Winter Veg

[Currysniffa]

I know I'm thinking a little ahead but when should I start thinking about sowing my winter veg ( collys, broccoli, sprouts and such like )?

[frogga]

Hope its not that early, Ive soen mine already and they are about an inch tall now, going to sow anoter batch in 3 weeks for later vegetales.

[Liza]

Mine are already planted out at the lottie

[Currysniffa]

Mine's a new plot and some of it is over grown I guess I've more digging to do !!!!

Thanks for replying guys

[OllieMartin]

There are some other plants you can put in later if you want to make use of the space your current crops may leave once you harvest.
Off the top of my head I can think of:
Kale
Garlic
Spring Onions
Pak Choi

I'm sure there's plenty of others, but that's I can muster at 23:49 after a few hours of pub quiz and a belly full of cider!

[Alison]

I planted some winter cabbage, spring caulis and some kale yesterday for planting out on the lottie the end of next month(ish). They'll be grown on in modules for a bit yet, planting up so that they get continual growth. The sprouts are already growing nicely from a March sowing and my red cabbage are starting to show their heads too. Will be sowing some more kale / PSB and more cabbages in the next few weeks.

[ginger ninger]

I sowed my Scarlet Kale, Dwarf Kale, Nero di Toscana Kale, Petit Posy Sprouts, Red Cabbage and P.S.B over the weekend for my winter veg, there in modules at the moment but will be potted on into 3" pots when they get bigger, then into 6" pots before planting out later on in the year.
So I'd say get your winter veg sown Currysniffa.

[Pumpkin Becki]

I sewed broccoli, cauli, Brussels and Early PSB a couple of weeks ago in modules. You really have to plan ahead with winter brassicas otherwise you miss the boat altogether.

[Currysniffa]

Thanks for the ideas guys I really appreciate all your input!! more seeds needed mi thinks, what do you mine by PSB?

[Pumpkin Becki]

Apologies Currysniffa, PSB is an abreviation of Purple Sprouting Broccoli.

[Currysniffa]

Apologies Currysniffa, PSB is an abreviation of Purple Sprouting Broccoli.

Of course it is, sorry must have had my thick head on this morning, I have some PSB I bought £1.20 for 12 plugs, I thought that was a bargain..

[zazen999]

What you can do if your plot is still not ready - is to make up a seed bed and either sow straight into it or plant out from modules into it - so that you can put your brassicas into their final positions later in the year. Meanwhile, pop a fleece or net over them during the summer so that you keep the cabbage whites off them. a 1m seed bed can hold pretty much a large lottie's worth of brassicas just whilst you are getting the ground ready.

[northepaul]

I was planning on doing exactly what you have all said!
sowing Nero di tosca, red russian kales and some PSB continually potting them on until the veg patch is free (sept-ish) and planting them out to over winter with some garlic for company.
I figured if I have them in pots until then, at least I can move them around and keep the pigeons off!

[Currysniffa]

What you can do if your plot is still not ready - is to make up a seed bed and either sow straight into it or plant out from modules into it - so that you can put your brassicas into their final positions later in the year. Meanwhile, pop a fleece or net over them during the summer so that you keep the cabbage whites off them. a 1m seed bed can hold pretty much a large lottie's worth of brassicas just whilst you are getting the ground ready.

That's a great idea thank you!