Stuff to grow?

Morning all!

Just taken over a poorly maintained plot and have now cleared a small patch for autumn but need a few ideas of what to plant now.

Any suggestions welcome-clean only!

 

Thats the trouble with getting the plot at this time of the year. How about spuds, onions, garlic, leeks?

 

I think Leeks will run to seed next Spring (and not fatten up in time for this Winter)

Only thing I plant at this time of year is Garlic (the Autumn-planting varieties) and Japanese Onions.

Worth preparing the soil for next year so that the Winter Frosts can do a good job of weathering it

When you have plenty of bare earth (after planting what you can ) then I suggest sowing Green Manure on the "fallow" plots. Pick one suitable for over-wintering, and choose a seed supplier that doesn't sell silly little packets, as you will need quite a lot of seed to broadcast over the whole bed(s)

Moles Seeds would be my choice of bulk-buy for Green Manure

Be careful about using Brassica green manures if you have Club Root on your plot and/or taking into account where Brassicas will be in your rotation (or avoid Brassica green manures altogether!)

 

If you like Broad Beans, there's still plenty of time for an autumn sowing.
The best variety for overwintering is Aquadulce Claudia, sow them around early November and they'll be fine.
You should have beans ready for picking by mid June.

 

Aquadulce is a hardy thing, but personally I prefer to sow them in small pots / modules early in the new year and plant out. I think a really hard winter still knocks Broad Beans back - even Aquadulce.

Or do both ... plant some outside now, and be ready to bring some more on in pots as "insurance"