Page 42 - Simply Veg 3.21

Kale ‘Cavolo Nero’
Although not mentioned in the table another late crop are new potatoes for Christmas which are becoming popular. These are planted into large containers, potato bags or similar into John Innes or multipurpose composts during late July/early August. Place about 20cm of compost into the container and then put one or two seed potatoes on top and cover with another 20cm of compost. They can
Kale ‘Darkibor’
not too wet and avoid wetting the foliage
or potato blight could be a problem. The containers can be given a weekly liquid feed or a top dressing of Growmore or similar fertiliser. Once the foliage dies down remove this but leave the potatoes in the container until required.
Charlotte is possible the most common cultivar available, but Maris Peer, Rocket,
Lettuce
be grown outdoors during
August and September
and then moved into a cold
greenhouse or polytunnel
in early October to finish off
growth and keep them frost
free. The seed potatoes
used need to have been
cold stored from the spring,
do not use this year’s summer grown potatoes as they need to go through a cold (dormancy) period before they will regrow. Once the plants are growing earth up
until the container is full to encourage the production of tubers. Keep well-watered but
Swift and Nicola are also worth growing, it needs to be an early type that will complete it growing cycle in the time available and produce a reasonable crop.
So have a go at growing some late crops especially if you have some spare seed left and make use of
any spare ground. If you have the ground
it seems silly not to use it and produce crops into the winter. You will have fresh vegetables right up to Christmas with little time and effort from ground that is often wasted and just getting weedy. By the time you have harvested the crops the ground can be winter dug or if a no-dig gardener covered with mulch ready for next year. If cleared in November it is not too late to sow a green manure crop of field beans to leave overwinter and dig in or compost in the spring, this will reduce any leaching of nutrients to a minimum and keeps the soil covered.
Enjoy your late sown vegetables!
The seed potatoes used need to have been cold stored from the spring
Mangetout ‘Sweet Delight’
Lettuce Leroy and Freckles
Fennel Rondo
Parsley Moss Curled
42 Simply Vegetables