The weather was amazing in early autumn (and admit it, we all loved the sizzling temperatures) but now things are back to normal (cooler and greyer) you can get on with essential autumn sowings.
Broad beans are a firm favourite and an autumn sowing produces plants that are timed to avoid the worst of the blackfly attacks next year. Most veg growers agree that Aquadulce Claudia is the very best variety for sowing now. Click here for the seeds
Peas are tough little plants and seed sown now will be quite happy throughout most of winter. Protect using a large cloche to ensure the plants keep growing, ready to produce pods next spring and summer. Try Meteor if you want dwarf plants and pods crammed with the sweetest tasting peas. Click here for the seeds and click here for a great value cloche
Pak choi is an ever increasing favourite and there’s just enough time to squeeze a sowing in now. They can be a little tricky but the cooler temperatures, lower light levels and daylength and sowing directly into the soil all increases your chances of trugloads of baby leaves perfect for your stirfry. Click here for fresh seed
Keep sowing winter lettuce, winter spinach and salad endive for little and often pickings throughout winter.
Carrots are always a favourite and a patch of a variety called Nantes Frubund, sown under the protection of a cold frame will grow at lightening speed to produce the most gorgeous finger carrots just after Christmas or early spring. Click here for the seed and click here for a fantastic wooden coldframe
If you run out of time on your plot or in your veg patch then sow a pinch of speedy salad leaves in pots on any bright windowsill. Sow a couple of pots every fortnight for a continuous supply of fresh greens throughout the winter Click here for salad leaves seeds to sow now
