my top seven winter crops
My top seven choices to grow in winter are coriander, pak choi, perennial spinach (silverbeet with green stems), red kale, cos lettuce, spring onions and rocket.
They won’t grow very fast but they won’t go to seed either, which can be a problem with these crops in the warmer weather. Pests such as cabbage white butterflies and aphids aren’t a problem in the cooler months, although slugs and snails can take their toll. Get them started from seed in April and May if you can. Or buy seedlings or raise them over heat once the days draw in. Pick a few leaves at a time and you’ll have salad and greens for most of the winter. Go out at night with a head-torch and a pot of salt water. Pick off any slugs and put them in the salt water. I found it too difficult to restrict myself to seven, so I chose some more winter crops.
See photos below:
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- spring onions
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- coriander
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- cos lettuce
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- pak choi
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- perpetual spinach
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- red kale
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- rocket
Hi Rachel,
I saved cos lettuce seeds from my first six last year (I love Caesar salad).
I hear you about lack of bugs, tearing off leaves at a time etc but can I plant the seeds now? Am sending your top 7 on to a friend too!
Judith
At this time of year germination can be very slow as the soil can be very cold. Your best bet is to sow in pots on a sunny windowsill to get them started or to buy seedlings. Growth will be slow until the days get a bit warmer and longer. If you can give them protection against the worst of the wind, rain and hungry sparrows it will help a great deal. A cloche or cold frame is ideal if you don’t have a green house. Cut the bottom and top off a plastic coke bottle and use it as a mini-cloche if you don’t have anything else. I sowed a range of salad crops, including cos lettuce, in my tunnel house on 18 June and they have all germinated well but temperatures get above 20 degrees centigrade in there on a sunny day. It will be a while before I’m eating them though.