Page 19 - ALG Issue 3 2021

over now so they should be ok. Later sowings of runner beans and Climbing French Bean Cobra are sown under glass and just poking through and will go out later.
In the polytunnel the indoor tomatoes and peppers have been planted and already have flowers appearing on first truss. Cucumbers will be planted in early June; these are making nice plants in the greenhouse. I have
seen too many cucumbers, planted early in cold greenhouses and polytunnels, collapse and die from planting far too early, and those some fellow plotholders planted out in the polytunnel in April certainly looked sad after some well below freezing nights and they had to start again.
Many older readers will remember
the old open pollinated overwinter cauliflower varieties like St George and Late Queen. These were cauliflowers sown in May/ June one year, planted out and harvested the following April /May. These varieties have long disappeared
to seed banks due to many gardeners stopping growing them as they were not of good enough quality or as reliable
for modern commercial growers. Well, look out in your 2022 Seed catalogue for a New Hybrid Over Winter cauliflower called Aureo F1; you will see me holding two cauliflowers Aureo F1, sown early in June 2020 and harvested in May 2021. They are massive like footballs, and I have trialled these for two years and I think they will make a great addition to our plots. Giving the first cauliflower of the season, they fill that gap from when Sprouting broccoli finishes. The flavour is superb; they have good curd cover to protect from the bad winter weather.
If sown in May you could be cutting in April the following year but be prepared to have on the plot for at least eleven months and give plenty of room, but I think certainly it is worth it.
Rhubarb Fulton’s Strawberry Surprise has shot into growth since the rains
as this is quite a late emerging variety and will provide plenty of delicious desserts for many months as it is one of the few varieties that can be harvested throughout the year. Better go now as the rain has stopped and I can hopefully get on with that planting. Don’t forget if any NAS member has a seed problem and needs some free advice, the team at Kings Seeds are always at the end of a phone to help. Happy Gardening!
Andrew Tokely, Horticultural Director for Kings Seeds
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 19