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September: Winter Crops

I cannot believe that it is September, but now is the time to think about crops one can harvest in the next few months. It is not too late to sow spinach for baby leaf picking (just score a line in the soil about 2cm deep and scatter in the seed), and of course winter salads (see the March magazine or westonnews.co.uk for more information), particulary mache and rocket.

Kale can also be sown now, and there are plenty of interesting varieties on the market, such as the dark leaved ‘Cavalo de Nero’, and curly kale both green and red. You will be picking it as young leaves for several months, ie by taking the largest leaves from the outside and leaving the smaller ones for the next picking - delicious steamed for a few minutes and a superfood as well! Cauliflower ‘All the year round’ can be sown now for producing heads in the late spring. Sow both kale and cauliflower directly in the ground, protecting from slugs with a scattering of coffee grounds or scrunched egg shells, then when they are about 10cm tall transplant to about 50cm apart, planting them up to the first leaves and firming/watering in well. You might need to net them from pigeons, and keep them watered, but otherwise sit back and let them grow!