Gardening expert shares 'cheat' to grow winter vegetables in autumn
21.10.2023 - 15:03
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A gardening expert has shared his advice to help keep your garden growing during the colder months.
With autumn in full swing, the temperatures are continuing to drop and some parts of the country have already seen the first frost of the season. While some shrubs won't survive the harsher weather, there are things you can do now to make sure your garden still flourishes.
One of the biggest tips to follow now is to protect more vulnerable plants by giving them shelter, namely in a greenhouse. This means that you can get a head start on growing your winter vegetables in the middle of autumn as weather conditions aren't quite ready for optimal planting outside.
That's according to Tom Barry, CEO of renowned greenhouse manufacturer Hartley Botanic has explained how to get your winter veg growing now. "The vegetables that you can grow in winter are controlled by lower light levels, shorter daylight hours and colder temperatures, but there are some ways to get ahead and cheat a bit", he said.
He suggests to look out for winter cropping vegetable plants from mail order companies. They have sown and grown the seeds and plants and can supply cold hardy edible plants to your door ready to plant.
The easiest winter vegetables to grow in a greenhouse include peas, broad beans, mustard and mizuna, spinach, onions, garlic, corn salad and winter lettuce. If you don't have a greenhouse, these shrubs can also thrive outdoors, but you may have to wait closer to the winter months to plant them.
To keep gardens flourishing, Tom also advises gardeners to take cuttings of tender plants now to keep stocks flourishing. While they don't fair well in frost, herbs like bay, rosemary and sage propagate easily from semi-ripe cuttings, so they can be