There are many seeds, bulbs and plants that will grow during the winter months and they don’t only produce beautiful flowers. The winter is the time to plant most vegetables and flowers ready for the spring dinner table. The Guardian online has a grow-your-own guide to winter vegetables and the best ways to plant them.
- Spring Bulbs
During the winter it may seem your garden has nothing going on, but there are plenty of jobs to do in preparation for the coming weeks and months. If you go to the Spalding Bulb website you will find a wide variety of seeds and bulbs that can be planted during the winter for spring. Sitting back and deciding how you would like your garden to look the following year can be a great way of relaxing and planting spring bulbs can be one of the most rewarding of all. Once your flowers start to grow you know it won’t be long until you have colour back in your flower beds.
- Onions
Starting a vegetable garden may seem like a daunting task but once you harvest your first crop you’ll appreciate the freshness. Growing onions is relatively easy, and these bulbs do well deep in the ground over the winter months. Look out for the Onion Electric variety, if you’re trying to add a stunning red colour to your cooking.
- Gorgeous garlic
Garlic responds well to cold temperatures and frost. This wonderful bulb is popular in stews, omelettes, salads and a whole host of meals, and it is reputed to be good for thinning the blood. There are two main types of garlic to look out for, according to The Independent gardening blog: soft neck and hard neck. If you’re thinking of storing your crop, then opt for soft neck. Garlic doesn’t grow well in damp mild winters.
- Potatoes
The potato is one of the easier root vegetables to grow and is resistant to frost if planted at the right depth. The best time to plant them is February and they are usually grown from pieces of tuber that has at least one eye, or from small whole tubers, they will be ready to harvest three months after planting.
- Lettuce
This plant needs to be well watered and planted in fertile soil; the seeds should be planted in January or February, but check which type of seeds you buy, as some plants prefer warmer months. There are dozens of varieties available so you should find the right ones to suit your needs.
- Peas
The best time to plant the humble pea is between November and February and the seeds should be planted approximately two inches deep in rich soil. You should build a frame for them to climb up once they start to grow. They will wind their tendrils around netting or poles as they develop, but you should be aware that birds love the fresh pea sprouts so try and cover them with some netting.
Article by Ella Mason
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from Fennel and Fern http://www.fennelandfern.co.uk/blog/2016/11/10/6-crops-you-can-plant-in-the-winter-time-2/
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