Planting A Winter Garden

Every year I want to grow a Winter vegetable garden and every year it seems I miss the boat with sowing the seed and planting. Not this year. I sowed this little collection of seeds a few weeks ago and have been busy keeping them cool and watered. Around now is the time to plant them into the ground so that they can get to a decent size before over-Wintering. Although a few weeks either way won’t matter much.

I sowed Winter varieties of Chard, Broccoli, Cabbage (red and green), Kale, Calvolo Nero, Leeks, Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts. I also sowed Beetroot, Carrots, Parsnip and Rutabaga (Swede) direct into the soil.

The reason I raised most of them in seed trays and not direct is because I needed to clear some ground before I planted. Now that the Peas and Lettuce have gone over I have lots of room to plant my Winter garden.

I chose the site for the Winter garden carefully. I chose a patch of land that is high in nutrients (I have already dug in a crop of Arugula (Rocket) so there is plenty of organic matter in there. I also chose a site close to the house. In Winter I don’t want to be trotting through the cold garden to pick my Kale.

Now that most things are in the ground all I have to do is keep them watered and stake them if necessary.

It’s not too late to sow some seeds now for a Winter vegetable garden. I might sow some more Carrots this week too! You can never have too many Carrots in my opinion.