October’s Sowing Collection
By October there’s no getting away from it, autumn has well and truly arrived! The days are shorter, the temperatures are dropping and the main growing season is winding down.
But that doesn’t mean the seed packets have to be put away just yet.
There are still things you can sow this month, and some of them come with the rather lovely promise of getting next year’s harvests off to an early start. Some are happy sown outside, while others will appreciate a cloche over their heads or the protection of a greenhouse through the colder months.
Of course, October sowing does come with a bit of a weather warning. What happily gets through winter in one part of the country may struggle in another. But if you have a sheltered spot, a greenhouse or simply fancy a little autumn experiment, there are some very worthwhile seeds to sow.
After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained!
So, let’s meet October’s half dozen...
Calabrese Stromboli: a vigorous variety particularly suited to autumn sowing, with excellent resistance to ‘blindness’ caused by cold conditions. Start in small pots and overwinter with greenhouse protection for an extra-early crop of tight, dark green heads next year. (20 seeds).
Kale Scarlet: those dark green leaves and red veins become even more striking as the weather gets colder. Start a few in pots for transplanting or sow where they are to grow, but give young plants the protection of a cloche while they’re small. (12 seeds).
Leaf Beet Erbette: one for anyone who hasn’t discovered Erbette yet. The leaves are tender, the slender pale green ribs are delicious too, and a cloche will help keep your October sowing snug as autumn settles in. (40 seeds).
Pea Douce Provence: sow now and you can have fresh peas to look forward to from around May. That seems a long way off on a chilly October day, but those first mouth-watering peas will make the wait worthwhile! (50 seeds).
Spinach Trombone F1: a lovely smooth-leaved, succulent spinach that’s well suited to autumn sowing. Start in pots or sow where it is to grow, with a little protection if the weather turns. And when it reaches the kitchen, try wilting the leaves with pancetta and a splash of balsamic vinegar. (50 seeds).
Spring Onion Winter Hardy White Lisbon: all the lovely fresh flavour of White Lisbon, but with the winter hardiness to give you a crop in March and April. We’re more likely to pop ours into a stir fry or braise them whole than make a salad as it’s a bit chilly for lots of salad at that time of year! (100 seeds).
Six packets, six chances to keep sowing, and something already growing while much of the garden is settling down for winter.
Save
