Five top tips - growing winter vegetables
Organic veg grower and no-dig pioneer Charles Dowding shares his top tips for growing winter vegetables.
The phrase winter vegetables can be misleading, beginners may imagine plants thriving in the dark, cool months. Actually, new growth is slow and needs a strong root system, which is developed from sowing much earlier in the year. For example, the best time for sowing onions and parsnips ready for a winter harvest is March, so don’t leave it too late to prepare for winter crops.
Sow at the right time
Make sure that you sow each vegetable at the right time. For example, if you sow corn salad in early August, the harvest will come before winter and the plants develop mildew on the leaves, because conditions are often too dry for them. They are healthiest when the surface soil is moist all the time, as in winter, because their rooting system is very shallow.
Master successional sowing
Develop your skills for multi-sowing in modules and sowing undercover, even in summer. By doing this you can add three or four weeks to your growing season. Your second sowing will spend the first few weeks in modules or pots, while the first harvest is finishing.
Protect your crops
Be ready to protect plants from insects (especially brassicas) and winter weather. A nylon mesh cover is one of the best investments you can make, it is strong enough to last for at least 10 years. The little holes allow air, rainfall, and enough light to pass through, but keep insects out. In harsh climates, a polytunnel can make all the difference and make it possible to harvest new leaves such as kale, chard, spinach and salads. They are also lovely places to do some winter gardening, out of the wind and rain.
Save your space
Winter harvests are small and precious, so you need to economise on space available. Plant salad plants and leeks close together to save space. Corn salad can grow as close as 7cm apart, while 15cm is good for other salad plants in winter. You can multi-sow leeks and transplant in clumps of three or four at 20cm apart (rather than thinning out) to enjoy many medium-size leeks from a smaller space.
Choose the best variety
Discover the best varieties of each vegetable, look for those that will cope with winter and make some new growth as well. Seed catalogues give these descriptions, for example some Brussels sprouts varieties crop well before Christmas, while others stand for longer and grow more through winter. My top winter leek, for hardiness, is called 'Bandit'.
Find out more about growing winter vegetables
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