Page 8 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2023

Let’s start with the British populations favourite subject, the weather! Listening to the forecasts it seems to vary throughout the UK although the western side seems to have got more rain than the east which is normal. Scotland seems to have had some sunny weather but low temperatures at night. We had
a very hot June in the southern half of England, and I had doubts if I would get much of a harvest and had fears
of having to put my hand in my pocket to buy some vegetables something I have not done for more years than I can remember. July has been wet, although we have had some dry sunny days and reasonable temperatures but not really hot. Some evenings have been cool
for the time of year this has resulted in masses of green growth and if it carries on I am looking forward to good crops. The early potatoes produced a low
yield but the maincrop are looking good especially if what is in the soil is as good as what is above. Both the onion and leeks made very little growth in June but have made plenty in July and look very promising.
The sweet corn looks like a dwarf cultivar, but many seem to have two cobs a plant which is better than I normally do so hopefully a good yield. Carrot germination was non existent in the spring but my third sowing in July has resulting in an excellent germination, and I hope for good although late crops. The summer and winter squash sat sulking all June after planting but are now growing like topsy. Tomatoes have been slow but are looking very healthy, they are just not ripening yet at the time of writing in early August. Peppers are also slow, but both cucumbers and melons are doing brilliantly and if they continue, I could get my best ever crop of melons!
My water butts were emptying fast by early July, and I had visions of needing tap water soon, but they are now all full and
I will have enough to see me through to the autumn. What is going really well this year is my compost heaps! I am managing to persuade some of my neighbours to give me their grass cuttings and some other green waste and as I purchased a shredder last year, I am shredding anything a bit woody and mixing with the grass cuttings. It heats up overnight and by the following day is too hot to leave your hand in the heap. At present I have three heaps
on the go and anticipate a good supply
for the garden by the autumn! Please see my article on feeding the soil for why you should be applying as much organic matter as you can to your soil. I am thinking of trying a hotbed later in the winter if I can still get sufficient material.
Whilst on the topic of the weather we have been lucky to miss the extreme temperature that Europe
has suffered and the
crops especially if use in conjunction with hotbeds.
October is often considered to be the start of the gardening year, or at least the serious planning stage as now is the time to get your seed orders in as the new catalogues are out and an early order will get the cultivars you want before they sell out especially the new or popular ones.
8 Simply Vegetables
Kelvin’s Comments
resulting wildfires. If there are any climate change doubters still surely this should get the message home. The British meteorological office are predicting longer and hotter summers for the U.K most years in the future and we need to prepare for this both as a society and
give a man
some vegetables
and feed him
for a day, teach
him to grow
vegetables and
feed him and
his family for individuals. life
Food inflation especially
vegetable and fresh crops
is going to continue, not
at the current rate of 17%
but will be higher than general inflation. This is owing to a number of factors some of which are beyond our control, so it is even more important than ever to grow your own; this applies again to society
and individuals. We need to become more self-sufficient and less reliant on importing from other countries. Growing your own is good for the environment, good for you as it provides exercise, good for mental health and will save you money – what more do you want?
October is not too late to sow / plant some crops to give you a good start in
the spring and help avoid the hungry gap period. The following vegetables can be sown now broad beans, salad leaves, and peas can be given a try although I have never had much success with autumn sown peas. Overwintering onion sets
can be planted along with shallots and garlic. Make use of any indoor space like greenhouses, polytunnels, conservatories, cold frames or even cloches. In fact, the windowsill will produce a few crops of sprouting seeds and seedlings to eat. Cold frames and cloches may be old fashioned, but they are easy to construct are cheap and are what the old-fashioned Head Gardeners in the stately homes used to get some of their winter and early spring
Also, any fruit trees and bushes should be ordered now ready for planting before Christmas. As I have mentioned in the article
on feeding the soil now
is the time of year to get organic matter onto the soil whether you are a digger or no-digger.
Once you have done your winter digging and are satisfied that the soil is well watered by the winter rains (it is at field capacity is the technical term when it is holding the maximum amount of water it can)
then cover the soil with polythene or plastic sheeting to reduce the leaching of nutrients by heavy rainstorms.
In this issue we have an article by Andy White setting out how he took on and cleared a new allotment and what he did, now is the time to start this process, if possible, rather than wait until the spring when the weeds are growing, and you need to get your crops into the ground. If started now you have the winter to clear and dig or mulch the area rather than having to rush it and it is good warm winter work! Many councils and private allotments start their tenant agreements in the spring, which is not ideal, if you want a new plot try to persuade them to let you start now.
Some D.A’s and branches may be planning their stands for the various shows they attend during the year, if you need
a topic do anything that will encourage people to grow their own (I know some of you have done this!). My thinking behind this suggestion is that it can help to reduce poverty and to paraphrase Jesus “Give
a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and feed him for life”; so give a man some vegetables and feed him for a day, teach him to grow vegetables and feed him and his family for life. We need
to become more self-sufficient and rely
KELVIN MASON FNVS, NATIONAL MAGAZINE EDITOR