Slug attempting double pike dismount from my carnation
I didn’t want to use the W word. I’m not quite ready to start thinking that we’re now heading in that direction again; I don’t feel I’ve had enough of a summer yet to prepare myself for the inevitable shortening of nights and even more miserable weather than we’ve had so far this year.
Much of gardening is about planning and looking forward, and at this time of year that unfortunately means accepting that autumn is just around the corner followed by the not particularly enticing prospect of winter. I had little in the way of winter crops last year on the plot. Some cavolo nero kale, and some leeks that were given to me as small seedlings by a fellow allotmenteer. This lack of winter produce was partly because it was my first year and getting the plot up and running for spring and summer had been enough of a task and partly because I thought I might be a bit of a fair weather gardener and wouldn’t actually venture up to the plot on cold, dark winters days. The reality was somewhat different, possibly because we had such a mild autumn which ran all the way up to Christmas. I found the allotment, even at that time of year, was a useful place to escape to, somewhere to clear my head, get some fresh air and peace and quiet. I actually liked the fact that we had a few, if sparse, crops to still be able to pick. So, this year, the plan is to have a little bit more on the plot through the leaner months. And, if this is the idea, I need to start planning and sowing.
Sprouting Broccoli plants perched on a chair hopefully out of reach of slugs
Of course, my planning hasn’t been that great, as I suddenly decided I’d like to give sprouting broccoli a try but had of course missed the sowing date. Fortunately, Delfland Organic Plants came to the rescue. A few clicks on the computer and several days later I had 5 plug plants of white sprouting broccoli and 5 of a purple variety called ‘Claret’. At the same time, I happened to read an article saying that it is actually better to sow your sprouting broccoli seeds a little later, say in July, and plant out your plants in August and have smaller plants that are still as productive. I felt quite pleased that I hadn’t missed the boat.
My leeks are already planted up and celeriac, a crop that loves moisture, has thrived, in this my first attempt at growing and should be ready to harvest from October onwards. I think it’s beginners luck that, for this crop anyway, it has been such a wet year.
So, to the seed sowing. I love spring greens and have just sown a variety called ‘Wintergreen’ which should be ready to pick from February. I’m hoping to be able to keep us supplied into the autumn at least with salads. I won a packet of winter salad leaves from Sarah Raven in a competition through @Malvenmeet and Vegplotting. Thanks Michelle. Hopefully I can keep them out of reach of the slugs!
I’ve discovered 4 packets of mizuna. I’m have no idea why I have so many but I guess I’d better get sowing some of them. There’s also ‘Reine de glace’, an excellent winter hardy variety of a hearting type lettuce, that I haven’t grown before. Now is the time to sow spinach. Notorious for bolting when it gets dry and hot, late summer is the best time to sow. I have a variety called ‘Red Cardinal’ which I’m hoping will add a little bit of colour to salads later in the year. Browsing around Nicky’s Nursery website I came across Italian red veined dandelion. Bitter leaves are, apparently, very good for stimulating the liver and are especially popular on the continent but much underutilised in British cooking. I have become quite partial to some of the forced chicory but without the space to do this myself, I thought I’d just try some bitter leaves instead. I can’t quite believe I’ve actually bought dandelion seeds.
Salad crops to take us into autumn
Alongside these seeds, I already have batches of Cima di rapa, an Italian sprouting broccoli. Unfortunately, on close inspection this morning several looked like their stems had rotted. I have a few spare, in the cold frame which seem fine at the moment, so all is not lost. Russian red kale, cavolo nero and endive are all getting to a good size. I just need to clear some ground at the plot, so I can get a new crop of plants on the go.
I’d love to hear about your must-have autumn and winter crops.
wellywoman 
A very timely post as I’m getting my seed packets out with an eye on what’s needed for winter. I’ve put dandelion down on my list as a possible foraged item to supplement what I’m able to grow. I think my lawn will be able to provide loads! Therefore I won’t be joining you in ordering some seeds 😉
Landcress is a great winter crop and provides a nice peppery bite. It can be grown outside and soon perks up again after vile weather. Worth considering if you have some room to spare after showing us your impressive list!
Hi VP, Wellyman is keen on trying landcress but I’ve run out of space so I’ll leave that one for this year. To be honest trying to grow salad crops at the moment is just so damn frustrating I don’t know if I can keep on mustering the enthusiasm. As quickly as they germinate they’re got by slugs. * sighs *
I’ve FINALLY managed a slug free crop. It’s involved raising my pots on high – the resultant salad tastes even better because of all the heartache of losing so much earlier this year.
