The need to feed

There’s plenty of life left in several crops, so make the most of them and give veg a helping hand, says Bob

- Bob Flowerdew

THERE’S a widely held principle that we shouldn’t continue feeding regimes once summer’s over. The point was that with frosts on the way, growth needed to slow so the shoots could ‘harden’ and be ready for winter.

Certainly, adding nitrogenous feeds would be counterproductive by promoting softer growth. Similarly, adding nitrogen now will make annual crops such as potatoes and carrots grow more lushly (more watery), so they are more easily damaged and less suitable for long storage. However, there is less reason for withholding potassium and phosphate fertilisers as these could be helpful.

It was once thought that feeds were not worth applying as much of their value would be wasted as winter washed them away. But times have changed…