October 2024: Seeds to sow in Autumn
30th September 2024
Hi Folks. This is the first of a series of 12 monthly factsheets I will be putting together for your information or amusement.
I do not intend them to be a definitive technical manual of how to do stuff, but simply more a record of what I grow and how I grow it. In other words what, in my experience, works for me.
So let’s crack on with this one shall we?
It’s a shame so many gardeners ‘put their garden/allotment to Bed’ for the Winter. Autumn is a great opportunity to give yourself a good start to next season. But I do understand that overwintering plants can be a bit daunting.
The idea is, in Autumn (late September to early November), to sow seeds of varieties bred for overwintering. They can then develop a good root system before Winter, during which they tick over and then in Spring they take off giving them a head start on Spring sown seeds and so generally crop 4-6 weeks earlier. Giving time to plant a second crop to follow on (more of that in a later factsheet).
Care must be taken to sow only varieties bred to survive our Northern Winters (see list below) and give them the protection of a polytunnel, greenhouse, cold frame, fleece or mesh as cold winds do more harm to plants than cold temperatures. On the coldest nights it may be necessary to cover even plants in the greenhouse/polytunnel with a fleece.
Due to the cool temperatures in Autumn I find it best to sow into cell tray modules or small pots (except where denoted otherwise below) in my greenhouse and plant out when well established. This includes onion and shallot sets.
Following is a list of varieties I have success with, together with the seed sources I use. Other sources are available.
I will be devoting a whole article to seed sourcing soon. You can view a calendar of my factsheet subjects here.
Vegetables & Herbs
| Broad beans: | The Sutton – | dwarf, widely available (wa) |
| De Monica – | medium height (wa) | |
| Super Aquadulce – | tall (Vital Seeds) | |
| Peas: | Meteor – | dwarf, 18” (Simply Seeds) |
| Douce Provence – | medium, 2’ (Simply Seeds) | |
| Spring Cabbage: | Wheelers Imperial – | compact, pointy (Kings) |
| April – | pointy, (Just Seeds) | |
| Wintergreen – | bit of a gamble but worth a try (wa) | |
| Cauliflower: | All Year Round – | bit of a gamble but worth a try (wa) |
| Parsley: | Flat leaved- | (wa) |
| Lettuce: | Grenoble Red – | green with red edge (Vital Seeds) |
| Outredgeous – | dark red (Vital Seeds) |
Both varieties can be harvested by taking lower leaves leaving the plant to grow on.
| Spring Onions: | Guardsman – | (Tamar Organics) |
| Tipika – | Very hardy (Simply Seeds) | |
| Onion sets: | Shakespeare – | (Simply Seeds) |
| Centurion – | (Simply Seeds) |
Autumn sown onions tend not to keep beyond October following harvest so you will need to sow sets in Spring for Winter use.
| Shallot sets: | Yellow Moon – | (Simply Seeds) |
| Garlic: | Carcassonne Wight – | (Simply Seeds) |
| Solent Wight – | (Simply Seeds) | |
| Kingsland Wight – | (Simply Seeds) | |
| Chives: | Widely available | |
| Rocket: | Salad varieties NOT Wild – | (wa) |
Flowers
| Sweet Peas: I suggest you sow half the seeds in October and the other half in February. (Full range available from Roger Parsons, Owls Acre Seeds, Eagle Sweet Peas) |
| Ammi Majus ‘Graceland’ – | (Plants of Distinction) | |
| Orlay Grandiflora ‘White Lace’ – | (Plants of Distinction) | |
| Gypsophila – | widely available | |
| Centaurea, various – | (Plants of Distinction) | |
| Eschscholzia, Orange King – | (Just Seed) |
So, that’s it folks. Plenty to go at there so no excuses, get out from under that duvet and start sowing, in Spring you will be so glad you made the effort!
Feel free to contact me if you ever need help or advice or just fancy a nosy round my allotment.
Ramon, 07594 456292;
ramonkporter@gmail.com
Plot 21, Silsden Road allotments. If my white car is parked there, so am I.
Feel free to call for a chat, tea/coffee and if your timing is good perhaps a toasted crumpet with home-made jam.
Oh yes, we know how to do it properly on Plot 21!