What veg can I plant now?

Hi all
My neighbour has taken down a Pine tree which has opened up an area of garden which is going to be my veg plot, very exciting. I've put in some salad seeds and started off some runner beans in the greenhouse. I'm new to this grow your own and any advice would be muchly appreciated. I've got some potatoes and sprouts ordered for harvesting later in the year. My worry is that I'm too late for other than the salad crops. I have a greenhouse to try to help boost any seeds along.

 

Not knowing what you like to eat, how about some carrots?

I grow a variety called Maestro which claims to be carrot fly resistant and certainly my crop last year was very clean.

 

Thanks Flinty, great minds eh, I have planted some Maestro last week! Did you protect them from carrot fly or believe the packet? :WINK1: Oh and as long as it's called "food" I like it! Thanks again

 

I didn't try and put up any defences against carrot fly because I wanted to test the claim on the packet. The crop turned out to be excellent. Now, that may be just a coincidence but I'm doing the same this year.

 

You could still sow beetroot, pak choi, lettuces, peas (but keep moist), swede, turnip & sweetcorn; it's probably about as late you'd want to with some of these but worth a go.

Failing that you could fill in your gaps with 'green manure', it will improve your soil for next year..:thumb:

 

Hi and thanks for that. That's certainly a choice for me, can I start all those in the greenhouse to speed things up or sow direct. To be honest I am still digging (and struggling) the plot, some of it has been grass (cannot call it lawn) and it's hard going. I've some late taties on order and some sprouts. I'm seriously thinking should I be concentrating on improving the soil in readiness of a bumper crop next year. Maybe just do salads and quick crops for a start.. decisions decisions Have to say the seedlings I've sown look healthy enough

 

Just one thing , u will be wanting to put a bit of lime in that soil before u plant anything in the brassica family - sprouts for one . just one more thing !!! - I don't know but I've been told...that carrot fly r on the wing earlier in the year and that u can reduce carrot fly problems by planting later . Have fun with your new ground rosey , its always fun to break new ground : )

 

If you are going to try any of these I would sow direct now; the soil should be warm enough and as long as you do some soil preperation first, dig in some compost and soak the ground where the seed is going the night before they should give you an ok harvest this year.

But as you say I think a lot of effort put in to improving the plot between now and over the winter will reap dividends next year for you. Grow some green manure and then dig it in to the soil in the winter along with some well rotted horse manure and you'll be well on your way.

 

If you use yellow mustard as a green manure, you can eat the leaves too. It does ok growing thru the winter usually, it didn't like last winter though.

 

Hi Wozwoz and thanks for that. Yes I had read about carrot fly being about the earlier you plant, in that respect have I missed the little blighters!?
I will buy some lime and dig it in before i plant the sprouts, thanks for the tip.
It's all quite exciting, but there again I am easily amused I really get pleasure from watching the seeds sprout and growing on... ahhhh wait till i taste em eh

 

Many thanks for the advice Bilbo, it's going to be a nice weekend apparently so I hope to make some progress and plant plenty.
I thought it would be sensible to try to improve the soil, it's not had the best conditions, in the shadow of a gigantic Pine tree and it's very compacted (to say the least) The amount of stones and bricks I've excavated is amazing. I'll be growing the green manure and looking around the local stables for well rotted muck later in the year. Cheers for the help!

 

Thanks Ziggy, will be planting some, when's the best time to sow?

 

I'd leave it till later, as the weather is cooling down, sept/oct otherwise it will go to seed this year.

 

I'll be planting the mustard later in the year Ziggy, thanks for that.

I'm still trying to clear the weeds and dig ready for the taties... maybe not today though eh, much too hot. There's lots of less strenuous jobs to do. Got tomorrow off work so maybe it'll be cooler. I think it's a long drink in the shade and try out the new garden furniture, ahh :D