Page 16 - ALG Issue 3 2021

seasonal jobs to do...
Many maincrops will be coming to fruition this month and suitable storage methods should be prepared - see storage article on page 14.
As crops are lifted, continue to clear the soil of weeds, and lightly fork over; it will pay dividends later. If sown early enough in the month, a hardy over-wintering green manure will help to suppress weeds and improve soil.
Greenhouses will need to be ventilated much later in the day and closed up by early evening to trap the warm in and help to finish ripening the last of the tomatoes.
Remove shading from the greenhouse to allow in all possible light.
Those of us, who have been unable to garden early in the season, still have time to sow some crops to overwinter and pick in spring.
VEGETABLES
• In unheated frames, polytunnels or cloches, sow hardier types of lettuce, endive, radish, or mustard.
• Sow spring cabbage, spinach, and turnips for Christmas.
• Sow winter salad mixes, mizuna or mibuna in a sheltered spot outside.
• Plant out early spring cabbages into well prepared but firm soil.
• Continue to earth up trenching celery, a little at a time.
• Sow a winter hardy variety of cauliflower.
September
Sow spring cabbage, spinach, and turnips for Christmas
• Peasandbeans,thathavebeen allowed to set seed, should be lifted now and the seed pods left to fully dry in a warm airy shed or greenhouse until the pods are fully dry.
October
Colder, damper weather will start to creep in, so take advantage of any fair weather to stay ahead of tasks. Clear away fallen leaves, use to make leaf- mould or add to the general compost heap. Prepare the ground for any
new fruit, thoroughly digging the soil, removing all traces of perennial weeds, and adding whatever organic matter
is available. A good general fertiliser should be raked in, and the site allowed to settle naturally for a few weeks before planting.
Keep ahead with the clearance of the plot, remove any spent crops, and add these to the compost heap if they are free from disease. Cultivate the soil, leaving it rough for the winter frosts to break down. For no-diggers, autumn is a good time to mulch while the soil is warm and moist.
As frosts can start to creep in, have protection ready for any tender crops.
It is often advisable to protect any developing late cauliflowers by breaking a few leaves over the curd.
VEGETABLES
• Finishplantingspringcabbage.
• Coverspinachwithfleece.
• Plantgarlic–choseasuitablevariety
such as Caulk Wight or Provence
Wight.
• Stake all tall growing brassica crops
with a stout cane. It can also help to draw a little soil up around the bases of such plants, and firm with the heel.
• Asparagus beds should now be cut back, all weeds removed and a little more mulch added. Well-rotted manure or garden compost is ideal.
• Complete the earthing up of celery. • Complete harvesting of all
maincrops.
November
Shorter days and colder weather can make getting to the plot more difficult, but, if you dig, try and keep ahead with the winter digging, when conditions are suitable. November is a good month for planting new fruit trees, canes and bushes in land that was prepared last month. Ensure that new specimens are properly staked and tied in well against hard winter winds.
Inspect any stored produce regularly, removing anything that looks like it is going bad before it can spread.
Inspect any stored produce regularly, removing anything that looks like it is going bad
A hardy variety of peas can be sown in a sheltered place if you live in a warm sheltered location. Broad beans can also be sown now for an early crop, though on plots where the soil is heavy and moisture retentive. These may
be better sown in pots indoors before hardening off and planting out.
VEGETABLES
• After a few good hard frosts but before the ground is heavily frozen, lift some parsnips and swede to store.
• StarttoharvestBrusselssproutsand kales as they come to maturity. Start picking at the bottom of the stalk on sprouts and remove any buttons that have blown or not developed properly.
16 Allotment and Leisure Gardener