October is not a month for sowing much in Ireland. One crop is built for it: autumn broad beans, which overwinter small and crop weeks ahead of a spring sowing.

Cavolo nero thrives in Irish winters and tastes sweeter after frost. When to sow it, how to pick it all winter, and a simple bean and bread soup to cook it in.

September is not the end of the growing year in Ireland. Four crops still have time to germinate: winter spinach, perpetual chard, rocket and turnip.