Veg Talk – February 2026

Onions sets can be planted from March; they can have a good soak if in dry area, but must be allowed to dry out before soaking again. As our summers are getting drier the onions are smaller when cropped. Japanese onions are planted in November and are cropped a month earlier than regular onions, though they do not store as well. Red onions bolt more quickly than white onions. As soon as you see a flower spike snap it out and the onions will still swell but you will have to cut out, not use, the thicker tougher flower spike in the centre.

Shallots can go out now in a dryish patch.

Garlic can also go into ground if not too wet as could rot if it is also cold.

Cauliflowers – 2025 was a tough year for cauliflowers they need a lot of water and must not be allowed to dry out. Plant autumn and overwinter carefully.

Broad beans – sow in pots or in the ground – not too late to start. BB sown in November are hardier against blackfly.

Pruning – Good time to prune currant bushes, apple and pear trees – but not cherry or plum.

Veg Talk – January 2026

Beetroot need regular watering whilst growing then it should be able to stay in the ground until needed and not get woody. If ground freezes could go soft so cover with fleece. Still can be eaten if not bolted, or gone soft – good roasted with garlic.

Sprouts – current crop are small but tasty, some folk have reported the sprouts smelt strong, sulphurous but were fine when cooked not sure if weather has affected the smell. Make ground firm when plant seedlings and stake – should then get a decent crop of good sized sprouts. Don’t forget to eat the sprout tops – protect with netting from pigeons, crop once sprouts harvested, delicious steamed with butter.

Parsnips – have had their freeze and are tasting good.

Purple sprouting broccoli – if growing too large will need staking. Usually crops March onwards but is cropping earlier as climate warms.

Celery – JS has tried growing celery for the first time and that the plants are tall enough but the stalks are thin. AK said that amazing still alive as usually go over once cold. Shop bought celery is grown in Lincolnshire’s moist soil, homegrown celery rarely gets to the proportions of supermarket stock. It can be used to make a delicious soup. LB reported that his celery grew well and tasted good. Celeriac is a good alternative to celery – swede shaped, not a looker, has a mild celery flavour. AK is will be trying red celery this new growing year.

Pruning – time to prune your currant bushes – take out old black branches to encourage new green growth. Raspberries – cut out all canes that have fruited, they are usually brown, tie in the new green
canes. Autumn raspberries pruned differently – cut out fruited canes, leave green shoots which will grow into new canes. Good time to prune apple and pear trees.

Broad beans – time to plant, though they may need to be protected.

Veg Talk – November 2025

Clive has asked if Andrew could provide a simple quick guide to best planting conditions for the most popular crops. This was agreed to be impractical, although there were many other sources available i.e information online, tv programmes, seed packets, gardening books, experience through trial and error.  Andrew did say that he would answer any questions relating to growing crops if anyone wanted to ask via email (andyklecha@talktalk.net).

Beetroot need regular watering whilst growing then it should be able to stay in the ground until needed and not get woody.

Time to plant broad beans, garlic, overwintering Japanese onions. Cauliflower can be planted as seedlings now, if watered regularly and covered with net to protect from pigeons you could get a cauliflower in May.  However, it should be noted that cauliflowers are not an easy vegetable to grow!