What outdoor winter veg do I need to cover/protect?

[kathyd]

Hi. I've got various bits of stuff growing in the garden, but I'm getting confused about what will be OK as it is, and what will need some protection... I have:

leeks
sprouts
PSB (fallen over, but still alive!)
kale
cauliflowers
chard
onion sets/shallots/garlic
parsnips
long black radishes
perpetual spinach
beetroot

I assumed I wouldn't need to cover brassicas for example, but I'm sure that in the latest gyo magazine someone's got their kale under a cloche... and I'm pretty sure I've also read things that suggest covering leeks? Last year the leeks were fine uncovered, but it wasn't very cold.

Pls advise - we've started our first frosts now and I'd hate to lose things to the weather! I'm still battling slugs, caterpillars and cabbage root fly, I have enough problems!

Thx

[northepaul]

Hi,
everything except the spinach/beets should be ok, providing its not just been planted.....I dont have perpertual spinach, (just the regular stuff) and it dies back when frosty, comes back in spring. I dont usually leave beets overwinter, because (please correct me if I'm wrong, someone) they become woody....

[rustylady]

I think people cover their brassicas and leeks for insect protection rather than frost protection.

[BertieFox]

Depends entirely on the weather conditions you expect in the winter. Here, where we get minus 20C alternated with warm periods, even sprouts and kale can succumb to the frosting and defrosting, but in the UK I would cover the beets and Swiss Chard. Few of the other things you mention will succumb, in fact many benefit from a touch of frost. Make sure your leeks are a hardy winter variety rather than autumn ones.

[kathyd]

Excellent, thanks . If the beets have beeted, I'll lift them and stick them in sand probably - there are only a few anyway. And I'll cover the chard, and also the spinach if it's still there - forgot to check today - because I like it in soup over the winter . Some of the leeks are blue de solaise, which are supposed to stand well over the winter. The others are jaune de something beginning with p I believe, and less hardly, so we'll eat those first. And the brassicas can stay as they are under their debris netting . Am I too late to stake the PSB now? They're biggish plants, I don't know if I'd do more harm than good wrenching them upright at this stage?

[PyreneesPlot]

If you are in slugsville, just watch for the slugs making a new home under the protection. Board and lodging!!

[Chef_uk]

Slugs have been eating my Swedes

[kathyd]

If you are in slugsville, just watch for the slugs making a new home under the protection. Board and lodging!!

Oh yes, definitely slugsville... they get everywhere, they're horrible. They've killed another one of my kale plants - a big plant too - they kind of crawl into the middle of the stem somehow and eat them from the inside out, and I don't notice until the poor plant goes rotten and slimy and all its leaves drop off... downside of debris netting I suppose, it's not very easy to see through. So thanks for the warning and reminder!

[kathyd]

Slugs have been eating my Swedes

. They eat everything don't they? They have no respect!! There should be a law against it...

[Vince G]

Better pick my perp spinach then afore ye frosts arrive.....

[roitelet]

I would cover the PSB if I were you, I have lost it several years running to frost and snow. If it is already lying down it will be easy to fleece!

[BertieFox]

Sorry Kathyd, I hadn't noticed you were in Brittany. Swiss Chard should be fine up there with your maritime climate (unless you are in frost pocket and miles from the sea!) as it mostly comes through the winter here with no problem (or comes back I should say from the roots). Brittany is also the home of the overwintered cauliflowers or broccolis so those should be fine.