Vegetables You Can Plant Now To Harvest Over The Colder Months

Green-fingered Brits are being told which vegetables to plant now to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce and cut shopping costs this autumn and winter. 

Experts at GardeningExpress.co.uk say now is the time to start making preparations for winter harvest, and have named seven crops gardeners should be planting now. 

Although summer is starting to wind down, it doesn’t mean the planting season is over. There are many hardy crops that not only withstand colder weather, but also improve in flavour once the temperatures drop. 

From leafy greens such as kale and spinach to root vegetables like turnips, these resilient plants are ideal for keeping dinner plates full and nutritious in the months to come. 

Chris Bonnett, the founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk said: “Although we’re coming to the end of the peak gardening season, there’s still plenty of crops you can sow now in time for autumn and winter harvests. 

“A lot of these hardy vegetables are not only low maintenance, but can actually taste sweeter after the first frosts. 

“By getting these veg in the ground now, you’ll ensure that even when the days get shorter and the weather turns, you’ll still be able to head out into the garden and pick fresh greens and roots.”

Here are seven vegetables to plant now to harvest in autumn and winter:

1. Spinach

Spinach is an excellent cool-weather crop to plant now. Hardy varieties like ‘Giant Winter’ and ‘Medania’ can be picked as baby leaves or left to grow into larger, heartier foliage. 

2. Turnips

Turnips grow quickly and are very versatile, as both the sweet roots and the peppery green tops are edible, providing two crops in one. They work beautifully in everything from roasted vegetable trays to warming winter stews.

3. Spring onions

Spring onions mature quickly and take up very little space, so it’s easy to grow them in either beds or containers. They’re perfect for adding a fresh flavour to your winter comfort meals. 

4. Cabbages

Cabbages are hardy and reliable, making them a winter garden staple. Hardy varieties can withstand frost and continue growing even as temperatures drop, meaning you can harvest fresh cabbage straight from the garden well into winter.

5. Kale

Kale is one of the most cold-tolerant vegetables you can grow. It can actually taste even better after a frost, as the cold triggers the plant to produce natural sugars that sweeten the flavour.

6. Chicory

A less common but very rewarding winter crop, chicory adds a slightly bitter, nutty note to winter dishes. Chicory is resilient in cooler temperatures and continues to grow slowly through the season. 

7. Chard

Chard brings colour to your winter garden with its bright red, yellow and orange stems. August is your last chance to sow this crop, so it continues producing tender, nutritious leaves in the coming months.