Many new gardeners overlook the importance of winter vegetables in a successful UK garden. Outdoors, there are a good few crops hardy enough to cope with our weather during the coldest part of the year. With a polytunnel, there are even more vegetables to grow over the winter months.
Typically, the winter months are cold, grey and miserable. But with the cover and protection of a polytunnel, a little bit of heat and a covering of fleece, seedlings and some vegetables can survive the winter.
The three months of winter can yield some great crops, especially with a polytunnel;
With minimal daylight hours, you can be forgiven for waving goodbye to your garden until the spring.
Lengthen the growing season with a polytunnel! Top vegetables to plant during December include broad beans or start new strawberry plants ready for lush summer fruits.Check out our December planting guide for more great ideas.
With the New Year comes the chance to plan your spring and summer garden and your polytunnel is ready for action. With warmer soil and protection from cold and pests, your January seedlings will thrive.
You will still need to keep an eye on over-wintering crops but a polytunnel goes a long way in protecting fledgling plants from night time frosts and sub-zero day time temperatures too.
Start celeriac and celery this month. Check out January’s planting guide for more helpful tips.
Spring is on the doorstep but the garden can still be too cold for plants to survive uncovered and unprotected.Your polytunnel crop will start to come to life during February.
Start your polytunnel growing season with early cropping peas, summer cabbage, tomatoes and early potatoes to name but a few.Our February growing guide shows you how!
Any gardener can grow winter vegetables.
However, to make sure you have crops overwintering, and to make sure you have vegetables that you can harvest in the winter months, you need to think about this well in advance. Planning for winter begins the spring before, and may continue throughout the summer months and even into autumn.
Growing crops throughout winter, and harvesting even over the coldest part of the year, is suitable for any gardener willing to put in the work for a more sustainable and self-sufficient way of life.
By planning ahead and using tools like a polytunnel, any gardener in the UK can enjoy winter gardening and get fresh, homegrown produce throughout the winter months.
Understanding what you can grow in winter where you live first and foremost means understanding what the conditions are like in your garden. The better you know your garden, the better able you will be to cater to the needs of the plants you wish to grow, and protect plants from winter extremes – not just of cold but of wet too.
It is important to remember that many plants enter a period of dormancy over the winter months, and will not be in active growth once colder weather arrives. However, if you have planned ahead then you can potentially be eating from your garden all winter long (especially if you have a polytunnel) and can also keep plants safe and protected over winter until growth resumes in the spring, for earlier harvests of certain crops next year.
Below is a guide to the best crops to grow during this period that you can harvest and eat over the winter months.
These thrive in frost and their flavour improves after a cold spell. Harvest sprouts as they mature from the bottom of the stalk upward.
Brussels sprouts are one of the traditional Christmas foods and, love them or loath them, many people believe that Christmas dinner would not be the same without them.
If your sprouts are ready a little too early for Christmas, you can blanch them and freeze them right away and keep them on ice until the big day. But time it right and you can enjoy Brussels sprout harvested fresh from your polytunnel for the big day.
This hardy leafy green can withstand freezing temperatures. Pick leaves regularly for a continuous harvest. Kale can be a staple crop over the winter months. It really comes in handy over the winter when there are fewer foods available.
There are plenty more interesting ways to use up all the kale that you grow in your polytunnel or elsewhere in your garden. From stews and casseroles, to risottos, to curries and chillies, there are so many ideas for kale that you should never run out of intriguing new options.
A classic winter crop, leeks are ready for harvesting when stems are thick and firm. They add great flavour to soups and stews.
Choose winter-hardy types like Musselburgh, Bandit, or Blue Solaise for extended cold-weather harvesting. Leeks prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Adding compost or well-rotted manure before planting ensures robust growth.
Varieties like Black Spanish and Daikon store well and can be harvested throughout winter. Winter radishes are typically larger than spring varieties, ranging from elongated (Daikon) to round (Black Spanish). They have a more subdued spiciness compared to their spring counterparts, with some varieties offering earthy or even slightly sweet undertones.
Sow seeds in late summer to early autumn, roughly 4-6 weeks before the first expected frost. Winter radishes prefer loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
These fast-growing greens are excellent for winter stir-fries and salads. Growing hardy Asian greens in your polytunnel in autumn such as pak choi can give you access to green leafy vegetables through the winter and into spring.
