It’s been a challenging year for growing autumn vegetables weather-wise, but fortunately, the growing season doesn’t end with the summer!
Many vegetables can be grown at this time of the year. Whilst the soil is still warm from the summer, here are a few to get you started…
Carrots
Sow varieties such as ‘Early Nantes’ and ‘Autumn King’ now whilst the soil is still warm. Then, they should be ready to harvest in time for your Christmas Day meal!
Don’t forget to thin out some of the seedlings as they grow to allow the remaining roots to expand.
Kale
Kale is classed by some as a superfood. It is one of the most nutritious leafy greens available, high in antioxidants, and vitamins C and K.
The good news is that it’s easy to grow and grows well during the colder months, even in low-light conditions.
Best to obtain plug plants now, rather than sowing seeds, and harden the plants off before planting outside. ‘Hardening off’ means placing them outside during the day for a few days and bringing them inside each night. This gets the plants used to outdoor temperatures.
Kale will grow well in most soil types if given shelter from strong winds. Space plants around 50cm apart as they will bulk out as they grow.
They are a ‘cut and come again’ crop and should provide you with fresh leaves through winter and early spring.
Leafy greens
These include veg such as chard, rocket and parsley. All of which will overwinter if either grown in a sheltered location or given some winter protection.
East Asian salad leaves
These include mizuna, mibuna, mustard and rocket which all provide regular cut and come again crops from autumn into winter. Give them some winter protection such as a protective cloche.
Either sow directly into prepared soil outside or buy and plant plug plants into moderately fertile, moisture-retentive soil.
Aim for a sheltered, semi-shaded position. Plants should be spaced at approximately 20cm apart and keep the plants well-watered just in case of dry weather.
They are all cut and come again crops and should provide you with fresh, healthy, salad leaves they’re most needed.
Pak Choi
Some vegetables prefer cooler conditions and Pak choi is one of them, so ideal for sowing outside this time of year.
Classed as an east-Asian brassica, baby leaves can be used in salads, or the plant left to grow to maturity. These make a great addition to stir-fries, or they can be sautéed so that the stems retain their succulent crunch.
It’s quick and easy to grow and could be ready to harvest in as little as six to eight weeks.
Potatoes
Otherwise known as ‘Christmas potatoes’ it should be possible to buy these special varieties of cold-stored, late, main crop varieties. Examples include ‘Cara’ for planting now and if you’re lucky, will be ready to harvest on Christmas Day.
Remember to earth up the crop as the leaves start to appear above the soil. This does two things; encourages the plant to produce more tubers, (potatoes), and protects foliage from frost damage.
If you don’t have enough room in the garden for a crop of potatoes, they will grow well in containers or sacks. Use empty compost sacks turned inside out with holes punched into the bottom and side.
Root crops
There’s still time to sow cool-weather radishes, turnips and beetroot, all of which are fast-growing. Most of these crops can be left in the ground until freezing conditions arrive.
If growing from seed remember that thinning out seedlings will give developing roots room to expand.
Top autumn planting advice:
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David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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