I know, it doesn't feel quite right to me, sowing and planting at this time of year when everything else is dying off, but I've been doing it for a few years now and it always works. They don't even need any protection. It's nice to keep the beds productive during the winter months too, instead of having them lay empty, and definitely gives me a head start in the spring.

Thanks, I just looked up crickets, and you might well be right about Fred being a young 'un. His eyes were so bright, and yep, no wings.