VEGETABLES TO GROW DURING WINTER
There are many benefits to keeping your garden going throughout winter. Not only does it allow for exercise and plenty of crisp fresh air, ultimately it provides you with brilliantly home grown produce. We believe that you shouldn’t let your vegetable plot stand empty and neglected over the winter months. The list that we have carefully compiled below includes vegetables plants that are fully hardy and will cope well with cold weather. However, if frost becomes persistent and threatens your plants then we recommend that you throw some fleece across them if possible to provide some extra protection.
Onions and Shallots
We recommend planting onion sets for convenience as they are extremely easy to manage. Planting them now ensures that they will virtually look after themselves during their long growing season and they will be ready for harvesting next spring. However, if you are considering planting other crops nearer springtime then you must plan carefully as the onions will still be in the ground. Shallots have become increasingly popular for late autumnal planting as they offer an intense and concentrated flavor.
Peas
Peas generally prefer cooler weather and planting them now means that you can enjoy an early crop next spring. If you are sowing them directly into the ground then we advise that they are planted one inch deep and one inch apart.
Garlic
Growing garlic has never been easier and there are whole host of wonderful varieties to choose from for autumnal planting. Once planted garlic requires a cool one to two month period that is crucial for good bulb development, which is why planting now is perfect as it provides the necessary chilling period. Garlic has a long growing season and won’t be ready to harvest until next summer but it will most definitely be worth the wait!
Broad Beans
A sheltered garden with well drained soil is perfect for sowing broad beans directly into the soil in early November. If the beans happen to be in an exposed position and grow above a foot in winter then we encourage you to use canes, sticks or string to prevent them waving around and splitting just about ground level. If the weather becomes extremely cold then plants will need fleece or cloche protection. Growing broad beans in brilliantly straightforward and they can be harvested in spring.
Asparagus
If you are lucky enough to have plenty of space in your garden then why not plant a permanent asparagus bed? This crop requires patience, as it will be 2 years before it can be harvested properly but it will continue to crop for 25 years as it delivers tender home grown asparagus spears!