There are a number of different crops that can allow you to go beyond kale and explore some different and often very flavoursome options. To see some of the options you might grow, click the link above.
A resilient option that produces leaves continuously, even in colder weather. Perpetual spinach isn’t true spinach but a variety of chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla). It’s often called “spinach” because of its similar taste and culinary uses. This versatile, hardy green thrives in cool weather and is a fantastic choice for year-round harvesting.
Perpetual spinach forms a rosette of leaves that can be harvested repeatedly over a long season. Extremely resilient, it tolerates cold and heat better than traditional spinach.
Cold-tolerant varieties like arugula, mustard greens, and lamb’s lettuce can be grown under cloches, in a polytunnel, or in a cold frame for fresh winter salads. Varieties of lettuce to grow over winter include Winter Gem, Arctic King and Winter Density (butterhead and romaine types).
Late summer to early autumn for outdoor planting. Successive sowings every few weeks can extend the harvest season. Indoors or in a greenhouse, or in a polytunnel with extra protection, greens can be grown year-round.
These root vegetables can be stored in the ground under mulch or harvested beforehand and stored in a root cellar for winter meals. Beetroots (Beta vulgaris) are versatile, nutritious root vegetables that thrive in cool conditions, making them an excellent choice for winter gardens. Both the roots and the leaves are edible, offering dual-purpose value as a crop.
For winter harvesting, sow seeds in late summer to early autumn. In milder climates, or with protection in a polytunnel, beetroots can also overwinter in the ground for early spring harvests.
Sow seeds in late summer or early autumn for a winter harvest. In mild climates, or under protection, carrots can be left in the ground and harvested as needed.
Carrots (Daucus carota) are a classic root vegetable that thrives in cool weather. With proper care, they can be harvested throughout winter or stored for use during the colder months. Cooler temperatures often enhance their sweetness, making them a delightful winter crop.
Loose, well-drained soil is essential for straight, smooth roots. Remove stones and debris to prevent misshapen carrots. Carrots prefer sandy or loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0–7.0).
Another root vegetable that develops a sweeter taste after frost. Perfect for roasting or mashing. Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) are hardy, versatile root vegetables with a sweet, nutty flavour that develops after exposure to frost. Often seen as a winter crop, parsnips are a fantastic addition to gardens in colder climates and can be stored for months.
Remember, over winter, you should also have crops in your polytunnel or elsewhere in your garden that will give you harvests next spring, and beyond. Some examples are given below.
These are sown in late summer or early autumn and grow slowly over winter for harvesting in early spring.
Overwintering varieties such as purple sprouting broccoli grow through winter and produce early spring harvests.
Plant in late autumn to overwinter; they’ll start producing pods as early as spring.
Hardy overwintering pea varieties like ‘Meteor’ can be sown in autumn for an early spring yield.
Plant garlic cloves in autumn or early winter for a summer harvest the following year.
Autumn-planted sets establish roots before winter and are ready to harvest by late spring or early summer.
Crops like rhubarb, asparagus, and perennial kale are planted once and will overwinter for several years. They can provide a yield year after year.
Spring
Begin sowing winter crops such as Brussels sprouts, kale, and leeks in the spring to ensure they have time to mature before the cold weather sets in.
Summer
By mid to late summer, focus on sowing crops like beetroots, carrots, and late-season cabbages.
Late Summer and Autumn
Crops to sow in late summer and early autumn include broad beans, peas, and winter salads. Onions and garlic sets are also typically planted in the autumn for a harvest next year.
Growing winter vegetables requires a combination of good preparation and the right techniques. Here are some key steps:
Though growing vegetables over the winter months need not be too complex, there are of course a number of things that can go wrong.
Frost is one of the biggest challenges when growing winter vegetables. Use fleece, cloches, or a polytunnel to shield crops during extreme weather.
Ensure soil is well-draining, as waterlogged roots can quickly rot. Raised beds and improved drainage systems can help.
Slugs and snails can still be a problem in winter. Use barriers, such as a large fruit cage, traps, and organic deterrents to protect your plants.
Gardening Know How. (2019) Winter gardening – what NOT to do (or what not to worry about…) The Middle-Sized Garden. [online] Available at: https://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/winter-gardening-what-not-do-not-worry-about/ [accessed 18/12/2024]
