While enjoying the peak summer warmth and light, vegetable growers and amateurs (such as myself) start thinking about sowing vegetable plants for the winter season. It is at this time, although we still have warmth, that the days start to get shorter and the powerful light intensity from the sun, so valuable for growing food, starts to diminish. However all is not lost, because vegetables for the winter months and early Spring can be sown/planted now, giving them time to reach a good size by the end of Summer ready for the slow-down in growth as autumn approaches.

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For winter produce start growing carrots, beetroot, kale, calabrese, perpetual spinach, leeks and of course Brussel sprouts for Christmas. These are happy to continue growing in the cold and even when frost hits. The exception being celeriac because it takes so long to grow it has to be sowed in February. Mine are now happily growing outside and will be left to themselves to mature, hopefully ready over the winter period.

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Lettuce is normally associated with summer in those delicious salads but many people are surprised to learn that lettuce actually likes growing in cooler conditions and will readily grow albeit slowly during the winter months. It has to be grown in greenhouses or under fleece but will happily grow in the cold if protected. Growing the ‘cut and come again’ varieties (Salad Bowl or Endives) of only picking the outer leaves instead of harvesting the whole plant ensures the continual supply of lettuce throughout winter.

Growing vegetables for winter does require more thought and forward planning than for spring and summer but is so rewarding when you can munch on your home grown veg during those dark winter months.

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Hilary Haywood