January Vegetable Plot Update – Brassicas Rule!

Posted on 29. Jan, 2011 by Tracey in Veg Plot

My raised beds are looking very empty as the snow wiped out all my peas, I had high hopes for them as I sowed them in every bed. I’ll just have to repeat the sowings next month and have my fingers crossed for peas in the summer, thats if there’s enough room as I’m definitely growing runner beans this year.

The brassica’s on the other hand are growing great guns, the kale (dwarf curly and nero), 1 savoy cabbage (Cantasa F1) and half a bed of spring cabbages are doing brilliantly.

Spring Cabbages

This year I’m growing a organic variety called Pixie from Organic Gardening catalogue.

Sown in August, this is a particularly winter hardy performer as it survived the snow and is very good for harvesting spring green leaves as well as hearts later in the spring. I’m also growing this variety as its good in limited space and can be grown close together with other cabbage plants which suits my arrangement in my raised bed.

In theory I could pick some of the baby leaves now if I wanted to, but I’m waiting for April to May when they will be large enough for harvesting. This cabbage can also be sown in April to May for an early winter harvest.

White Carrots

Sown in July were my first white carrot variety called Kuttiger, here’s what they should look like once they have grown – full sized Kuttiger. This variety is more popular in europe and is an heirloom variety going back to the 1700′s! Its well known for its good storage ability and the roots should reach 6-8 inches long. Unfortunately the Organic Catalogue have replaced Kuttiger with a variety called White Satin for the new year.

Kale

Kale is a great vegetable for winter harvesting, it fills in the gaps for winter greens, after you have harvested all your winter cabbages. Sown in July, this gives plenty of green leaves to harvest throughout November to March and it is very winter hardy.
There are several varieties of kale to grow, I’ve chosen Dwarf Green Curled and Nero di Toscana.

Other Posts you may be interested in:

• Orange Carrots Vs White Carrots – The debate continues..
• Survivors of the Snow – Savoy Cabbages
• 12 Months of Vegetable Harvests
• My Vegetable Awards 2010 – My best overall vegetable awards goes to…
• Vegetable Seeds to Sow in January and February

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Tags: brassica's rule, growing brassicas in august for spring harvest, growing kale, growing savoy cabbage, growing spring cabbages, growing vegetables in a raised bed, growing white carrots, kitchen garden update, vegetable plants growing in january, vegetable plot update, vegetables to harvest in January