Getting re-started

[Faughan]

Hi all! Our allotments were closed last year. Fortunately I've moved house since and have a garden. I've just built two raised beds and a small greenhouse (6.2 x 6.2ft).

In previous years, I always planted the spuds on March 17th and harvest them around mid- July. Then I would have transplanted courgettes out and sow radishes, turnips, etc.

I've never had planted anything in mid- August, and I'm not sure what could I grow now. Usually, Autumn is very mild here (7C* to 14C*).

I like most green leaves vegetables (spinach, escarole, kale, swiss chard) and root veggies (turnips, carrots, radishes, beets). I guess it's too late for broad beans and peas.

Thanks!

[Penellype]

Plenty of things you can still grow...

You should have plenty of time to sow winter spinach and spring cabbage. You could also try turnips, kohlrabi, quick growing carrots (eg small round ones) and beetroot. I don't know about chard, escarole and kale, but you definitely have time for florence fennel, mooli (winter radish), winter lettuce and corn salad.

You should be able to sow broad beans in the autumn for an early crop next year, same for the round seeded varieties of peas. I also sow peas over the winter under cover for pea shoots.

[Faughan]

Thanks! I've beets, radishes, winter spinach and turnip seeds. I'll give it a go. I've also Endive Cornet De Bordeaux seeds, not sure if they are suitable, but I'll try anyway.

Also, I've runner beans, not broad beans and peas. I don't think runner beans will survive our winters.

I'm taking a look at seeds online. There're lettuce Winter Density as well as Corn Salad D Orlanda, Vit, Verte De Cambrai and Dutch Broad leaved. Going to order some of them.

Also, I need to buy 'big' strawberries. I only have alpine ones in small pots I planted from seeds years ago. I can't seem to find seeds for non alpine, not sure if it's the wrong time of the year.

[Penellype]

Its too late for runner beans now.

Ordinary strawberries are usually grown from runners rather than seeds. Plants are usually available online in spring, usually bare rooted, or you can get some of the more popular varieties in pots in garden centres in spring. There are a large number of different varieties, some grown to fruit early or late, and some perpetuals which fruit on and off from early summer to the first frosts. I've tried several of these and come to the conclusion that the early varieties tend to be fairly tasteless and the later ones get too many pests. The one I like best is Marshmello, but there are plenty to choose from.

[Faughan]

Thanks again. My local Lidl and Home Base, sells strawberry plants. I'll wait until next year to buy them and will check if I can get runners from them (not sure if all strawberry plants produce them).

[Nicos]

You might find strawberries at garden centres now which would have their price reduced?
Always worth a look