Page 39 - Simply Vegetables Summer 2023

The main thing with kale is to protect it from birds and caterpillars using fleece or netting. They can make large plants so need a bit of space and may need a cane or small stake for support in windy areas.
Start sowing slightly earlier than most winter leaves in June, but you still have time to sow now in July as sowing can continue until late August. Sow into trays and prick out into modules or sow two seed per 7cm module and when germinated thin to the strongest seedling. When the plants are 10cm high plant out at 30 to 40cm apart in rows 50cm apart, firm in well and water in especially if dry. Hoe the area as required to stop weeds establishing and make sure the bird protection is effective.
Kale is very hardy and will start to produce new growth from mid-February to March once large enough picking can commence, keep picking until about May when they go to seed; the flowers are also edible.
Land cress again is very hardy and
can be picked most of the winter if not overdone, grow as for corn salad by sowing thinly from July to late August. The early sowings can be harvested in September and October and the plants will then regrow in the spring; the later sowings will be ready in the late winter / early spring.
Rhubarb chard
Curly Kale ‘Rednex’
Winter purslane; have a look at the article on unusual vegetables as the growing details are in there, this is another very easy and hardy salad leaf and well worth a try; it can self-seed so you have been warned!
Rocket, I have to admit is not to my
taste, it seems to taste of rocket fuel! Not that I have ever tried rocket fuel. Many people obviously like it as it sells well in supermarkets in mixed salad leaves and the seed are available from many suppliers. It also seems to be a regular vegetable in magazines as one of the free seeds or is that because the seed firms cannot sell them – just being facetious! There are two main types of rocket available, wild and salad, the wild is a stronger flavour so go for the salad type if you want a milder taste. Sow the seed from July to September thinly in rows 1cm deep and 15 to 20cm apart,
if grown as a cut and come again crop
Chard yellow
the rows can be closer. The seed can also be sown in modules with 3 / 4 seed per module and lightly covered with compost. Once germinated and growing they can be planted out to grow on. Whichever sowing method is used there should be some leaves ready in October to early December from the earlier sowings and then more will be available in late February to May before it goes to seed. In mild spells during the winter there may be a few leaves to pick for salads or to flavour other dishes.
Have a go at growing some winter crops / leaves even if it is just to supplement other winter vegetables like parsnips, leeks, celeriac, or winter Brassicas or other vegetables from the freezer or dare I say it the supermarket. They may keep you going over winter and through the hungry gap period.
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