Keep going and your salad will be sweeter too!
Love your photo of the slug, what was the score you gave it! Once again you have reminded me that I should be doing something in the veggie garden, have never tried winter veg before, must give it a try this year.
A big fat zero. There are driving me potty. I’ve just discovered slugs have climbed up 6ft to get to some lettuce and they have hoovered up the whole tray. 😦
Welly, I’ve recently read that a slick of Vaseline may halt their upward progress – or any such gooey grease, I imagine. Worth a try …
Thanks for the reminder that veg gardening needs a bit of planning! I think I have got carried away with present plants and haven’t looked as far forward as Winter. You’ve inspired me to plant spinach and look for hardy salads. Your plants are looking good, nice slug picture and I’m sure you showed it who was boss!
It’s a losing battle regarding slugs. I feel well and truly defeated !!! It’s nice to have a few tasty treats to get us through autumn and winter.
Don’t let those rotten slugs get you down! I’ve used organic pellets near my veg and think I’ll try beer traps again now I am around to empty them every day.
Good luck with your winter plans. Cima Di rapa is lovely. I ate lots of it on an autumn holiday in Puglia. I always grow perpetual spinach because of the bolting problem but will give proper spinach a try with a late sowing having read this.
I only have 3 Cima di rapa plants left but hopefully I can nurse these to a good enough size to plant out. Although to be honest, with all this rain, a holiday in Puglia sounds much more appealing!! 😉
I do hope that we have a good autumn and winter, and not a miserable one that your envisioning!
I don’t grow winter crops as the plot has a winter rest, as indeed I do, but before doing so I hope to have dug it over and tidied up. xx
I’m hoping for an Indian summer, Flighty. The week’s worth of summer we recently had has been replaced by cool, wet weather. Has the jet stream moved back again?
I was thinking the same thing. Not ready for fall as winter follows and our summer has been unbearable in the garden. Well hopefully the fall will be kind to all of us gardeners.
Fingers crossed, Donna. Otherwise I might look at emigrating ;).
I was trying to decide which bed to plant the garlic in this Fall! I have found myself in the piles of garden harvest wandering to the “what to grow next year” daydream!
Stacey
I’m just wondering where all these plants will go. A bit of a juggling act will follow over the coming months, removing plants and replacing them. WW
Good to see that the slugs are getting into the spirit of things over there. I am also casting my thoughts forwards to winter and am going to give purple sprouting broccoli a try. I’m a bit late, but our winters are so mild until January that I’m hoping I can get away with it.
The slugs are more than getting into the spirit of things. In fact, I’m feeling completely dispirited by them. Just discovered another tray of lettuce seedlings destroyed. 😦 I love PSB and it’s so expensive to buy and pretty difficult to get it organic so I’m hoping mine is a success.
Fingers crossed, then, and I hope the slugs find better things to occupy their time with than destroying your seedlings.
I don’t understand why slugs don’t go for all the other debris lying around. I guess I’m providing them with the human equivalent of a gourmet meal!
It’s the big fat orange ones that hoover up the debris, the black ones are the enemy… and it’s off to the saline spa for them in my plot!
Good luck! Mizuna is great – very tasty but so hardy too. The snow has been the only thing that’s finished it off in recent years for me.
I love Mizuna, obviously, since I’ve bought 4 packets of seed of the stuff. It’s great to find tough plants that can cope with the winter weather.
I see slugs featuring in their own special Olympic events – yours looks like a gold medal winner. I’ve have had little plants from Delfland Organics a couple of times now and have been most pleased with the quality.
Mmmmm gold medal winning chompers too. Think I’ve given up trying salad leaves at home.
I’m sowing in readiness for winter but keeping the plants in my mini-greenhouse until there’s space. I loved the excuse to be outdoors last winter, checking on my cauliflowers (nine star perennial) and cavolo nero. This year I’m extending the range with Pak Choi, Choy Sum, Kabuki (mini) cabbage, some salad on the (slug free) balcony and romanesco caulis (love those bright green twirlers!). Thanks for the tip about Delfland Organics, always good to have a back up plan ; ) x
Eek! I need to get some purple sprouting broccoli plugs ordered, and more importantly, get a bed going to plant them out in… Once the roofers have gone… I’ve sown various orientals (pak choi, tsoi sim, mibuna) and mustards, and have my fingers firmly crossed that the slugs avoid the surrounding gravel and munch elsewhere!
My autumn and winter salad leaves are coming on but it has been so wet I haven’t been able to get out and do anything else. I really need a week of dry weather to catch up on all my jobs. *wishful thinking*