Wealden Times | WT162 | August 2015 | Wedding supplement inside

it can feel like there’s nothing doing after this month, latesowing is an option. It does mean sowing fresh crops in July,when there might not be much room for anything, but Isometimes sow quick crops like beans, beetroot and saladleaves around the middle of July, for a harvest in September.Sowing in successionIf you get this right (I refer you to the plans of mice above)you may avoid a glut altogether. There’s nothing muchyou can do about courgettes, squash and tomatoes exceptto grow less, as they ripen at roughly the same time, butwith crops like lettuce and salad leaves, beetroot, peas andbeans, it is possible to sow just a few every few weeks for acontinual supply. The trick is to remember to keep sowingand harvesting through the growing season. Writing downsowing times on a calendar will help, and obviously if you’rean organised list-making wonder person, you’re probablydoing this already, but I find it’s like spinning plates andalways end up with the wrong quantities whatever I do.If you haven’t been put off reading this and are still keen, it ispossible to grow some crops for the autumn and winter now, forthose long off days when we’ll have forgotten about the glut andbe sad that there are no more courgettes (!). Some good thingsto sow now are: kale, swiss chard, pak choi, spinach, rocket andoriental greens like mizuna and tatsoi. These will be ready asyoung leaves in just a few weeks and are great for adding to stirfries and soups. You can also over-winter them under a clocheor fleece and keep them ticking along until the spring – whenthey will instantly bolt at the first sign of warm weather.If you’re reading this from under a snow-capped mountainof produce and there’s no room on your plot (or your plate)for more, stand tall, be proud of all that produce, and thendig out those recipes, and some grateful friends and familyready to accept the surplus. Here’s to happy harvests.Contact Jo for border designs, planting and gardening ideas.01233 861149 www.hornbrookmanor.co.uk.GARDEN BUILDINGSFREE PACKAGE UPGRADESon all of our fully installed log cabins● Ultimate Summerhouse ● Perfect Home Office● Kid’s Playroom ● Stunning Chill-out Room ● Games RoomSAVE UP TO£2,150 ** Based on Platinum to Diamond upgrade on Homestead Cabin. T&C’s applyFREE Silver to Gold upgradefree structural timber base, free shingle roof& free preservative paintFREE Gold to Platinum upgradeplus free roof insulation & free laminate flooringFREE Platinum to Diamond upgradeplus free floor insulation & free electrical packageFREE PACKAGE UPGRADEFor full details visit our websiteneedextraspace.co.uk 0845 4599444Find a Johnsons display village near you● Bybrook Barn Garden Centre, Ashford ● Hawley Garden Centre, Dartford● Elm Court Garden Centre, Gillingham ● Newnham Court Shopping Village, Maidstone● Polhill Garden Centre, Sevenoaks ● Johnsons Nursery, Whitstable131 www.wealdentimes.co.ukJohnsonGardenBuildingsWT162.indd 1 17/07/2015 16:42