "you're too late". I'll also get some spring onion seeds. In September I'll get some strawberry plants.

[Bill Door]

Hi Wheelysneakycat


There are a lot of things to try. You may not get much or big produce but anything is super when grown yourself. So have a go at

turnips, lettuce (winter type), spring cabbage (Durham Early), beetroot, florence fennel,cauliflower (all year round), carrots, radicchio, swiss chard. If you have a load of seeds then there is no harm in trying a few to see what happens. Obviously some will not grow or produce much but the anticipation will be fantastic.

Good luck and enjoy your gardening.

Bill