Thursday 12 June 2014

Winter Veg bed completed

Many of you will know that I have committed to trying to extend the harvesting season in my garden by growing some more Autumn / Winter vegetables. This is not to say that I never grow any Winter veg - I do. For instance, for the last two years I have grown some Brussels Sprouts, which have been really worthwhile, but my skills in this area are improving with practice, and I want to do more. Last year, my Brussels Sprouts looked great until the dreaded Cabbage White butterflies arrived. From then onwards it was a constant battle between them and me - and one in which I was not totally successful. This year I have netted my Sprouts almost from the start, so I have "stolen a march" on the butterflies!


As you can see, the Sprouts have got pretty big already.



The two smaller "Tenderstem" Broccoli plants in the middle of the bed had better get a move on, otherwise their light will all be blocked off!


Elsewhere, I have one of my six main raised beds devoted entirely to Winter Veg. In it I now have 7 Cabbages (of 3 types), 16 Leeks ("Toledo"), and 4 Swede Turnips ("Ruby").


These are the Leeks, standing up straight amongst a forest of anti-cat sticks:


Here is Cabbage "Predzvest". The inner leaves are just beginning to curl inwards in preparation for forming the heart:


This is "Caramba":


And this is "Tundra", its Savoy parentage already showing in the crinkly and saw-edged leaves:


The Swedes are not looking too good at present. Their leaves are very pale and not at all glossy. I put this down yet again to poor compost. I expect they are relieved to be out in real soil at last!



I know it will be a long time before I harvest these things, but the very fact that they are there and growing gives me a certain satisfaction, and something to look forward to, even after the Summer veg comes to an end!

6 comments:

  1. Your cabbage family looks great. Last winter was mild and I picked up my kale and brussels sprouts way out until Spring. It is very rewarding to have some fresh green vegetables from the garden even in winter.

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  2. Things don't really grow here in the winter. So I go for storage crops. Though I do have to get my fall brassicas started soon. Usually that is mid June and they get planted out in mid July. But of course there is nothing there that takes a lot of time.

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  3. Your Brassicas look so stunning, so healthy. Since I saw you covered your Brassica's plot using net (on your old posts), I have been planning to keep my Brassicas plot like yours. This decision may so difficult for me, cause net will make my tiny garden looks so 'full'. I like your idea 'anti-cat sticks'. Thanks for inspiring.

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  4. You're all set up there for winter. Your leeks look great, I'm hoping to get mine out in the next week.

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  5. It`s all looking splendid and seriously healthy

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  6. Nets are essential on our site - what the caterpillars don't get the wood pigeons see of - or that could be the other way round.

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