How to sow winter salad crops
Find out how to grow a delicious crop of winter salad leaves from seed.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
To do | yes | yes |
Winter salad crops, such a parsley, rocket, lettuce and purslane, can be sown from August to early autumn, providing you with fresh winter pickings. And if you make successive sowings you'll be harvesting leaves right through to late spring.
When the seedlings are big enough to handle, pot them up in small bunches to grow on.
Follow our guide to sowing winter salad crops, below.
You Will Need
- Winter salad seeds
- Seed trays or modules
- Seed compost
- Vermiculite (optional)
Step 1
Fill a tray with seed compost, pushing it to the corners. Firm the surface evenly with a tamping board or flat-bottomed utensil.
Step 2
Sow seed sparsely across the surface and cover with a 2mm layer of sieved compost or vermiculite. Firm the surface again.
Step 3
Place the seed tray in a shallow tray of tepid water to allow moisture to soak up to the surface. Remove once the surface looks wet.
Jan subscription offer
Get our Year Planner 2025 with a subscription to BBC Gardeners' World magazine. Get 6 issues for £14.99.
Your Guide to Roses on sale now
Love roses? Inside our guide is everything you need to know for success with your blooms, from pruning to problem solving. On sale in stores and online now!
Discover our NEW Travel & Events Brochure
Whether it's the vibrant beauty of Madeira's Flower Festival or the quiet luxury of a Cornish shepherd's hut, our NEW Travel & Events Brochure is your guide to unforgettable experiences.
New podcast series
Give your mental and physical health a boost, with our new Wellness podcast series from Monty and the team.