New to this - advice please for growing from Sep

[pinpin79]

Hi,

We have a decent sized veg plot that weve given up to landshare for 3 years because I am utterly clueless. Next year the person who was using it can't so I'm thinking I'll try again and see if ANYTHING will grow for me. As he's just uprooted everything and the soil looks good to go I was thinking of planting a few things for the end of the year with the attitude of 'it'll be nice if it works but won't put me off'

Anyway, I've got spinach, broad beans and spring onions all of which say Sep'ish is ok to plant but I was wondering if there ware any broccoli, cabbage or potato varieties that would be good to plant now? I'm not worried about when I want to harvest (ie Christmas) I just want to see if I can get something to grow.

Thanks.

[Penellype]

Its probably a bit late for broccoli and potatoes, but I grow a spring cabbage called Spring Hero, which can be sown now. You can also sow corn salad (lamb's lettuce) now which is winter hardy and produces small leaves for salads.

[Likac66]

Garlic and onion sets.

You could buy young plants of various brassicas - I bought curly kale and PSB today at my local garden centre and they also had calabrese, cabbage and cauliflower. I have some cabbage and kale nero plants on their way this week.

You could plant some speedy veg salad leaves. Also rocket, mizuna and other winter salad leaves.

I think turnips are ok to plant now.

You can overwinter broad beans and peas.

Red cardinal spinach.

Mooli radish apparently - not that I've ever tried them.

[Guykp57]

why do people say no to Potatoes what about Autumn ones, i've put about 20 tubers in my plot, please dont tell me i'm going to get no return. I bought them with intention of having fresh new potatoes for Xmas.or

[rustylady]

why do people say no to Potatoes what about Autumn ones, i've put about 20 tubers in my plot, please dont tell me i'm going to get no return. I bought them with intention of having fresh new potatoes for Xmas.or

Because potatoes are tender plants (i.e. frost kills them).

[solway cropper]

why do people say no to Potatoes what about Autumn ones, i've put about 20 tubers in my plot, please dont tell me i'm going to get no return. I bought them with intention of having fresh new potatoes for Xmas.or

If you want Christmas potatoes you need to give them some protection such as a greenhouse or polytunnel and then hope that you don't get any sharp frosts. Most people that have tried it end up disappointed and go back to the traditional roasties with their festive dinner.

[WendyC]

The seed potatoes you buy for Christmas potatoes are the same ones as you buy to plant in March or April. All that is different is that they have been stored for longer in a cold store so they don't sprout. Potatoes are not frost hardy, they weren't earlier in the year and they won't be now. If we get a mild Autumn you may be lucky and get something back.

[kathyd]

Hi Pinpin. I wouldn't want to waste a plot either! Plus it's better to grow something on it than leave it bare, it protects the soil from some of the harsh winter weather. Even if you don't grow any veg crops, you could at least throw some green manures down and dig them in next spring... I'm still planting seeds at the moment, although I'll be putting some of the plants into the polytunnel over the winter, and I have fleece and pieces of polythene to cover the outdoor ones if the weather turns really bad. You don't say where you are in the country - if you add your location to your profile it'd be easier for people to make suggestions to you...

My polytunnel book says you can sow in September: lettuce, spinach (I'd go for the winter / perennial type), oriental greens (look at seed suppliers' websites), pak choi, rocket, cress and onions. Onion sets can be planted Sept/Oct, and garlic in November. These usually do better for me (outside) than spring planted ones. I also have some 'All the Year Round' cauliflowers which say I can sow now, and which 'should' overwinter to give me a crop in the spring. We'll see . Also broad beans in October, and early peas - only some varieties though, think it's the round seeds not the wrinklies? Check the packet or instructions on seed websites.