Am I too late to sow kale and mangetout?

I sowed some kale in modules but only 1 has germinated. Is it too late to sow some now? Also, I only did one sowing of mangetout, is it too late to do some more, straight in the ground or could do on windowsill to speed it up? Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Crazii_C on May 18, 2011 at 18:45

i think you'll be fine with mangetout. ive still got my last lot of peas to go out. however i dont know about kale as ive not grown it before.

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Shirley on May 18, 2011 at 19:54

With crops like Mangetout and other similar peas you have loads of time. Cropping is just around 8 weeks from sowing so you can go as late as August - or mid August if you want.

Kale wise - you are also fine - and now temperatures have dropped a little you will probably do better than earlier sowings.

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Permalink Reply by Flighty on May 18, 2011 at 19:54

Now is the ideal time to sow both directly in the ground!

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Permalink Reply by elaine rickett on May 18, 2011 at 22:13

According to my new book you can sow Kale right into August for winter crops using them for baby leaves or leaving to mature.

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Permalink Reply by Una Bee on May 19, 2011 at 7:09

I was reading about Cavolo Nero yesterday (I'm growing it for the first time this year, thanks Zoe for the seeds) and stumbled across some seed reviews. Some people seemed to have problems with growth if sown too late (they'd sown it in August for winter pickings), so I've decided to sow mine a bit earlier. I hope that doesn't mean that it will be munched by cabbage white like my poor PSB last year.

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Permalink Reply by Zoe on May 19, 2011 at 8:38

The mange-tout will be fine to sow early or late, I tend to go against the grain & sow a large early batch & a large late batch, as there is so much to eat in the mid summer that I find it nice to punctuate with 2 large harvests, so you'll be fine to keep sowing these indoors or outside for ages yet. All the things I've read about mange-tout suggest its best to sow in modules & with the weird weather this will ensure good results on germination.

Most kales are fine to be grown as winter veg, but benefit from being sown a couple months before it gets cold.

Una. My Cavelo Nero are outside at the moment & so far (touch wood) haven't been too affected by the dreaded cabbage whites. Hopefully the'll do OK.

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Permalink Reply by Louise Sian Gibbard on May 21, 2011 at 16:25

Thanks for all the replies- today I sowed some kale in modules in the cold frame. I planted out my mangetout plants and decided I think I have enough already, but have sown a handful of the left over seeds in a trough to use as pea sprouts for salads, yum.