Focus on...
As the bulk of our late summer harvests are eaten or stored, and we turn our attention to autumn care, Lucy explains the best ways to keep all kinds of plants protected
WE’RE well versed in the benefits of laying down cloches in early spring to get crops into the soil sooner than normal, but how often do we think of using them in the autumn? Here I will outline the need for you to fix this in your mind as an essential job to give autumn crops a well-deserved boost.
Get more from cropping plants There are many opportunities for using cloches on your plot in autumn (see my checklist on page 20). Canny use can extend the growing season of certain crops by an extra month! Depending on the weather and the insulation properties of the cloche material (see the next page), they help you squeeze maximum productivity from your plot.
Managing the cloches well avoids any pitfalls. For example, think about the ease of access underneath cloches or covers if the crop is long-term. Simple-toremove rigid cloches would make life far simpler than a complicated cage over a bed of celery. Tunnel cloches, too, make for easy access: simply unpeg each side for harvesting or weeding.
Promote healthier crops
Ventilation under autumn cloches is important (moreso than for spring covers). The wind protection offered by cloches increases growth rate and leaf surface area. All this lushness can encourage pests or diseases, but materials such as fleece provide a good balance between protection and air flow. Tunnel cloches can have sides held up; glass types can have panes removed. If we get an unseasonal dry spell (I have, on occasion, had to irrigate autumn-sown broad beans), then fleece allows water to penetrate.
“Fix this in your mind as an essential job”