If you enjoy growing your own food, you maybe wondering what you can grow over the colder months and how to prepare your garden now autumn is here, ready for winter. So here are some tips…
Greenhouse
Whilst some plants can survive directly outdoors in winter, is useful to have a greenhouse to successfully grow your own food during the colder months here in the UK. Variable temperatures, hard frost and possible snow means that some won’t thrive without help. If you don’t already have a greenhouse, it is worth investing. Even if you don’t have much space for something larger, there are plenty of options such as these lean to greenhouses for sale from GBC Group for example.
What to plant
There are several things you can still plant outdoors or in a greenhouse to grow over the winter months. Don’t forget you can also plant herbs inside to. Here are some ideas of what to consider planting around October, if you haven’t aready:
Winter salad
This is best planted in a greenhouse, as it will need some protection from the elements.
Leafy Crops
Rockets, chard, kale and other leafy crops manage over winter with some help. Cabbage also does too.
Broad beans
These tend to do quite well over winter and can then be harvested much earlier than those planted in spring.
Peas
Peas tend to be quite hardy so these can be planted outdoors if you wish.
Onions
Onions don’t need much care but they do take a long time to grow. If you plant some now they will be ready next summer. So no time like the present!
Garlic
Growing garlic is similar to onions; planting now will mean they are ready to harvest next summer.
Carrots
Carrots will both just about manage over winter with a little protection. Pop them in the greenhouse and they will do just fine!
Parsnips
Parsnips are also hardy and will do well over winter.
Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts take up alot of space for a fairly long time, but they do well over winter so are worth considering.
Tips
• Protect your plants from hard frost by covering them over with a plastic sheet, tunnel, frame, or grow them in a greenhouse. Adding a layer of mulch will also help protect them.
• Use netting to protect your crop from birds over winter. Also beware of insects during these months, as you would throughout the other seasons.
• Water your crop sparingly over the wetter winter months.
Do you have any tips for preparing your food garden for winter? What else do you grow?Â
*This is a collaborative post.
Hello,
very informative article! My wife and I have been thinking about building a small greenhouse for years now, but I never really got to do it. Too many “other projects” going on in my yard, haha. Maybe this year…
Anyway, it’s good to see there are still people who grow their own food. It really is a breath of fresh air with all the GMO stuff going on.
Gosh I didn’t know you could grow so much over the winter! thank you, I will definitely get some onions in!