Advice on what to plant now!

[yakka]

Hi guys,

Im a total beginner, i am going to start doing some salad pots this weekend with some winter seeds. In regard to planting in November what is a good item to start with. Im looking for something relatively simple that produces good yield.

Ive heard about onions, garlic and beans are possible, but not sure if they should have already been planted. What would be a good idea to start potting or sowing now?

[Ryleh]

October/November is a good time to plant the things you've listed. Also Rhubarb if you have any interest in it as the crowns should be dormant by mid november so thats a good time to get and plant them.

[yakka]

October/November is a good time to plant the things you've listed. Also Rhubarb if you have any interest in it as the crowns should be dormant by mid november so thats a good time to get and plant them.

Thanks Ryleh,

In regard to the Onions and Garlic is it a good idea to start them inside then plant outside once they have developed a little? Or can i start them outside straight away?

[Penellype]

Hi yakka, welcome to the vine. Now is quite a difficult time for planting apart from the things that have already been mentioned. If you want a nice quick yield of something to eat in a salad I can recommend alfalfa sprouts. Just put a teaspoonful of seed in an old coffee jar or similar and cover it with water for 24 hrs. Put a piece of thin material (net curtain or muslin is best) over the jar secured with an elastic band, and drain off the water through it. Then rinse through the material twice a day for about a week to 10 days, when you should have loads of nice crunchy shoots. They don't even need light, so you can just leave them somewhere you won't forget them (I put mine near the kettle).

If you have a sunny windowsill you could also try microgreens (eg mustard, cress, amaranth, radish shoots, broccoli shoots etc) or pea shoots.

[Ryleh]

Straight outside is fine.

[kathyd]

Make sure you sow broad beans and not French beans won't you! And choose a variety that's good for autumn sowing eg Bunyards Exhibition and Aguadulce. I pre-germinate mine on a saucer with kitchen roll and water, and plant out once the little root has popped through. Rinse regularly to stop them going grotty though. If you can provide some cover, you could try a hardy early pea like Meteor too - I grow some in a polytunnel but I believe you can try outside - they should be OK if we have a mild winter... hmm. Again, I pre-germinate them which makes them less attractive to mice.