I also have no greenhouse so am trying to do my best with 1m x1.5m cold frame and a cheap plastic cloche thing from the supermarket.
At the start of the year I used the cloche to protect early plants but it was really useless and kept blowing off.
Cold frame worked much better.
I’m following Charles advice and growing lettuce in the cold frame right now to get some leaves over winter. Bit experimental as it probably isn’t as warm as a greenhouse. Also have some tomato side shoots in there which apparently can overwinter and will be ready early for next year. Thyme in there too as i think it will last through winter if kept dry.
Like you I only started this year with the garden as we moved house so please take all the above with a warning that it is only what I picked up from Charles books and website. None of this is experience based!
Regarding the broccoli that was the 1st plant i tried and worked well with no cold protection at all. I didn’t cover with insect mesh though so by summer the whole plant was covered with small black flies and eaten alive with cabbage white. Next year I’ll definitely be investing in so nets/ mesh/fleece!
