I’ve failed again! I’m really starting to get to grips with successional sowing over summer and have enjoyed months and months of lettuces (and other herbs and leaves) picked from my front garden. But despite actually sowing (and even buying) some leaves for over-wintering I didn’t manage to get most of them into the ground. The shame of it all!
So here I have my one success story. These are Sugarloaf chicories and I grew them as they come highly recommended by Joy Larkcom. Need I say more! I’ve been mixing these with the end of my summer/autumn lettuces, Sorrel and Sweet Cicely and have been enjoying some rather tasty salads.
But as the temperatures are soon forecast to dip again, I’ve decided it’s time to do some wrapping up. I bought these natty hoops from Plant Belles some while ago and they seem just the ticket.
You simply thread a few bamboo canes through the holes in the hoops,
Et voila! Covered in fleece, I now have my own cloche/mini tunnel to keep my chicories covered up during the coldest and windiest of months. Hopefully the protection should elongate the harvesting season for the Sweet Cicely and Sorrel too.
And I’ve left a couple out in the cold as I’m keen to see how well they survive with no extra help.
Meanwhile, neighbour Nicole is collecting seeds from her ‘Halo Apricot’ Hollyhock, remarkably still in bloom in her tree pit. It’s a gorgeous variety and it’ll be interesting to see if the seeds come true or if fraternising with other Hollyhocks in the street will supply some interesting variations.
Alongside my Chicory, Cavolo nero is supplying some delicious winter veg,
and on the corner plot, a small cutting of Daubenton’s perennial Kale, acquired from Charles Dowding, has come on marvellously. Looking forward to taking my own cuttings come spring and popping this very useful veg in many a new spot (sticks are there to deter foxes digging the plant up when tiny).
I’ve been meaning to do a final clear up in the corner plot for ages now, but bulb planting has taken precedence. However, all bulbs have been planted for both clients and myself (hurrah!) and it felt great to have time to collect the last of the seeds and clear up the garden for winter. Just a bit more leaf raking (GRrr..), a bit of mulching perhaps and then there’ll be plenty of time to catch up on reading and researching what to grow next year.
Out of my shed 
good to be reminded about protecting tender stuff
Hi Susan, another thing I’ve been meaning to do for a while. Didn’t take long once I got going though!
Great post – thank you!
Hi Lorna, Glad you liked it!
Nice to hear about all your yummy salad greens! Your new garden hoops look quite nice! I’ve not tried that approach, but am planning a cold frame for next year. Like you, I’m busy planning ahead for the 2014 growing season. The winter planning is much easier on the old back than the actual growing, heh heh.
Hi Ginny, Found these hoops jolly useful as they’re a perfect size for my raised beds, and they take hardly any space to store them come spring.
Looking forward to putting my feet up in a few weeks (or sooner, depending on the weather) and browsing seeds catalogues for hours on end. Bliss! Quite agree-a great activity for one’s back!
Hi Naomi, Well done with your sowings, they look great, the best thing about winter is the time to read and research and decide what to grow next year. I like that stop and stare time, without feeling guilty..a lot!
Hi Julie, the start of this year was such a guilt fee time. Snow upon snow allowed loads of time to catch up on great books as well as seed shopping! And then it’s another clean slate to try out new flowers and veg all over again. Still a few dark days to get through though…..roll on spring!
Looks like we are in for a big freeze here is the PNW in a few days …ugh ! I’ll be out with bamboo poles ,bubble wrap, blankets , anything and everything !!
Hi Linda, hope all got well wrapped up for the big freeze. Despite a day or so of chilling winds, still pretty mild for the time of year here and still leaves on a fair few trees!
AWESOME POST! Your garden looks great.
Many thanks Belmont Rooster!
I will confess to having some purple sprouting broccoli and some leeks still in small pots and cells that never got to the allotment Naomi. You are not alone 🙂 I like the look of the hoops which no doubt will keep the chicory cosy when the north wind does blow.
Hi Anna, Think I may buy another set or two of hoops for next year as they’re so easy to use and this may also give me another incentive to actually get my winter leaves planted!
Oh no – I’ve done it again! Clifton Road Allotments is me. I maintain our allotment website and must have forgotten to log out.
We got some of those plant belle hoops a few years ago, they are a brilliant idea, so simple but so effective.
Hi PL, quite right. More hoops next year and I see they also make some rather tasty plant supports too which could be very useful for some of my more floppy perennials.
Those hoops look really groovy, I can see why you want the edging to rust too, it is going to look great. Magnificent kale to have come from a cutting, I’ll have to read up on it. I am hugely hertened that I am not alone in having failed to sow seed in time for winter lettuce. I do have some small seedlings lurking in the greenhouse, it will be interesting to see what they do, but I am not holding out for salad leaves on Boxing Day!
Hi Janet, You can get cuttings from of Plums and Pignuts website and they advertise a variegated variety which I’d love to start growing too. Perennial vegetables do seem very inviting as you’ll not need to sow (and actually plant them!) every year. Good to have a mix of annuals and perennials. Hope you have a delicious boxing day salad! X
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