Is It Late

[finney]

can anybody tell me weather its to late or do i still have time to grow from seed,
i have done very well with my early crop of carrots,spring onions,radish,that i planted back at the begining of march,am i to late to sow more or wot would be the best thing to sow now at this time of the year.Please give me a list

P.s am i to late for onions sets if i can still get my hands on some as the early ones i plantedin march will soon be ready for pulling.

Many Thanks
Finney

[bluemoon]

It's way too late for onion sets as they need to have made all their growth by the longest day, that way the leaves can feed the swelling bulb over the next couple of months. You could order some autumn planted ones, they will arrive in late summer and you can set them out in October for overwintering. Peas can still be sown as can most salad crops such as spring onions and radish. You could wait a month or so and sow a row or two of carrots for the winter months and both French and Runner beans can be sown now and will keep producing until the first frosts.

[gojiberry]

Every one has their own ideas on how late you can sow the various crops, but a lot depends on growing conditions and weather. If you can get some cheap onion sets I would bung them in if you have spare space, you wont get full sized onions but they will grow bigger then what they start at. Turnip is a fairly quick crop and should do OK before winter. Khol rabi, spinach and swiss chard can be sown up to the end of July. Peas and carrots as well. And don't forget all the salad stuff as well.

Ian

[finney]

thankyou for your ideas

[rainbowbrite]

i have to say i really never follow packet guidelines, a lot of success will depend on your area so if you can afford to then just give them a try, if they don't work then you know for next year just keep a note somewhere to remind yourself

[Paulottie]

You need to perhaps plan your year. A lot of crops benefit from sowing little and often you then get a succession of food rather than gluts. gardening is a rhythm thing.

Those crops that can be sown now might Include:
beans
courgettes
beetroot
fennel
endives
swede
turnip
kale
and these will still enjoy the cooler conditions of Autumn
lettuce
peas
pak choi
spinach



Alliums are quite daylight sensitive. Onion sets come twice a year: September planting for June harvest - when dried well will last till Xmas. March planting for an August Harvest ...store till March. Thus onions all year..April is a bit tricky (overwinter spring onions? or eat those that bolt..if any)

[zazen999]

Although if you sow some spring onions now they will be ready in the later autumn, and if you sow some onions in about 3 months and overwinter them they will be starting to be big enough this time next year to start eating. They can be kept as seedlings in a bed somewhere throughout the winter and planted out in their final positions in about March/April. The picture shows onions that were sown from seed last September.

[indigox]

So when is the best time to plant onion seeds? (as opposed to sets)