The veggie beds in November

 Whilst spring always seems to be bursting with new life and summer is full of growth and generosity, autumn can look rather scruffy and past it on the veggie beds - but that's a false impression isn't it? Yes, some parts are just waiting for attention, but others are laden with food to see us through the winter, they just don't look so pristine as they did in summer. The photos, below show the beds as they are this week.

Sheltered cut and come again salads replaced spring cabbage.
There are still some red cabbage and swede to use.

Scruffiest of the lot? Stalks and stems of French marigolds
which were interplanted with the tender stem broccoli (all gone).

Mustard green manure, sown after the peas had finished

A few rows of parsnip, the rest is carrots

Beetroot in the foreground, the spinach in the middle has all gone,
leaf beat at the rear for winter use.

Still a few tomatoes coming and a cucumber too!

This year's experiment, some overwintering greens in with the leeks.
The greens are taking up too much area, but the leeks have ben swelling.

Summer's salads, all past it now, the bed will get manure then compost on top,
followed by a sowing of field beans for green manure.
In the backgrounds are pots with emerging Babington perennial leeks. 

Brussels sprouts (with caterpillar damage) and
behind broccoli, green and red kale and kalettes. 

Raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries and strawberries.

The other greenhouse with now fruitless aubergine, 
cucumber and pepper plants.

Close up views on some of the beds

Green and red kale, kalettes behind.

Hoping for some good broccoli in the spring.

Cabage heading up

Cabbage headed up more.

Brussels sprouts - getting there slowly.

Large head of read cabbage

Kalette plants

Kalettes close up. The are delicious - like a mix of kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.

Swede

This bed was climbing beans, growing under and between the beans
and now getting unobstructed light, nice plump celeriacs.