Raising autumn and winter vegetables
The gardening season does not end with summer – on the contrary: anyone who re-sows in summer and late summer harvests fresh vegetables well into winter. Many crops are surprisingly frost-hardy and even taste sweeter after the first frosts. This keeps the beds productive all year round.
The key is to sow in good time so the plants become strong before winter.
In short
- Re-sow for autumn and winter from summer/late summer.
- Frost-hardy: lamb’s lettuce, kale, spinach, Asian salads, winter purslane.
- Fleece, cold frame or polytunnel extend the harvest further.
- Many winter vegetables become milder and sweeter after frost.
What to sow now
Depending on the timing, different crops are suitable: in high and late summer you sow lamb's lettuce, spinach, winter purslane, Asian salads, radishes, rocket and winter herbs. Kale, Brussels sprouts and winter lettuces are set out as young plants. Mind the recommended sowing time on the packet.
Raising and planting
Heat-sensitive winter vegetables can be raised under protection in late summer and then planted as beds become free. This way you use the space optimally and the plants have a head start to become strong before the cold sets in.
Overwintering and protection
Garden fleece, a cold frame or a polytunnel protect against hard frost and extend the harvest considerably. Especially robust species such as lamb's lettuce and kale defy winter even without protection. Kale even develops its typically mild flavour only after the first frosts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I harvest outdoors in winter?
Yes – lamb's lettuce, kale, winter purslane and Asian salads can be harvested throughout winter on frost-free days.
Does anything still grow in winter?
Hardly – in winter the plants rather "store" in the bed. That is why timely sowing in summer is so important.
Tip
Use freed-up summer beds immediately for autumn and winter sowing – this way no bed goes unused and you harvest almost all year round.
Caution
Do not sow too late: winter vegetables must have formed a strong rosette before the first hard frost, otherwise they do not survive the cold.
For autumn and winter crops, strong young plants that get going at once are ideal. We raise ours robust.