Crops to sow in the garden right now to get a winter harvest and spring veggies

If you want to gather a bunch of delicious vegetables once winter frost sets in then an expert has revealed several crops you can sow now.

While many crops are typically harvested in late summer and autumn, there are a surprising number which are ripe for the picking in winter. This is great news for those who want to enjoy their very own fresh veggies year-round. Even better, these crops will also ripen again in spring, leaving you with a flourishing garden.

So, which seeds should you start sowing? According to an expert from Ideal Homes, these are the veggies that are ideal for planting in September for a winter harvest.

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Lamb's lettuce

Also known as corn salad, this lush green leaf is known for its light, nutty and slightly tangy flavour. It’s commonly served raw in salads or steamed as a vegetable side dish.

According to Ideal Homes, the seeds are best sown in cooler weather when temperatures are between 15 and 21 degrees. They advise sowing seeds “a half inch deep” and around 5 to 10 cm apart, also keeping rows 30 cm apart.

They wrote: “Keep the soil moist, and you can start harvesting baby leaves within six weeks. Plants will reach full size by 12 weeks after sowing.”

Rocket leaves

Also known as arugula, these sharp peppery leaves are the perfect way to add a kick to a salad bowl or sandwich. It’s best sown in autumn and can be ready in as little as 4 to 6 weeks after planting.

Ideal Homes suggest that they can be grown in soil or in containers in a sunny position. Soil should be kept moist, and seedlings thinned to as they appear.

Radish

These crunchy veggies are a popular addition to salads and can be harvested in winter. In fact, this time period offers the last window to plant hardy winter varieties.

According to Ideal Homes, you can plant radishes in “any gap” in your garden and they should be ready to harvest once they’re an inch wide.

Winter lettuce

Winter lettuce refers to varieties which have been bred specifically to withstand the cold, such as Mizuna, and Winter Purslane. Although, while they are able to handle mild frost, Ideal Homes adds that you should ideally “get covers in place by October, so they will be able to give you harvests of lettuce leaves throughout the colder months.”

Bunching onions

Known by a couple of different names, like green onions and spring onions, bunching onions are a great option for September planting. Ideal Homes say they can provide a “quick harvest” after about eight weeks.