Sow much more
There is lots you can do to guarantee more yields later – and make the most of space now, as Bob explains
MANY gardeners are quick to start sowing as soon as spring arrives, although the wiser often leave it a little later. Either way, by now our beds are full, so few consider doing much more sowing right now. Yet space will soon become available as early spuds are dug, garlic harvested and onions wither.
Sometimes, as with the maturing onions, you can sow between the existing crop before it’s finished; otherwise, you can sow in pots and cells to plant out later as spaces appear.
Most fast-to-mature crops like salad leaves and soft herbs, radishes, beetroots, turnips and baby carrots can be sown now.
And given a warm late summer, French beans and even mangetout and sugar snap peas can be sown. Indeed, perhaps one of the most overlooked opportunities is late green peas. These used to be hazardous, as late crops often suffered mildew, but many modern sorts are immune. Sown now, these can give huge yields of delicious peas in autumn.
Surprisingly, it’s not even too late to plant more potatoes if you have sets left of any early varieties.
Then there are some crops that actually do best sown over the coming weeks: pak choi and Chinese cabbages are prime examples, as these tend to bolt otherwise. Likewise, kohl rabi often do better from sowings now, as will Florence fennel, which at other times is almost guaranteed to fail.
Then there are the black, Spanish and winter radishes – like turnips, though a bit hot for some, but handy for storing. You can even sow several sorts of brassica such as ‘Holland Late Winter’ cabbage to plant out in summer and grow on through winter in order to crop next year.
Just make sure they are suitable varieties – check the packet!