Page 37 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2024

October
It is rather late for sowing most seeds but there are some that you can still
sow such as salad crops, particularly lettuce, radish and corn salad. At this time of year, I think they are better sown in cell trays in the cold greenhouse, except radishes which should be sown direct. If you are going to plant them
out later, you are better protecting them with cloches. You could also plant them in the greenhouse border. Varieties of lettuce to sow now are Arctic King (T), Vailan winter gem (D), and Marvel of four seasons (B). For corn salad, there is Vit (R, B,) and for radish China rose (R) and Mantanghong (D). The key to suppliers can be found at the top of this page.
Broad beans and peas can also be sown now for overwintering. I think they are best sown in individual pots in a cold greenhouse. When planted out, even though they are hardy, I think they should be protected with cloches. Rake in some general fertiliser before planting. For broad beans at this time of year the most widely grown varieties are Aquadulce Claudia, De Monica and Luz de otona, all of which are sold by most suppliers. There is also Super Aquadulce (B, F). For peas, you need a round seeded variety because they are hardier than the
wrinkled ones. By far the
most popular variety is
Douce Provence (most
suppliers).
Basket of veg for the harvest
For the last two months I have told you about planting onion sets but you can still plant them now if not done before. The varieties for planting now are Senshyu yellow (T, B,), Radar (B), Shakespear (B) and Autumn champion (D, S, T,).
Garlic can also be planted, the varieties being Elephant (D. S. M. T. R. B.), Kingsland
Seasonal jobs
DEREK BROOKS FNVS
Rhubarb can also be planted now. Prepare the ground by digging in plenty of manure or garden compost.
Cactus dahlia 'Kenora Sunset'
under cloches, but I think they are better planted in the greenhouse or polytunnel border.
I said last month that you could start planting spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, narcissi, and crocuses (not tulips till November). You can carry on planting them this month. There will be plenty of choice in your local garden centre. Spring bedding plants such as wallflowers will also be available for garden centres if you haven’t grown any yourself.
You should still have plenty of crops to harvest now but some may already have finished. When crops have finished you will, of course, be left with vacant ground. With other plants you will have to dig them up and put them on the compost but don’t put any on that are diseased. When you have vacant ground, fork it over, removing any weeds. If you have a surplus of any crops,
wight (D. S. T. B.), Carcassonne wight (D. S. T. R. B. F.), Caulk wight (R. B.), Provence wight (B.) Eden rose (D., S. T.), and Germadour (T.).
Rhubarb can also be planted now. Prepare the ground by digging in plenty of manure or garden compost. Also, large clumps of rhubarb can be dug up and divided.
If you sowed some winter or spring cabbage, cauliflowers, or sprouting broccoli in pots in summer, as I
suggested, they should be large plants by now and you need to plant them out as soon as you can while the ground is still reasonably warm, before the cold weather comes.
You may have some salad plants such
as lettuce from earlier sowings ready for planting. You can risk planting them outside
KEY TO SUPPLIERS
D – Dobies
S – Suttons
B – Browns
F – Fothergills R – Robinsons
Sh – Shelleys M – Marshalls T – Thompson and Morgans
I don’t sow my sweet
peas till spring because I
want the flowers for the
August and September
shows. If you want flowers
earlier you can sow them
now for overwintering,
as many people do. They
are best sown individually
in small pots in a cold
greenhouse. I use drinking cups for these and for the peas mentioned above. They can be overwintered in a cold frame or left in the greenhouse till spring then planted out.
You can also sow some herbs on the kitchen windowsill such as parsley, basil, and coriander for use in winter. You could also dig some up from the garden, pot them up and keep them indoors.
Simply Vegetables 37