Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
What to sow
Beetroot, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, coriander, daikon, fennel, kohlrabi, lettuce,
onions, pak choi, radishes, rocket, spring onions, strawberries, turnips.
What to harvest
Aubergines, broccoli (sprouting), cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard,
coriander, courgettes, cucumbers, daikon, dwarf French and French beans, fennel,
garlic and elephant garlic, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, pak choi, peppers, radishes,
rocket, spinach, spring onions, strawberries, sweetcorn, tomatoes.
August
Most plants intended for overwintering should be sown by late August, except in
very sheltered spots. Any later and they won't have time to grow large enough to
establish themselves over winter before growth comes to a halt. August can be a
riot of growth in the tunnel, but make sure you keep it all under control to allow
adequate air flow through and around the plants, otherwise you may run into
problems with moulds.
What to sow
Beetroot, broccoli (sprouting), cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, coriander, daikon,
kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, pak choi, peas, radishes, rocket, spring onions, straw-
berries, sweet potatoes, turnips.
What to harvest
Aubergines, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, coriander, courgettes,
cucumbers, daikon, dwarf French and French beans, fennel, kohlrabi, lettuce,
melon and watermelon, peppers, radishes, rocket, spinach, spring onions,
strawberries, sweetcorn, tomatoes.
September
With the exception of some very fast-growing plants, such as mizuna, all your
winter sowings should be done by now. Plunging night-time temperatures put an
end to heat-loving plants such as basil, just as cool-weather crops come into their
own. Mid-September is the time for final decisions about which plants will stay
to the last and which will get pulled out to make space for winter.
As summer comes to a close, the shortening days lower the temperature and slow
down growth in the polytunnel. The amount of water that the plants need
decreases as well, so be warned - it is easy to miss this if you have an automatic
watering system. Be ready to lower the settings rather than risk waterlogged soil
and rotting stems.
