Winter crops going well

[Cue the Toms]

Compared to the terrible weather during the spring and summer, the winter crops are going fantastically well. Cabbages are hearting up already, Garlic has grown 3-4 inches in just a couple of weeks and my onions seem happy. Is this the weather gods way of saying sorry?

How are your veggies doing?

[Andromeda]

Like you, my garlic and onions are doing very nicely, my january kings are hearting (a couple are almost the size of footballs), late sprouts are on track (early ones in use), leeks are doing well and the PSB plants are enormous

[binley100]

Not been able to go and check since last week but fingers are crossed......

[Snadger]

I'll have to have a furtle in among the weeds and see if mine are still there..............

[Florence Fennel]

It's so heartening to hear that things are growing well. I must admit, I've not looked properly because it's dark when I go to work and by the time I've got back and got sorted, it's dark again! I will look this weekend - going on what's happening on another thread, I have at least to check the PSB for caterpillars.

[Two_Sheds]

I still have tomatoes ripening in the (unheated) gh

[alldigging]

I think my cabbagey bed needs weeding but this will actually need the soil to be dryer before I try it. No point pulling out the weeds if half the bed comes out with them.

In the greenhouse things are looking ok! I have pea shoots ready I think and some other salad stuff looking good.

[sally fran]

My January Kings are doing well - they actually look like cabbages! Last year was my first time at growing brassicas and the slugs, snails, caterpillars and pigeons got the cabbages and the sprouts.

The cavolo nero is also doing well - as it did last year - but I understand that it's pretty indestructible so even a novice like me can grow it. It's covered in white fly mind, but they don't seem to being doing too much damage.

But the spouts are hopeless - again. They're all "blown" - is that the word? I think because my soil is too loose. But my cabbages are in the same bed and they are really firm - does that make sense? I've also had a bad infestation of aphids on the sprouts. I don't understand why the cavolo nero and the cabbages haven't been affected by them - they're all in the same bed under the same veggiemesh tunnel.

My August-sown carrots and beetroots seem to be doing well - it's my first time with both of those and I'm a bit unsure as to how long they'll keep going. They're still quite small at the mo so I'm about to cover them with a mini polytunnel in the hope that they'll keep going until the end of the year.

[Samurailord]

Lots of my onions are showing strongly, but not all.

Nothing from any of the garlic as yet.

Chard and perpetual spinach still going well, lots of leaves still ready to harvest.

Turnips still growing - I have already taken the bigger ones to allow the ones left behind some room to grow.

The last of the pak choi are nearly ready, but the one on the edge of the raised bed has been a bit pigeon pecked!

Savoy cabbages hearting up nicely, Purple Curly Kale looking really good, should start harvesting some this weekend.

PSB doing well, as are the late Brussels and other brassicas that didn't get planted out until late Sept.

Beetroot seem to have stalled now - I don't think they will get much bigger so they may be coming out this weekend too.

At home I have curds starting to form on my Romesque Caulis, but a couple have blown already.

Leeks are swelling nicely, but there is such a variation between them it is incredible - all grown in a block in the same raised bed, but some are an inch across whilst their neighbours are still no thicker than a pencil!

The one concern I have is that the Brussels I planted in July are putting on lots of growth, but no sign of anything vaguely resembling a sprout is showing on the stems as yet.

I haven't grown Brussels for 20 years or so, so I can't remember when I should be starting to see things develop.

Until I started writing this I was thinking that I didn't have much left on the plot!

Andy

[hamesy]

I was saying to my dad the other day how well my winter crops are growing, although my leeks could do with a kick.

[Bigmallly]

Need to get my ar5e into gear this weekend as it's been a few weeks since I have been able to get to lottie, the last time I was there, the sprouts, cabbagge, caulis, swede & leeks were looking healthy......that's not to say that is the case now. May have to re-post tomorrow............Must check the box of Toms in the greenhouse (cheers TS).

[Jelliebabe]

I still have not received my onions, garlic and shallots from T&M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

So I can only surmise that they are okay

[jacob]

Been a bit frosty round these parts. Leeks are still looking pathetic (though better than the non-crops from the last couple of years). Garlic just peeking up, onions still haven't emerged. PSB and Kale still alive though.

[Two_Sheds]

bad infestation of aphids on the sprouts. I don't understand why the cavolo nero and the cabbages haven't been affected

Sheer laziness: they'll stay put while there's food to be had. Once that runs out, they'll move along to the next item on their menu

[sally fran]

Sheer laziness: they'll stay put while there's food to be had. Once that runs out, they'll move along to the next item on their menu

Thanks for the warning Two Sheds. Would it be worth hanging a veggiemesh curtain between the sprouts and the others (it would be quite easy), or will the cold weather kill the aphids off before they've run out of sprout leaves to munch on? Or can they get through veggiemesh anyway?