Autumn Planting

[glenrobbo1968]

Hi All,
Im very new to the allotment scene and alao to this website, but here goes with my question.
What are the best things to plant in the Autumn time after i have cleared the summer crops, and do i need to do anything with the soil ie manure,compost etc.
Thanks

[Two_Sheds]

Nothing much will actively grow over winter.
If you plant things like Japanese onions, broad beans, radish & winter lettuce in Oct/Nov, they will put down roots and 'take off' in the spring.

[HotStuff]

How about some Garlic? I put mine in in October.

[bluemoon]

There are varieties of broad bean and pea which overwinter, also autumn planted onions and garlic. If you're going to buy onion sets then you really need good quality ones. Dobies produce a catalogue at this time of year from which I've bought my sets for the last 5 years and they've always produced beautiful onions. This catalogue also lists various seeds which can be bought and sown now ready to go in when the summer crops are harvested. In addition to the usual spring cabbage they have a quite a few things you probably wouldn't normally have considered.

[HayleyB]

I'm waiting for room to put in my leeks, I'll be putting in broads and peas in October, onion sets and garlic. I'm starting to sow winter radishes (oriental) and I'm continuing with carrots in my big tattie bags as they can go in the conservatory to grow on over winter, my parsnips are also in bags which means I can pull them over winter - I'll bring them in to the conservatory after they've had a good freeze (freezing sweetens them) as it'll make pulling them out when I need them a tad easier..

I'll also sow oriental salad leaves and rocket which does well in the autumn. I've just put in my kale for over winter greens and I've got PSB in the ground for harvest early next year.

[Snadger]

Can't have enough spring cabbage as far as me and the chooks are concerned!

Growing two types this year, the pointy Durham Earlies and trialing a ball headed variety as well. Jap onions have been good this year so intend planting a lot more in the autumn. still have loads of leeks to plant out along with swede plants. Might make another sowing of mooli as well!

[rustylady]

I'll definitely be doing onions again - mine did well last year. Leeks too. September's a good time for planting fruit bushes and canes.

[Lovage]

And if you've got any space left after all that, try a green manure like Winter Tares
It will prevent all the nutrients being leached away with winter rains, then give you some extra when it's dug in at springtime

[bluemoon]

And if you've got any space left after all that, try a green manure like Winter Tares
It will prevent all the nutrients being leached away with winter rains, then give you some extra when it's dug in at springtime

Unless you have a clay soil. Mine is clay and I've never had any problem with it, but Tares just don't want to know. Field beans will fix nitrogen just the same, but are a little more tolerant of varying soil types.

[zazen999]

And in any spare spaces; you can do worse than put Limanthes in - sow in the autumn and they are the first thing to flower in the spring - they grab the bees in the early spring and give them a heady dose of pollen - they literally are buzzing for weeks on end.

[Limanthes = Poached egg plant....as recommended by two_sheds]