Harvesting vegetables consistently almost all year round seems perfect. And it is actually possible with the right timing. It's not just the spring/summer season that makes a rich harvest possible. How can you harvest fresh vegetables from the garden even in winter? When should you start preparing to get vegetables for the winter at the right time?
You don't have to have much gardening experience to know that every plant takes time to grow, which also depends on the weather. But how are you supposed to sow in summer to harvest in winter when all the beds are still occupied? Don't worry, with the right organization everything will fall into place and you'll grow the best winter vegetables in the garden!
Vegetables for the winter - what do you do with the lack of space
The weather and temperatures would now actually be ideal for sowing winter vegetables - directly outdoors. The young plants would receive plenty of sun right from the start. But the big problem is: where should the new plants go? All the first vegetables you grew in spring are still growing happily.
Well, you simply proceed exactly as you did at the beginning of the season: with thisPreferring seeds in seed pots. The only difference is that this time you don't have to leave the potty in the house, but rather take advantage of the nice weather outside. Whether it's a terrace, balcony or greenhouse is up to you. Particularly at this time of year, it is important to make sure there is enough moisture, because in the hot summer everything dries out much faster, as you know.
Areas in the bed that are already free from early vegetables can be used directly for sowing winter vegetables. You will occupy all the others as soon as something becomes available again.
A notice:If you have decided to grow them in pots, only transplant the young plants when they are strong enough. Just because the weather is better doesn't mean the plants aren't still sensitive.
Sow in summer, harvest in winter - typical winter vegetables for the garden
Which vegetables can you sow in July to plant in theto harvest in the winter months? You can use our list as a guide and choose your favorite varieties. There are some winter vegetables (especially leafy lettuces) that cannot be harmed by frost or even benefit from it.
Which vegetables to sow for the winter in August?
It's not August yet, but you can still start sowing many vegetables and continue throughout August. This is suitable:
- Fast growing vegetables
For vegetables that score points with their rapid growth and maturity, you even have until September to sow them. These include, for example, the popular cut salad. But not only that! Radishes also grow very quickly, so you can use them to prepare delicious winter salads. Don't forget arugula, radish or delicate cress.
- Slower vegetable plants
Last chance for broccoli and co.: Broccoli should be sown in the vegetable patch as early as July, but at the beginning of August at the latest. Since this plant grows relatively slowly, the period until winter will otherwise be a bit short. The same applies to cauliflower and kohlrabi as winter vegetables. It is important to remember that these types of vegetables also require a lot of space and therefore limit the already limited space in the bed even more. It is therefore worthwhile to sow smaller quantities.
- What from summer can stay in the bed?
The healthy, sweet carrots are actually not that well known and are typically used as a winter vegetable. But it is actually possible. You can leave the unharvested beets in the bed after the summer (or sow new ones). To protect the above-ground parts of the plant from frost, spread straw over them on the bed. Always harvest only when necessary. The big advantage of this variant is that the carrots will taste even sweeter in the cold.
Leeks and celery are also vegetables that are planted in spring but can remain in the bed until winter. Simply reseeding is not suitable.
What else can you grow as vegetables for the winter?
Which vegetables still grow in winter? Some of the following varieties can be used as autumnandGrow winter vegetables.
- Asia-Savory
- Lamb's lettuce
- Spring onions and spring garlic (harvest throughout the winter: simply cut off and let it grow back)
- Oat roots
- Cabbage, e.g. B. Butter cabbage, kale, white cabbage, red cabbage (harvest red cabbage in December or protect it with fleece)
- Mangold
- Rote Beth
- Salsify
- Spinach
- Winter leek (sow/plant in the bed at the end of July at the latest)
- savoy
There are also hardy herbs you can sow.Here are a few suggestions.
Vegetables for the winter – how frost hardy are they really?
Winter vegetables are, without question, quite cold tolerant. But it can't withstand frost forever. You should therefore start harvesting after a few days of frost. What is also important is that you should not harvest during a frost phase, but rather when it is taking a break, so to speak. So while the frost lasts, you shouldn't harvest anything new, but rather use what you have already harvested. Following the weather report can be helpful for this.
No matter what vegetables you choose, it will always be handy to have fresh ones on hand. So if you haven't tried it yet, now is the time!
