How can you plant your raised bed for autumn and which vegetables are best to grow for the coming autumn/winter season? In this article we will show you how you can plant and care for autumn/winter vegetables. We also explain how to fill your raised bed in layers and which plants get along well!
Brassica vegetables in the raised bed: broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts
If you plant brassicas late in the fall, the heads will most likely emerge in early winter. That's because these cabbages are not your average spinach leaf. It takes time for heads to grow. We advise you to plant now to see results 7 to 8 weeks later.
Planting: Direct sowing works well for broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts because the soilof the raised bedprovides a slightly warmer environment for seed germination. Simply plant the seeds (for broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage) directly into the soil at a depth equal to three times the diameter of the seed.
Distances: For broccoli, plant seeds 35 to 50 cm apart.
For cabbage, plant seeds 50 to 75 cm apart.
Brussels sprouts: Plant seeds 45 to 60 cm apart.
sun and soil: Plant in an open, sunny location that is well composted and well drained. Brassica vegetables like slightly alkaline soil. If your potting soil is more than a year old, consider adding a handful of lime to keep the acidity in check.
Compatible plants: dwarf beans (bush beans), beets, celery, cucumbers, onions, marigolds, nasturtiums, rhubarb, herbs (sage, dill, chamomile)
Incompatible plants: runner beans,Tomato plants, eggplant, strawberries, mustard or climbing beans.
Sow leafy vegetables in autumn: chard and spinach
These two are great for reliable greens in the cooler seasons.
Planting: Direct sowing can be done by planting the seeds in the soil three times the diameter of the seed.
Distances: Both spinach and chard seeds can be sown at a distance of 20 to 30 cm from each other.
sun and soil: We recommend sowing the seeds of these two varieties in a location that receives full sunlight. Both vegetables prefer well-composted soil that is rich and slightly alkaline, with a pH of 6.5 to 7. Again, you can sprinkle lime on old soil to keep it alkaline.
Compatible plants: Both spinach and chard go well with broad beans, cabbage, cauliflower and onions.
Incompatible plants: Spinach is compatible with all plants. However, silverbeets cannot be grown near corn, melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, most herbs, or potatoes.
Plant raised beds for fall with root vegetables: onions and leeks
When you think of fall and winter, you think of these classic vegetables prepared in warm, hearty beef stews for those cold nights. Here's how to grow allium varieties like onions and leeksplant in raised beds.
Onions
Planting: We recommend purchasing a miniature bunch of onions from a farmers market. Soak the bulbs in water for 15 minutes so you can easily pull them apart when planting. Plant them five centimeters deep in the soil so that the bulb sits on the surface. Although most onions are not ready for harvest until the end of winter, the weaker growing pieces can be harvested throughout, and the shoots make an excellent herb-like garnish.
Distances:Place the onions 5 to 10 cm apart.
sun and soil: Onions prefer full to partial sun and do not mind slightly acidic soil.
Compatible plants: lemon balm, borage, carrots, beets, silverbeet, lettuce
Incompatible plants: peas, beans
Leek
Planting: Plant at a depth equal to three times the diameter.
Distances: Because the leek seeds are so small, it's a good idea to put a few seeds in each planting hole and root out the weaker shoots as they begin to grow. Here too, you can use the weaker shoots as a tasty accompaniment to your meal.
sun and soil: Plant the seeds in a location that receives full sunlight. Like almost all vegetables, leeks love well-composted, well-drained soil. Leeks also love a little hummus added to them.
Fertilize with organic fertilizer
Use an organic fertilizer. You can also use it as a foliar fertilizer. With foliar fertilization, the fertilizer is applied over the foliage using a watering can so that the nutrients are absorbed by both the leaves and the soil underneath. This helps with the lack of organic matter in the soil during the winter and ensures that the leaves do not suffer from iron deficiency, which can occur when the leaf tips become cooler. If your leaves turn yellow, it is a sign of iron deficiency. Pour liquid fertilizer over it.
Direct seeding works well
Although some say to grow the seeds in covered trays indoors and then transplant them, we don't think this is necessary. You can plant from seedsin the raised bedgrow. This is because they are winter crops that are already adapted to a cooler environment. However, nursery seedlings can be damaged because they have been kept under wraps for too long. By planting your raised bed for fall, forgo seedlings and instead choose the right winter crops: alliums, brassicas and root vegetables.
Also interesting:Practical tricks for sowing: growing vegetables made easy!
