Winter vegetables? Now’s the time to get sowing!
Time to leap into action: sow in June for a wonderful autumn show
Summer is just getting going – but this is precisely the time when you need to be thinking about winter. Because if you want to be harvesting your own crispy-fresh, home-grown veg when it’s cold outside then mid-June is when you can leap into action. While tomatoes, courgettes and cucumbers are growing it’s the start of the key sowing period for many winter vegetables.
Winter vegetables are varieties harvested late in the year – or those that can even keep going in frosty conditions. They give us colour, flavour and valuable vitamins just when the rest of the garden is dormant. And the best thing of all is that many of them are tougher and easier to grow than you might think.
Good to grow – varieties for fresh veg in a cold climate
Radicchio 'Palla Rossa'
A bright red leaf lettuce with compact heads and a hint of bitterness. 'Palla Rossa' develops an especially intense flavour after the first frosts – perfect for hearty winter salads or grilled.
When to sow: June to July
Radicchio/ Chicory 'Variegata di Castelfranco'
This delicately-coloured variety from north Italy is a real showstopper: pale yellow-green leaves with red markings, mild and nutty flavour. Beautiful in the garden and in the kitchen.
When to sow: June onwards
Leaf chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Leaf chicory is a wonderfully resilient winter salad with elongated, tightly closed heads. After the first frost it develops a delicate sweetness that perfectly balances out its hint of bitterness.
When to sow: June to July
Tip: Ideal as late-autumn loose leaf lettuce – also lasts a long time under fleece.
Endive ‘Green Escarole'
Classic autumn lettuce with delicately curled, crispy leaves. 'Green Escarole' forms large, firm heads and copes very well with cold temperatures.
When to sow: June onwards, either direct sown or started indoors
Chinese cabbage 'Wong Bok'
A reliable Chinese cabbage with a mild, delicate flavour. The loosely layered heads are suitable for salads, wok dishes or kimchi. Tough and fast-growing.
When to sow: July to August
Siberian Kale 'Red Russian'
This distinctive heirloom variety has delicate, purple-veined leaves and a pleasantly mild flavour. Especially aromatic after the first frosts – use raw, steamed or in smoothies.
When to sow: from June to July
Brussels sprout 'Red Ball'
A special variety with round red sprouts – which look great and taste great, too. 'Red Ball' is winter-hardy and like all Brussels sprouts becomes sweeter with every frost.
When to sow: start indoors May to June, plant out in summer
Tip: Great for fans of classic winter veg with a colour twist.
Leek 'Blauwgroene Winter'
Leeks are real endurance specialists – 'Blauwgroene Winter' grows slowly, but will keep going on your veg patch well into the winter. Mild, aromatic and versatile in cooking.
When to sow: by June at the latest, ideally starting them indoors
Tip: Plenty of compost will help the leeks develop thick stems
Savoy cabbage 'Bonner Advent'
A tried and trusted winter Savoy cabbage with robust curled leaves and a firm, aromatic head. 'Bonner Advent' was specially developed for late harvests and provides fresh green leaves through into winter – great for stews, roulades or gently steamed.
When to sow: June to July
Tip: Reliable and vigorous even in cool temperatures and stores well.
Sow now – and extend the gardening season
A second harvest cycle in the year? – that’s precisely what winter vegetables offer. With a little planning your garden will keep on growing through into December and even beyond that. Many varieties are easy to grow, resilient and will amaze you with their depth of flavour, which often becomes even more intense when the weather gets really cold.
Sow now and you’ll still be harvesting fresh vegetables when everything around you is deep in its winter slumber.
